WEEKLY UPDATE ON WESTERN CAUCUS MEMBERS TAKING ACTION FOR RURAL AMERICA

PASSED: ENERGY PERMITTING REFORM ACT

The Senate recently passed the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The bill was introduced by Ranking Member and Senate Western Caucus Chairman Emeritus John Barrasso (WY) and Senate ENR Chairman Joe Manchin (WV).

Bill sponsors say by streamlining the permitting process for energy projects, this bill will act to reduce bureaucratic delays, enabling faster deployment of American energy.

The act also includes provisions for modernizing the grid, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring equitable access to clean energy. By fostering innovation and investment in the energy sector, the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 will create jobs, boost economic growth, and enhance national energy security.

If passed, the bill will improve the permitting process for diverse forms of energy production and will help producers cut through red tape when obtaining leases, ultimately lowering costs and increasing the reliability of American energy for both producers and consumers nationwide.

Congratulations to Senator Barrasso and the Senate Western Caucus on this victory for American Energy.

SMOKEY BEAR’S 80TH BIRTHDAY!

Smokey Bear, a beloved symbol of wildfire prevention in the United States, has a rich history that dates back to the 1940s. Created by the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council, Smokey made his debut in 1944, in response to the urgent need for public awareness about forest fires during World War II. The war effort had stretched firefighting resources thin, and there was an increased risk of devastating fires.

As Smokey Bear approaches his 80th birthday on August 9, 2024, we encourage you to celebrate the strong campaign to spread awareness about the importance of firefighting, wildfire prevention, and forest conservation.

NOLA PANEL DISCUSSIONS NOW AVAILABLE

We’re excited to share that the first two panels from New Orleans are now available on YouTube.

The panels available for view include our Welcome Panel and the Rice’s Whale Panel.

Our Rice’s Whale Panel included Meghan Gallinaro, Regulatory Advisor at Chevron, Matt Giacona, Vice President of Government Affairs at National Ocean Industries Association, and Lori LeBlanc, Vice President of Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association.

Additionally, we’d like to thank Tim Charters, Director of American Petroleum Institute and Eric Zimmermann, Chief Operations Officer at LLOG Exploration Company for speaking about offshore leasing.

We greatly appreciate our sponsors’ help in coordinating planning efforts and providing information to help field tour attendees understand nuances to these issues.

WESTERN CAUCUS UPDATES

Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (WY) and member Senator Markwayne Mullin (OK) introduced and celebrated the unanimous passage of their bill to designate the Bald Eagle as the national bird of the United States.

Chair Lummis says, “Today’s bipartisan passage brings us one step closer to solidifying the eagle’s place as an enduring symbol of our freedom, and I look forward to seeing this legislation pass the House and signed into law soon.”