WEEKLY UPDATE ON WESTERN CAUCUS MEMBERS TAKING ACTION FOR RURAL AMERICA

ICYMI: WCF 118TH CONGRESS REPORT

Last month we proudly presented our 118th Congress Wrap-Up Report detailing Western Caucus Foundation’s activity in 2023 & 2024.  In this report you will find a summary of our Field Tours, notable policy events, participating Western Caucus members, the 30th Anniversary celebration, and more.

We would like to thank all you who have supported and attended our events. We look forward to continuing to work with you, our Western Caucus members, staff, and stakeholders (along w/ the incoming Trump Administration), in the 119th Congress.

Click one the boxes below to read our report.

MEET THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL WESTERN CAUCUS MEMBERS

The Congressional Western Caucus has announced new members for 2025.

New members include incumbents Rep. Troy Balderson (OH-12) and Rep. Erin Houchin (IN-09) and freshmen Rep. Nick Begich (AK at-large), Julie Fedorchak (ND at-large) and Jeff Hurd (CO-03).

MEET THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL WESTERN CAUCUS MEMBERS

The Congressional Western Caucus has announced the Executive Committee for the 119th Congress.

Chairman:
Rep. Doug LaMalfa

Executive Vice Chair:
Rep. Celeste Maloy (UT-02)

Vice Chairs:

• Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02)

• Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

• Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN-07)

• Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-AL)

• Rep. Jeff Hurd (CO-03)

• Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04)

• Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23)

• Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS-AL)

• Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03)

• Rep. Pete Stauber (MN-08)

• Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

• Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

• Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01)

JANUARY BICAMERAL STAFF POLICY BRIEFING

This morning, WCF held the first Bicameral Staff Policy Briefing of 2025 to receive Western Caucus and Committee updates. We were pleased to see such a large volume of House and Senate staffers in attendance.

The Foundation thanks Evan Jurkovich, Senior Manager, Energy Policy and Federal Affairs at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc for speaking to Western Caucus staff. Evan provided a brief history of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and spoke about TriState’s priorities including permitting reform, rural utility service funding, and wildfire mitigation, liability, and insurance.

WESTERN CACUS UPDATES

Senate Western Caucus members criticized the Biden administration for denying Wyoming and Montana’s petitions to delist the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act.

Lummis asserted that Wyoming is prepared to manage the species. Senators John Barrasso (WY), Steve Daines (MT), and Tim Sheehy (MT) agreed, emphasizing that grizzly populations have recovered and should be managed locally, not by Washington.

Congressional Western Caucus leadership praised the U.S. Forest Service’s withdrawal of the National Old Growth Amendment, calling it a win for forest management and wildfire prevention.

Chairman Doug LaMalfa LaMalfa urged action over regulations, Vice Chair Dan Newhouse (WA-04) emphasized local control, and Vice Chair Tom Tiffany (WI-07) criticized the plan as harmful to rural communities, expressing optimism for reforms under the new administration.

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (WY) condemned the Biden administration’s strike against offshore energy leasing across 625 million acres, calling it a reckless move that jeopardizes jobs, raises energy costs, and increases reliance on foreign resources.

The leaders criticized the decision as a political stunt prioritizing activist demands over workers, national security, and economic stability, vowing to work with the incoming administration to restore energy independence and create jobs.