WEEKLY UPDATE ON WESTERN CAUCUS MEMBERS TAKING ACTION FOR RURAL AMERICA
Seriously, a Dirt Tax?
Yep. That’s right. The Interagency Working Group (IWG) wants to add a dirt tax to mining leases for both public and private lands. Even if you want to move your own dirt, you would have to pay for it.
This isn’t a new concept – it just is yet to be enacted. If imposed, the dirt tax would have horrendous impacts on American mining leading to increased reliance on our adversaries to power our nation.
Thank you to the National Mining Association, American Exploration and Mining Association, and the Essential Minerals Association for teaching Western Caucus staffers what to look out for as new oil lease permitting policy proposals arise in the near future.
SENATE ENERGY DC DIGITAL CONNECT
Last week’s DC Digital Connect Roundtable on Affordable, Reliable American Energy is now available on YouTube.
ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
On Tuesday, November 14, The Western Caucus Foundation hosted our November Advisory Board Meeting.
The Advisory Board had the opportunity to hear from Senator Dan Sullivan (AK) and three Senate Committes.
Thank you to staff from the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation for providing updates on your advancements.
Additionally, we would like to thank those of you who attended our Member and Chief of Staff Reception on Tuesday evening. It was a fine time of fellowship and celebration of this year’s Western Caucus achievements.
WESTERN CAUCUS UPDATES
Western Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05) introduced the Locally Led Restoration Act of 2023.
The bill would increase the threshold necessary for promoting timber sales to match inflation.
If enacted, the bill would also allow rejected proposals to be modified to address concerns or meet requirements. This approach fosters a more collaborative and timely process leading to better outcomes for conservation and economic interests.
71 Members of the Western Caucus sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency Army Corps of Engineers to express concerns over the lack of clarity in the regulatory definition of “WOTUS.”
This lack of clarity impacts several “Western” industries and has led to confusion surrounding what landowners can do with their property. IE: Sackett v. EPA.
Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) stated “Our nation’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities deserve certainty and safeguards from federal government regulations dictating how they use their land.”
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