Document 5w62kwykMe7BjByraaxmo2GN

To: leila_getto@ios.doi.gov[leila_getto@ios.doi.gov] From: Western Caucus Foundation Sent: 2018-09-14T14:31:22-04:00 Importance: Normal Subject: End of Summer Update Received: 2018-09-14T14:31:35-04:00 END OF SUMMER UPDATE 2018 Scroll down to see our summer in review: Western Caucus Turns 25! Denver Western Energy Forum Summer Western Roundtable and Field Tour in Montana Western Caucus Plan to Repair the ESA The Department of the Interior Proposes ESA Reform Upcoming Events - SAVE THESE DATES! Western Caucus Turns 25 with Secretary Ryan Zinke On Wednesday July 11th, the Western Caucus celebrated its 25th year of fighting for the west! Western Congressional members, leaders, and supporters joined the Western Caucus Foundation in celebration in Washington, D.C. Just over 200 guests joined us for some BBQ and whiskey in the nation's capital with Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who spoke about the necessity of energy production here at home. Some of our special guests included Chairman Senator Steve Paines (MT), Chairman Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04), and former Western Caucus Chairmen and Executive Directors. The Foundation also wishes to thank all those who helped make this celebratory event possible, including Peabody Energy, Trans-Canada, National Gold Mining, The Porter Group, American Dental Association, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Denver Western Energy Forum On Friday June 29th, Western Congressional members and leaders took part in the Western Energy Forum in Denver, Colorado. Key leaders discussed the economic significance of the energy sector, including oil and natural gas. The Western Caucus Foundation hosted a number of Congressional Western Caucus members and policy experts who had direct insight on the large amounts of benefits provided by American oil and natural gas to all levels of government. Among those attending included, The Honorable Joe Balash, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Representative Ken Buck (R-Co) and Representative Scott Tipton (R-Co). In addition, former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton provided the luncheon keynote on a new breed of climate lawsuits. Click here to watch her remarks. After hours of conversation about American energy dominance, the Western Energy Forum took members and officials inside ConocoPhillips' oil and gas operations. The Foundation also wishes to thank all those who helped make this important and informative event possible, including Western Wire, Western Energy Association, Consumer Energy Alliance, the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Xcel Energy and ConocoPhillips. Western Caucus Foundation's Summer Western Field Tour and Roundtable, in Bozeman, Montana The Foundation hosted six members of Congress and over 30 Senate and Congressional staffers, including numerous Chiefs of Staff and Committee Staffers, to see firsthand the vast scale of the state, its tremendous natural resources, as well as the amazing people who live, work, and recreate Montana By putting boots on the ground, our Members and staff learned about complex Western Caucus priority issues through personal experience. The Foundation also wishes to thank all those who helped make this important and informative event possible, including the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, and Delaware North. Western Caucus Plan to Repair the ESA On July 12th, the Western Caucus presented a bipartisan lineup of nine bills dedicated to improving and modernizing the outdated Endangered Species Act. All nine bills presented serve a balanced interest of prioritizing the conservation of endangered species while assuring that federal overreach is kept at a minimum. This crucial ESA reform is backed by over 115 organizations nationwide. We are excited by the Western Caucus' proposal to save endangered species by modernizing our laws so that they are good for species, good for communities, and good for science. Working Together: Department of Interior Proposes ESA reform The Department of Interior has proposed three rules helping modernize the ESA Act that has not since had any updates in the last 30 years. The proposals have been described as streamlining and improving the regulatory process. Chairman Paul Gosar has said "These proposed rules aim to help address the lack of clarity, transparency and consistency associated with the ESA listing and delisting processes as well as the designation of critical habitat." We applaud the D.O.I in their efforts to help the Western caucus remedy the ESA act. Click here to learn more about the proposed revisions. Save the Dates! Upcoming Events Don't miss out on these awesome trips and events! October 4, 2018 : Western Caucus Staff Reception in DC November 15, 2018: Western Caucus Chiefs of Staff Reception on the Hill December 7-8, 2018: Winter Western Roundtable and Field Tour in Las Vegas, Nevada December 12, 2018: Holiday Reception in DC Our mailing address is: 400 N. Capitol Street NW Suite 382 B Washington, DC 20001 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.