D ean H eller N evada
- S ia te jr S a n a te
WASHINGTON D.C, E O S IO
May 3,2017
Dear Secretary Perdue,
i would like to express my strong support for Mr. Layne Bangerter to serve as the next Under Secretary o f Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.
1had the pleasure o f meeting with Mr. Bangerter, where he made d e a r to me his strong knowledge o f and passion for solving the issues we face in the West, including catastrophic wildfires, wildlife management, and balancing the multiple-use statuses of our public lands. He also expressed his commitment to protecting the Lake Tahoe region, given that most of the lands in this region are under the jurisdiction o f the U.S. Forest Service.
Mr. Bangerter is an experienced farmer and rancher with strong ties to the West, I believe his nomination to this position will further underscore your
commitments to these issues, Thank you for your
consideration.
Sincerely
Dean Heller United States Senator
V- EPA 18CV3472 N D C A
Tier 5
fVUIvf Crape Uniteci States Senator 239 Drksen Seale Ornee
Building Washington D.C. 20510
J a rn o s !C R is c h
United States Senator 483 RusscU Senate Office
Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Aprii 6, 2017
The Honorable Donald J. Trump President o f the United States The White House 1800 Pennsylvania Avenue, MW Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr, President:
We are venting to give you our strongest endorsement of layne R. Bangerter for nomination as Under Secretary for Agriculture - Natural Resources and Environment, Layne's real-world experience, public service record and Western common sense make him an outstanding candidate for this position.
You are likely already fam iliar with Layne from his work as the Trump Campaign Director of Idaho, but our association with Layne goes back more than a decade when he began working for Senator Crape as Senate State Director for Agriculture. Over the years, we developed an im plicit trust in Layne, He represented Idaho well to the agriculture and natural resources community in Idaho, and brought his extensive background into his review on the various circumstances we regularly encounter In these fields.
Layne is one of trie roost personable Individuals you will ever encounter. His network extends beyond geographic and policy-related circles, and helps inform his thought processes. He has friends in every corner of the globe. But that friendly exterior doesn't prevent him from providing critical analysis and export review of challenging and controversial issues. He is a problem-solver whs looks for collaborative ways to resolve conflict, but he also recognizes when It Is necessary to forge ahead with the best solution available.
His experience running his own ferm/ranch gives him a much-needed perspective on how government edicts filter down to the actual ground. You have to search far and wide for someone with as much experience and common sense regarding natural resources, environment and agriculture issues. Layne knows these issues because he has lived with them for decades: he understands them through a government perspective because of his professional work in the Senate and the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service. You fully understand the value of having people like Layne--those with real-life experience--in positions that w ! craft policy in your Administration.
We urge you to give Layne serious and thoughtful consideration: for the USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. Our country will benefit significantly with Layne helping advocate for commonsense and workable solutions.
Sincerely,
MIKE CRP United States Senator
JAMES E. RISCH United States Senator
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
Tier 5
ED 002061 00035796-00002
/X a
1'T V
O R R lN t, HA TCH
u~- Ta m
UN STED STAT ES S EN A T E
WAS H INGTON, D, C ,
April 24
The Honorahle Dunald i, Trump PiT'.-Ctk'n! 'Sire Whne \Souse I6U Pennsylvania Ave Washington. DC
Dear Mr. President;
i write So recommend I.ayne Bangener So serve as the next Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Environment and Natural Resources,
For more than 15 years. Utyne has worked for Senator Mike Crapo as the Stale Director for Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment. In this rote, he has represented Senator Crapo in all capacities, regularly speaking with constituents, managing staff, and conducting the critical on-the-ground work needed to inform policy at the national level.
To this point. I.ayne has been Involved in every facet of the legislative process...from crafting legislation and writing statements to offering vote recommendations and engaging with the press. His legislative eflorts. tn particular, have been met with substantial success. For example. I.ayne took a leading role in overseeing passage of the Owyhee Public I and Management Act, a cn 'li`vrative bill that resolved longstanding land management conflicts. I-sync h $s also .-h anted several Second Amendment hills. in addition to drafting portions of the Energy and C oiom jti'n 1itles of the 20S ! ,m Bill, From start to finish. Um ic knows how to get a bill passed into law.
Prior to his work in the legislative branch. Laync served for nearly two decades as a Supervisory Wildlife Biologist within the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service. In this capacity, he recruited, organized, and managed the Wildlife Services agency within USDA. authored numerous NF.PA documents, and participated in Interagency Management Teams.
I.ayne* scientific background and his substantial policy experience will be a tremendous asset lo the USDA. Over the years, I have seen firsthand the resutts of l.ayne's legislative accomplishments, and I am confident that he will continue to succeed as a dedicated member of your administration.
1am certain that Layne will continue to thrive in the Department of Agriculture, which is why I highly recommend him to serve as the next Under Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources.
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Senator
Tier 5
ED 002061 00035796-00003
M I C H A E L S. LEE
W ASH IN G T O N , DC 20510- ^404
C O M M IT T E E S;
JDHUAT
RNiRGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
COSAVERCE. SCGUCE. ANDTRANSPORTATiON
JOINT e c o n o m y :. COMAS TIED
Dear Secretary Perdue,
When we met prior to your confirmation, we discussed the need to improve the health o f our forests, empower users of federal land, and begin to once again harvest timber in a responsible way. Layne Bangerter is the man to do just this, which is why I am proud to recommend him for the job o f Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.
For too long the Department of Agriculture lias overlooked the dominant role it plays in western states. As you know, the Forest Service owns more than 8 million acres of land in Utah. Hailing from Idaho, Mr. Bangerter is sure to reorient the Department westward, Such an undertaking will not be easy, but is necessary, and is one Mr. Bangerter is capable of successfully executing.
Mr. Bangerter holds a degree in forest and wildlife management. He is a dedicated public servant having already worked for the Department of Agriculture and spending the past decade assisting Sen. Crapo as his Director of Natural Resources and Agriculture. Mr. Bangerter is an avid outdoorsman, farmer, and rancher. In short, he understands the demands of the Department and those who depend on it for their economic livelihood.
Mr. Bangerter has the experience to identify the Department o f Agriculture's faults, the vision to chart a new path for the agency, and the determination to see these changes take hold.
1 hope you will make him your under secretary.
Sincerely
Senator Michael S. Lee
B Hto'.iW:: 'fo'Dfo ifofo.O :./Ci:urt
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
Tier 5
ED 002061 00035796-00004