Report: Clean Energy Transition Must Address Domestic Critical Minerals Challenges
Last year, President Joe Biden pledged that the U.S. would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in ten years. As evidenced by the current situation in Ukraine, this policy emphasizes the urgent need to increase the development of safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy supplies domestically. With this in mind, ConservAmerica today released a new white paper, "Strengthening America’s Mineral Security: Net Import Dependence, Supply Chain Vulnerability, and the Case for Critical Minerals." This white paper examines U.S. federal policy and critical minerals supply, proposing a series of steps the government should take to reverse one of the nation's most persistent and pervasive national security and economic challenges.
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ConservAmerica Submits Formal Recommendations to Biden Administration on ‘America the Beautiful’ Initiative
On March 7, ConservAmerica and 44 other members of the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition submitted formal comments to the Federal Register regarding the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas (Atlas), a key component of the Biden administration’s “America the Beautiful” Initiative, also referred to as “Thirty by Thirty.” The recommendations urge the Administration to identify the lands and waters considered to be “conserved” based on conservation outcomes rather than arbitrary criteria.
The groups also highlight the importance of working with entities such as state fish and wildlife management agencies, regional fish and wildlife management authorities, tribes, conservation-focused NGOs, and private landowners who are most knowledgeable and best equipped to advance pragmatic and successful conservation efforts throughout the United States.
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ConservAmerica Welcomes Congressman David McKinley as Newest Member of the Congressional Roosevelt Conservation Caucus
ConservAmerica is pleased to welcome Congressman David B. McKinley of West Virginia to the bicameral Roosevelt Conservation Caucus (RCC).
“As an engineer by trade, Congressman McKinley understands what it takes to build public and private buildings in a more energy-efficient way. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he’s been instrumental in proposing conservative and responsible policies to reduce emissions and promote clean energy,” ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer said. “Congressman McKinley understands how to balance the needs of his West Virginia constituents and America’s energy needs with the challenges of reducing environmental impact, and we are pleased that he will bring his expertise and experience to the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus.”
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Coalition Urges Surface Transportation Board to Resist Regulations that Would Shift Freight to Carbon-intensive Modes of Transportation
ConservAmerica, Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions (C3), National Wildlife Federation, and Third Way sent a letter on Monday to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) urging caution when considering new regulations that could impact how railroads operate, including a proposed rule to mandate “reciprocal switching.”
Citing an increased demand for consumer goods and a supply chain strained by the global pandemic, the four organizations raised concerns that government intervention in the market could undermine existing efforts to maximize efficiency, lead to increased congestion, and push freight to less environmentally friendly modes of transportation. The letter follows on the heels of similar concerns raised by members of Congress in September.
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ConservAmerica Calls on EPA, USACE to Suspend WOTUS Rulemaking Until Court Decision
ConservAmerica sent a letter Monday to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Michael S. Regan and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor encouraging the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to suspend a rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters considered jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act (CWA) until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA.
The case, which is on the docket for the Court’s next term, could have significant implications for EPA’s regulatory authorities under the CWA and the definition of “waters of the United States,” commonly referred to as WOTUS.
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ConservAmerica Voices Support for Advancing Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act
ConservAmerica sent a letter today to the leadership of the House Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee in support of advancing H.R.1546, the Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2021. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Georgia), reauthorizes the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking tasked with developing recommendations to address wildlife trafficking online and on social media.
“The internet has opened a new front in the war against international wildlife trafficking that deserves the full attention of the State Department and USAID,” said ConservAmerica Vice President Todd Johnston. “ConservAmerica supports Rep. Carter’s legislation to improve protection for vulnerable species the world over and urges the subcommittee to advance it to the full committee for consideration.”
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ConservAmerica Urges House Committee on Natural Resources to Approve RAWA
ConservAmerica sent a letter today to the leadership of the House Natural Resources Committee in support of advancing H.R. 2773, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), bipartisan legislation designed to help states improve the management of fish and wildlife populations.
“Helping to reform, strengthen, and improve the protection and recovery of species ranks among ConservAmerica’s highest priorities,” said ConservAmerica Vice President Todd Johnston.
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ConservAmerica Urges Senate Committee to Move Forward with RAWA Mark-Up
ConservAmerica sent a letter today urging the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to move ahead with mark-up of S.2372, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
Helping to reform, strengthen, and improve the protection and recovery of species ranks among ConservAmerica’s highest priorities. RAWA is bipartisan legislation that would amend the Wildlife Restoration Act to invest an additional $1.3 billion per year for states and territories to implement their Wildlife Action Plans and $97.5 million for tribal wildlife conservation efforts.
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ConservAmerica Announces Rep. Buddy Carter will join Rep. Brian Mast as House Leaders of the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus
ConservAmerica is pleased to announce that Republican Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) will join Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) in serving as the House co-chairs of the bicameral Roosevelt Conservation Caucus (RCC).
Mast has been serving in a leadership role for the RCC and will now be joined by Carter as House co-chairs of the caucus. Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan serves as the House vice-chair. The leadership team also includes Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Thune of South Dakota, who serve as Senate co-chairs, and Senators Rob Portman of Ohio and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, who serve as the Senate vice-chairs.
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