Update

Friends,

Earlier this year, I cosponsored a bill called the TRACED Act. This bill will help stop the endless stream of robocalls people across Wyoming and the nation are experiencing every day while protecting them from scams. I was pleased to see the Senate version of this bill pass 97-1 a few weeks ago. I will continue to press for the House to take up this important legislation so we can send this bill to the President for his signature. It is time we put an end to these scams!

Meanwhile, on the House floor this week, Republicans again attempted to confront the immigration crisis playing out along our southern border. Unfortunately, these efforts were blocked by House Democrats who continue to sit on their hands instead of addressing this pressing issue.

For the fourth time over the past month, Democrats voted against bringing to the floor a bill requested by President Trump that would provide humanitarian resources to address the humanitarian and security crisis along our southern border. The bill would help increase shelter capacity for unaccompanied children, care for children in custody, and provide for transportation to safe and efficient border processing centers. Their refusal to focus on this issue is a disservice both to Wyoming and the American people at large, who want government to stop focusing on senseless things like presidential harassment, and address the problems facing the country.

Despite Democrats’ unwillingness to tackle this challenge, President Trump and his administration have taken action. Earlier this week, the President forced Mexico to take additional steps that would help alleviate this crisis, which will include the deployment of its National Guard to its border with Guatemala and changes to its asylum system.

Please see below for a roundup of other actions I’ve taken over the past two weeks to fight for our state in Congress.

I will remain committed to working with the administration to build the wall, secure the border, and keep our country safe.

Sincerely,

Natural Resources Committee

This week, I cosponsored legislation (H.R. 3237) that reauthorizes the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. The partnership between Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and the Department of the Interior helps our state maintain compliance with recovery mandates under the Endangered Species Act. I look forward to the House Natural Resources Committee moving forward with this legislation in a timely manner.

I also submitted an amendment to the FY2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to prevent funding to implement the de-listing of the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) under the Endangered Species Act. Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the grizzly bear had recovered and should be removed from protection under the ESA. I am hopeful the Democrat majority in the House will bring my amendment up for a vote so it can be considered and adopted.

Armed Services Committee

Members of the House Armed Services Committee debated provisions of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act during a 21 hour marathon hearing that started at 10:00 AM Wednesday morning and continued straight through the night, ending around 7:00 AM on Thursday morning. Unfortunately, despite the serious and growing threats facing the United States, the House Democrats’ proposed NDAA includes reckless provisions that will result in disarming key elements of America’s defenses while our adversaries grow stronger.

During the committee’s consideration of the bill, I offered several amendments designed to keep America safe. Many of my amendments –  including one removing a section intended to unnecessarily delay the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program – were adopted. GBSD is critical for both Wyoming and the nation. It is intended to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles that members of the 90^th Missile Wing at FE Warren maintain, support, and stand on alert for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new GBSD will provide a more capable missile for the 90^th Missile Wing at a cheaper cost than continuing to maintain the Minuteman III’s. While I was glad we were able to remove onerous policy provisions aimed at delaying this program, Democrats also cut funding for the program by roughly 20 percent in the bill. Amendments offered by me and other members to restore funding GBSD and other critical programs cut by the Democrats were unfortunately defeated on largely party-line votes.

Republicans are committed to supporting our military. Unfortunately, the Democrat majority in the House refused to accept many of our amendments to address the serious concerns with several provisions of the bill, concerns that are shared by our senior military leaders. Because of these damaging provisions, including restrictions on our low-yield nuclear weapons program, unacceptable delays and cuts in GBSD and missile defense, efforts to transfer Guantanamo detainees into the United States, a failure to secure our border, and a refusal to provide an adequate overall funding amount, I joined a majority of my Republican colleagues in voting against this proposal. As this debate advances, I hope our Democrat colleagues will act responsibly, set politics aside, and instead begin to carry out our most important constitutional obligation to defend this nation.

Visits

Great to meet with the representative from the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and her daughters at Wyoming Wednesday about the great work they do supporting women in need.

Thanks to Tim Thornell, the new CEO of Cheyenne Regional Health, for coming to Wyoming Wednesday. I look forward to working with you!

Had a good discussion on ways to improve care and protections for seniors with Dr. Vincenti and Mr. Rakesh Maurya from the University of Wyoming.

It was a pleasure to meet with a delegation from the United States Cattlemen including ShayLe Hildebrand and Jimmy Stewart from Powell, WY where we talked about everything from trade to livestock transportation and how it affects the U.S. beef industry.

The Wyoming Chapter of the Nature Conservancy traveled to Washington to share their thoughts regarding various lands bills before Congress.

Great to talk with Mark Weitz from Kennon in Sheridan to talk about the great work they are during to support our military.

Great to meet with representatives from the Carbon Country  WPLI Advisory Committee who shared their recommendations to the Carbon County Board of Commissioners with me.

Newsworthy

Sheridan Media I Representative Cheney offers amendments to Defense Authorization Act

Independent Journal Review I Liz Cheney claims Dems have ‘two pillars’ of their party: Impeaching Trump and embracing socialism

Sports Radio 1450 I Rep. Liz Cheney joins Rep. Rodney Davis to discuss the Democrats’ radical shift to the left