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Senate Western Caucus

The Senate Western Caucus (SWC) is made up of Senators from Western and rural states who are committed to upholding the fundamental principles of the West. Western Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill are unified behind a Western approach to solving America's problems.

Senate Western Caucus Membership

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY)
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Senator John Boozman (R-AR)
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Senator Dean Heller (R-NV)
Senator John Hoeven (R-ND)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Senator John Thune (R-SD)
Senator David Vitter (R-LA)
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Amendment Would Increase Funding for Forest Health in Wyoming


April 1, 2009


Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo) has introduced an amendment in the Senate to fully fund the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA).

The amendment will authorize an additional $200 million in funding for Hazardous Fuel Reduction on Federal land, in order to fully fund the HFRA, which would also provide jobs thinning overstocked forests in rural communities and reduce the threat of wildfires.

“Rural communities will finally get the resources they have been promised. The HRFA funds will help communities prevent wildfires and help create forest based jobs,” Barrasso said.

Barrasso was joined by his Western Caucus senate colleagues, Mike Enzi (R-Wyo), Crapo (R – ID), Bob Bennett (R – UT), John Kyl (R-NC), Orin Hatch (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D.Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

“Healthy forests are good for our rural communities. Not only will this put folks in Wyoming, it will help prevent wildfires and disease in the woods,” said Barrasso.

Funding for the Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program has historically been provided at less than half the authorized amount of $760 million. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have been unable to adequately fund hazardous fuels reduction projects and tackle the ever-increasing threat of severe wildfires. Full funding of the HFRA would allow for a range of methods to improve forest health, such as the implementation of “community wildfire protection plans.

 

 






April 2009 Senate Western Caucus
  • Current record