Dec 12, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Extend Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims

On December 5, Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act, to permanently ensure wildfire survivors are not taxed on compensation they receive for losses and damages suffered during a fire

Dec 05, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues   |   SRS Call to Action: Contact Your Congressional Representative to Vote Yes on SRS Reauthorization

To help ensure the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is passed, House members need to hear from local leaders about SRS’s importance for rural communities. Urge your congressional representative to vote yes

Dec 05, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Broadband   |   federal issues House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances Broadband Permitting Package

On December 3, 2025, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a package of seven broadband-related bills aimed at accelerating deployment

Dec 05, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues DOI Issues Order to Streamline Reclamation Construction Projects

On November 25, the Department of the Interior issued Secretary’s Order 3446 directing the Bureau of Reclamation to implement changes to construction contracting and project management processes for federally funded facilities across 17 Western states. The order

Nov 21, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Announces Proposed Rules to Restore EPA Regulations to Earlier Framework

On November 19, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced four proposed rules to restore Endangered Species Act regulations to their 2019 and 2020 framework. The proposals

Nov 21, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congressman Valadao Introduces Permitting Reform Bill

On November 19, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act. This bill would

Nov 07, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues SNAP Payments Partially Restored Amid Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown

SNAP benefits lapsed in many states over the weekend for the first time in the program’s 60-year history, as the federal government shutdown continues. However, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) planned to fully suspend benefits, two federal court orders issued last week require

Oct 31, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Government Shutdown Update

The Federal shutdown continues with no clear pathway to resolution, as Senate Democrats left town Thursday. Speaker Mike Johnson canceled votes in the House for the fifth straight week

Oct 31, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Legislation Introduced in House to Reinstate Glenn Medical Center Critical Access Funding

On October 24, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) introduced the Rural Hospital Fairness Act, which would reinstate

Oct 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Fix Our Forests Act Advances Out of Senate Agriculture Committee

On October 21, 2025, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry convened a markup to consider the Fix Our Forests Act (S.1462 | one pager). The measure passed out of committee