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

Oct 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues DOI Layoff Plans Revealed

A court filing submitted Monday, October 20, in a federal court in San Francisco revealed that the Department of the Interior plans to lay off

Oct 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Federal Legislation Aims to Restore Rural Hospital Access in Glenn County

Glenn County’s only hospital, Glenn Medical Center, closed its doors on September 30 after losing a federal designation critical to its financial survival. U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) have introduced legislation that would

Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Interim Recess Update: RCRC Sponsored Measures and more…

On October 13, the Governor took action on the measures that remained on his desk for consideration. Of the 917 bills sent to the Governor’s desk during this legislative year, 794 were signed, and 123 vetoed. Of those measures, RCRC-sponsored

Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues EPA Issues Policy Guidance to Help Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires, Promote Use of Prescribed Fires for Mitigation Efforts

On October 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued policy guidance directing regional offices to

Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Update on Federal Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown continues with no agreement in sight. On Thursday this week, the Senate once again did not advance the House-passed stopgap funding bill. The House remains out of session

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Federal Government Shutdown Update

The federal government remains shut down with no agreement in sight. The Senate has yet to advance a stopgap funding bill. Without a significant change in stance from either party, and with no compromise on the horizon, the upper chamber is expected to continue voting on the same Continuing Resolutions. Thus far

Oct 03, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal budget   |   federal issues Federal Government Shutdown Begins: What It Means for Rural Communities

The federal government shut down on October 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m., following the rejection of H.R. 5371 in the U.S. Senate. Federal agencies have begun implementing contingency plans, due to a lapse in appropriations. While essential services such as Social Security and Medicare continue, many departments are reducing operations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), which provide critical support to rural areas, are among those affected.

Sep 25, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congressman Fong Introduces Water Infrastructure Resiliency Act

This week, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-Bakersfield) introduced the Water Infrastructure Resiliency Act (H.R. 5513), in partnership with Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). This bipartisan bill aims to empower communities to

Sep 12, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues DOI Proposes to Rescind Public Lands Rule

On September 10, the Department of the Interior announced that it is proposing to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule