Jan 16, 2026
Barbed Wire | federal issues Interior to Launch U.S. Wildland Fire ServiceOn January 12, the Department of the Interior announced it is taking the next step to establish the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Currently, wildland fire management responsibilities within the Department of the Interior (DOI) are distributed across multiple bureaus and offices
Jan 16, 2026
Barbed Wire | federal issues White House Unveils Health Care Affordability FrameworkOn January 15, the White House released a fact sheet outlining an affordability framework, dubbed the “Great Healthcare Plan”, which aims to lower prescription drug prices and insurance premiums without extending the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expired tax credits. The plan calls on Congress to
Jan 08, 2026
Barbed Wire | federal issues House Approves SPEED Act, Setting Up Senate TalksOn December 18, the House passed the SPEED Act (H.R. 4776) in a 221–196 vote, marking the first major permitting reform vote of the Congress and setting up a high-stakes Senate negotiation in 2026.
Jan 08, 2026
Barbed Wire | federal issues House of Representatives Advances Bill to Delist Gray WolfOn December 18, the House of Representatives passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845), which would remove the gray wolf from protections under the Endangered Species Act and return wildlife management authority to the states
Dec 12, 2025
Barbed Wire | federal issues U.S. Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Extend Tax Relief for Wildfire VictimsOn 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 ReauthorizationTo 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 PackageOn 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 ProjectsOn 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 FrameworkOn 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 BillOn November 19, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act. This bill would