Mar 07, 2025
Barbed Wire | federal issues RCRC Delegation Visits Washington D.CLast week, RCRC delegates engaged in productive discussions in Washington D.C. as they met with Congress Members and Federal Agency leaders on Capitol Hill, to raise awareness of challenges and opportunities in California’s rural communities…
Feb 28, 2025
federal issues | USDA Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats Inquire About USDA LayoffsOn February 25, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and all Committee Democrats in a letter asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for detail about recent mass layoffs
Feb 28, 2025
Barbed Wire | federal budget | federal issues House Passes Budget Resolution Opening the Door for Negotiation with the SenateOn February 25, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) by a vote of 217-215. This step will allow the reconciliation process to begin, a legislative procedure that only requires simple majorities from both chambers to enact legislation
Feb 21, 2025
Barbed Wire | federal issues U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy Announces Review of California High-Speed Rail ProjectOn February 20, at the direction of Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) initiated a review of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)…
Feb 21, 2025
federal issues | SRS Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act Introduced in 119th CongressThe Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act (S. 356/H.R. 1383) has been introduced in the 119th Congress amid pressure to act swiftly to avoid significant budget cuts or tax hikes. Attempts to pass SRS legislation...
Feb 14, 2025
Barbed Wire | federal issues Congress Members LaMalfa and Thompson Introduce Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025This week, Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-Butte) and Mike Thompson (D-Lake) introduced the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025 to provide homeowners in disaster-prone regions with incentives to harden their properties against wildfires and other...
Feb 14, 2025
Barbed Wire | federal issues U.S. Senators Urge Trump Administration to Exempt Seasonal Firefighters from Federal Hiring FreezeOn February 11, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and 13 others in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that threatens the safety...
Feb 06, 2025
federal issues Padilla Introduces Bipartisan Bills to Improve Fire Mitigation and Resiliency EffortsOn Monday February 3rd, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts. The package includes the following: The Wildfire Emergency Act to support...
Jan 31, 2025
federal issues U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Announce Subcommittee LeadershipIn a joint statement, U.S. Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the following Agriculture subcommittee leadership. This leadership will play an important role in crafting the farm bill and...
Jan 31, 2025
federal issues USDA Announces Key Appointments to Lead on Wildfire PreventionOn January 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced two key appointments by President Trump to support his administration’s focus on forest management, wildfire prevention, and natural resource conservation: Kristin Sleeper as Deputy Undersecretary...