WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rare sighting on Capitol Hill, legislation actually moved forward.
Last week, Sen. Cynthia Lummis announced that six Western-focused bills backed by the Senate Western Caucus advanced out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. A modest but notable win in a town where “progress” often means scheduling another meeting about a future meeting.
As chair of the Western Caucus, Lummis framed the committee action as a step toward addressing long-standing issues facing Western states, including wildfire response, public land access, national park safety, and historic preservation.
And yes, all six bills survived committee. Which, in today’s Congress, is worth at least a polite golf clap.
What Bills Are Moving Forward?
The package of legislation covers a range of issues with direct relevance to Wyoming and the broader Mountain West:
- Historic Roads Preservation Act
Designed to protect historic roads on public lands from being closed during ongoing legal disputes — because even century-old dirt roads now require courtroom battles. - Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Expands funding and resources for wildfire equipment and training. Timely, considering wildfire season increasingly feels less like a season and more like a lifestyle. - Making National Parks Safer Act
Examines emergency communication upgrades, including Next Generation 911 technology, across national parks. A welcome idea for anyone who has tried to make a phone call with one bar and a prayer. - Barbara Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center Act
Renames the Casper-based center in honor of Barbara Cubin, Wyoming’s first woman elected to Congress. - Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act
Transfers a fully remediated uranium tailings site in Utah to local control upon completion of cleanup. A reminder of the West’s long-running relationship with Cold War leftovers. - Second Division Memorial Extension Act
Extends federal authority for updates to the World War I Second Division Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Why It Matters for Wyoming and the West
Lummis emphasized that the bills reflect practical Western priorities: managing public lands, protecting access, supporting rural communities, and improving safety in national parks that see millions of visitors annually.
Committee approval does not mean these bills are now law — they still face votes in the full Senate, the House, and ultimately the White House. But clearing committee is the first real hurdle, and many proposals never make it past.
For now, Western states chalk up a small but tangible legislative win, and Congress proves, once again, that it can move… occasionally.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
