News:
December 2007
Cubin Promotes New Technology to Combat Cancer
Legislation Makes Virtual Colonoscopies A Reality
12/20/07
Washington -- U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) introduced legislation yesterday to increase patient access to a new and innovative screening test for colorectal cancer that has the potential to save thousands of lives.
Cubin introduced H.R. 4879, the Virtual Screening for Cancer Act (VSCA) of 2007. Cubin’s bill includes Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) as a colorectal screening test covered under the Medicare program. CTC, more commonly referred to as Virtual Colonoscopy, offers a non-invasive and cost-effective means of detecting colon cancer.
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Enzi backs SCHIP extension
Children’s health insurance will remain funded
12/19/07
Washington, D.C. - After months of contentious debate about the future and function of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Senate and House leaders came together in agreement that the program will be extended through March 31, 2009, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
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Barrasso Scores Victory for Rural Health
12/19/07
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., today praised the Senate’s passage of the rural health provisions contained in the “Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act,” S. 2499.
“We successfully fought to include extensions of rural health provisions in the Medicare bill passed by the Senate last night,” Barrasso said. “Without this extension, Wyoming doctors, nurses, and hospitals faced large payment cuts that would have made it hard for them to care for seniors.”.
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Enzi rejects the ominous omnibus
12/18/07
Washington, D.C. - While many Americans are pushing their spending limits on Christmas presents this month the U.S. Senate is breaking the bank and playing Santa Claus for one too many government programs, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who called a recently passed bill an "abomination of the appropriations process".
The Senate passed the omnibus appropriations bill today, H.R. 2764, by a vote of XX-X76-17X. The bill consists of 11 appropriations bills piled into one omnibus with a price tag of about half a trillion dollars. Enzi disagreed with the bill because of the extraneous expense and because projects were slipped in during the conference committee process, leaving senators to essentially take it or leave it with their vote today and unable to have a full debate. Enzi voted to leave it. "We’re dealing with billions of dollars and there are a billion different reasons to vote against this bill....
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Enzi supports troops by supporting DoD funding
Encourages sending holiday cards to wounded soldiers
12/14/07
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., announced the final passage of a bill that authorizes spending for the Department of Defense for military personnel, construction and national security programs at home and overseas.
The bill will authorize about $697 billion requested by President Bush for fiscal year 2008 for national defense, including all Iraq and Afghanistan-related funding. The bill also includes an across the board 3.5 percent pay increase for all military personnel and authorizes increases in the size of the Army by 13,000 and the Marine Corps by 9,000.
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Barrasso Delivers Victory for Wyoming Agriculture
Senator Votes for Farm Bill Reform
12/14/07
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., today praised the Senate’s passage of the agriculture reforms contained in the 2007 Farm Bill. The bill contains several provisions sponsored by Senator Barrasso which directly benefit Wyoming agriculture.
Barrasso successfully added an amendment to promote veterinary drug research at the University of Wyoming , and other state colleges across the country. The provision would authorize the Minor Use Animal Drug Program which carries out valuable research for the sheep industry.
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Senate passes energy bill
Bill doesn’t pass Enzi’s standards
12/13/07
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate voted in favor of an energy bill put forth by Democrats that includes strict mandates and more regulation that will increase prices at the pump for motorists, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who voted against the bill.
"There are some provisions in this bill that I support. However, at the end of the day, increasing mandates is not the way to increase energy production and decrease energy prices," said Enzi. "A true energy bill for this country should include investment in coal-to-liquid technology, incentives to develop clean coal for electricity generation, increase domestic energy production and increase refinery capacity. This so called energy bill does none of that. For Wyoming and the rest of the country this bill is anti-energy and glaringly omits the steps we need to take to pry free of the grip of foreign oil."
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Barrasso Introduces Forest Health Plan
Bill Encourages Cooperation Between State, Forest Service
12/13/07
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso , R-Wyo., today introduced a bill which would encourage cooperation between the State of Wyoming and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to complete forest health projects on private, state and federal lands.
Wyoming faces an urgent problem from a bark beetle infestation. In the Medicine-Bow Forest , for example, over 75,000 acres of trees are infected by bark beetles. A Forest Service analysis shows the epidemic could grow to 350,000 acres and cover approximately one third of the forest in the next few years.
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Barrasso Statement on Medical Liability Reform
12/13/07
"Madam President, today I join my colleagues to address an issue that is crippling America's health care system; that is, out-of-control medical malpractice costs.
"Wyoming, my home State, has been listed by the AMA as one of 19 medical liability crisis States. A few years ago, one of at the time only two companies selling liability insurance in the State decided to leave, leaving over 300 physicians scrambling for liability coverage. Wyoming is losing obstetricians and gynecologists, emergency room doctors, and even general practitioners, and we are losing them because they cannot afford to pay the high cost of their liability premiums.
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Barrasso Pursues Immigration Fix
Opponents Block Effort Aimed at Denying Driver’s Licenses to Illegals
12/12/07
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., today pushed for Senate passage of legislation that would discourage states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Opponents blocked Barrasso’s unanimous consent request to pass the bill.
“I think the U.S. Senate has a responsibility to say where it stands on the issue of driver’s licenses for people who enter the country illegally,” Barrasso said. “I’m disappointed that some would rather not debate it and are unwilling to vote on it."
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Wyoming teachers earn highest national certification
12/12/07
Washington D.C. – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced recently that 66 Wyoming teachers earned National Board Certification – the highest level of K-12 certification available to educators.
The certification is designed to recognize and reward teachers who demonstrate exceptional skill in their designated area of education. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, congratulated the Wyoming teachers who were honored as part of the 8,500-teacher class of 2007 – the largest ever.
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Time for OSM to Follow the Law
Cubin, Rehberg Pen Bill to Ensure Direct Payments of AML Funds
12/11/07
Washington -- U.S. Representatives Barbara Cubin (R-WY) and Denny Rehberg (R-MT) introduced legislation today to require that the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) pay Wyoming and Montana their Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funds by direct payment and not in the form of grants.
Last week, the OSM publicized its intentions to repay certified states and tribes AML funds through a “simplified grant process.” Cubin and Rehberg’s bill comes in response to the OSM’s announcement – which goes against congressional intent. The bill will direct the OSM to make those payments to states in direct payment form, with the full authority over the funds given to individual state legislatures.
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Barrasso Floor Statement on Farm Bill Priorities
12/11/07
This generation of farmers and ranchers faces more challenges than our parents ever did. We need agricultural policy that adapts to this changing world. Frankly, following the same old farm bill paradigm is not getting us there. Agriculture is critical to Wyoming. We produce over a billion dollars of agricultural products each year. Agriculture provides more than 10 percent of the jobs in our State.
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Barrasso: SECURE Water Bill Misses the Boat
12/11/07
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso , R-Wyo., today expressed deep concerns with the “SECURE Water Act,” S. 2156, saying the bill could lead to countless lawsuits and uncertainty for Western landowners, businesses, and local governments.
“We have a long history in this country of recognizing state’s primacy over water rights and the management of these resources,” Barrasso continued. “Instead, we should be looking at ways to increase water storage for Wyoming ranchers and communities.”
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Wyoming & Montana senators to feds: ‘enough is enough’
Introduce legislation to fix AML process
12/11/07
U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., introduced the bill with Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, both D-Mont., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo. The language would set the record straight once and for all with the Office of Surface Mining (OSM).
"Only in the absurd world that is Washington could an agency believe that the word ‘payment’ means grant. When this bill passes, the confusion should be over and Wyoming will once and for all wash its hands of the bureaucratic shenanigans that have surrounded these funds," said Enzi.
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Barrasso Unveils Farm Bill Priorities
Senator Works to Protect Wyoming Agriculture
12/11/07
“ Wyoming agriculture is a billion dollar industry and livestock producers are at the heart of our state’s prosperity. I am privileged to represent more than 9100 farm and ranch operations in Wyoming . That is why I fight every day to ensure that our farm and ranch businesses continue to thrive.
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Enzi announces nominations for the U.S. Service Academies
12/7/07
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., has selected nominees from Wyoming for the United States service academies for 2008.
"These students show true potential. They are preparing now for a bright future. The academies provide great education to students as well as gives them the skills to succeed in the military," said Enzi. "Wyoming students continue to demonstrate their patriotism by applying to our service academies. The students and our country will benefit."
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Despite D.C. Logjam, AML Funds Will Flow
12/6/07
U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, Jon Tester, D-Mont., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and staff of Representative Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., spoke with the head of the agency in charge of distributing AML money and were informed of a final policy stating that the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) will release AML back payments and future payments through a “simplified grant process.”
“Let’s be clear – $580 million belongs to the people of Wyoming . It does not belong to Washington and its evasive bureaucracy. I’m amazed that these bureaucrats can take the clear, straightforward language - “payments shall be made in 7 equal installments” – and twist it into a grant program, requiring application and review. Seems only the Feds don’t understand the word ‘pay’,” said Barrasso.
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Cubin Introduces Bill to Protect Aerial Firefighters and their Families
Legislation Extends Death Benefits to Families of Pilots and Crews
12/5/07
Washington -- U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) reintroduced legislation today to extend federal death and disability benefits to the families of fallen aerial firefighters, continuing her four year battle to ensure that America’s aerial firefighters receive the same benefits as other federal public safety officers.
“Aerial firefighters risk life and limb to protect the lives and property of U. S. citizen’s everyday,” Cubin said. “These pilots and crew members deserve the same benefits afforded to policeman, firefighters and other public safety officers should they be killed or injured in the line of duty. These brave men and women protect America and we have an obligation to protect them.”
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Enzi teams up with Feinstein to benefit families of aerial fire crews
12/5/07
"A small technicality in current law is the only reason that aerial fire crews are disqualified from receiving federal benefits," said Enzi. "These crews risk their lives doing the same work as full-time federal employees and they should get the same benefit coverage."
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Enzi calls for comprehensive approach to improve food safety, strengthen public faith in food supply
12/4/07
"There’s too much at stake here to keep relying on a policy of panic and retreat," Enzi said. "Hysteria and massive recalls based on incomplete information cost small producers hard-earned profits. That’s not the answer. We must improve coordination among all the agencies and businesses responsible for producing, testing and inspecting food before it arrives on the kitchen table. We have the tools, the expert knowledge and the innovative spirit to find better and more reliable systems to protect the public health from contaminated food. Let’s get moving on a comprehensive, bipartisan solution."
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Forest Service Responds to Delegation Letter - Agrees to Public Meetings
12/4/07
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Representative Barbara Cubin, all R-Wyo., praised action by the Forest Service to heed the delegations call to take into account the thoughts of area residents with the proposed office relocation of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Jackson.
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Natrona County Legislative Town Hall
11/25/07
Friday November 30th and Saturday December 1st - 100% of the Natrona County Legislators Participating!
Your ideas and opinions are important to your Legislators.
Anyone that has an idea or comment is welcome.
For More Details Click here
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News for November 2007
News for October 2007
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