url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=A50463E2-8835-43A9-85F4-5EEEF6C8BBFD,"Barrasso on FOX News ""Outnumbered Overtime"" about Funding the Government",2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=D21C0D39-D712-4E7D-8812-688CD860E4FB,Enzi pressing Customs and Border Protection over millions wasted on hiring contracts,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is pressing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan for more information about a CBP hiring contract worth millions of dollars that only resulted in two new agency hires. The Homeland Security Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently found that CBP paid a private contractor millions to help hire 7,500 Border Patrol agents and officers, but the contractor only hired two in 10 months. Securing our borders is essential. We need well-trained CBP agents and officers on the job to make sure people and contraband are not entering our country illegally, Enzi wrote. It is disappointing that millions of tax dollars that were supposed to be spent to achieve this important goal have yielded little in return. Contractors need to be held accountable to ensure they provide the results they promised. Without diligent oversight, CBP risks wasting more money on this failing effort. The inspector's report suggests that despite CBP's paying for startup costs, security requirements, recruiting and applicant support, CBP may have paid . . . for services and tools not provided. Specifically, Enzi wants to know how CBP modified the contract as a result of the contractor's delays and if there were any consequences for the contractor, as well as what ongoing oversight efforts CBP conducted prior to OIG's involvement. He also is pressing for details about whether the contract includes any accountability provisions, if CBP plans to pursue damages or terminate this contract and if CBP intends to include accountability and performance measures in future contracts. Most importantly, Enzi wants to determine whether CBP is capable of meeting its goal of hiring 7,500 new agents in five years. Read Enzi's letter to CBP here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=F769A715-29C6-4AF1-99E0-8C6BDB087698,ON THE RETIREMENT OF HEIDI HEITKAMP,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"REMARKS OF SENATOR MICHAEL B. ENZI REGARDING THE RETIREMENT OF HEIDI HEITKAMP Mr. President, at the end of each session of Congress it is a tradition for the Senate to pause for a moment to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the service of each senator who will not be returning in the next Congress. With that in mind, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. During the past six years, those of us who had a chance to come to know and work with Senator Heitkamp have been impressed with her dedication to the people of her home state, her involvement with tax issues, and her willingness to work with members on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to the problems and concerns of the people of North Dakota. I share a connection with Senator Heitkamp, who is a senator from a smaller rural state. Because of this shared background, we have had the opportunity to work on various issues. But beyond our work together I have enjoyed knowing Senator Heitkamp. Heidi is a remarkable person. She is the first female senator elected from North Dakota and a survivor of breast cancer. She would feel comfortable in my home state of Wyoming, the Equality State, where we know what it's like to have women trailblazers. She may be leaving us after this Congress, but she does so knowing that during her time she has made a significant difference in the lives of North Dakotans and in our country. She joined the United States Senate in 2013 and has served in a Congress often divided by partisan views. She has been willing to work with President Trump and to work across the aisle on many issues, all for the good of the people of North Dakota. I have been one of those she has worked with and I'm happy to call her a friend. The accomplishments that brought her to the Senate are substantial. Before serving in the United States Senate, Senator Heitkamp served as North Dakota's tax commissioner and later attorney general. I have had the privilege of working with Senator Heitkamp on many issues. Notably, we worked together on an issue that has long been important to Wyoming, forging parity between brick and mortar stores and e-commerce. During her time as tax commissioner, North Dakota sought to make an out-of-state mail order retailer, which had no physical presence in the state, collect and pay use taxes on sales into the state. After entering Congress, Heidi cosponsored my bill, the Marketplace Fairness Act, seeking to level the playing field for brick and mortar retail stores and out-of-state online sellers. Later we worked on amicus briefs with several of our colleagues and our efforts to create this level playing fields went all the way to the Supreme Court in the case South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court sided with our position! These efforts have been such an important part of my time in the Senate and I thank Senator Heitkamp for her work on this issue. Heidi has consistently and tirelessly fought for the people of North Dakota. She has worked in the best interests of small businesses and contributed in a significant way to culture of the Senate and the nation as a whole. If her past is any indication of her future, I think it is clear that she will be closing the door on this great chapter of her life and moving on to something new.Whatever that may prove to be I am certain it will make good use of her abilities, background, and experience. My best wishes to Heidi, her husband Darwin, and their children as they enter the next chapter in their lives. I thank her for her willingness to serve the people of North Dakota and the people of the United States. There are countless ways of saying farewell, one of my favorites is- Happy Trails. Until we meet again.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=66E17CBA-FAEE-47BA-94D8-58D7B46B35F5,"Barrasso on ""FOX News @ Night"" with Shannon Bream about Government Shutdown",2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=0B1DECE6-4556-4BEB-B7C8-F60AD3E9BEE6,On the Retirement of Heidi Heitkamp,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"REMARKS OF SENATOR MICHAEL B. ENZI REGARDING THE RETIREMENT OF SENATOR BOB CORKER Mr. President, at the end of each session of Congress it is a tradition for the Senate to pause for a moment to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the service of each senator who will not be returning in the next Congress. With that in mind, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. During the past six years, those of us who had a chance to come to know and work with Senator Heitkamp have been impressed with her dedication to the people of her home state, her involvement with tax issues, and her willingness to work with members on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to the problems and concerns of the people of North Dakota. I share a connection with Senator Heitkamp, who is a senator from a smaller rural state. Because of this shared background, we have had the opportunity to work on various issues. But beyond our work together I have enjoyed knowing Senator Heitkamp. Heidi is a remarkable person. She is the first female senator elected from North Dakota and a survivor of breast cancer. She would feel comfortable in my home state of Wyoming, the Equality State, where we know what it's like to have women trailblazers. She may be leaving us after this Congress, but she does so knowing that during her time she has made a significant difference in the lives of North Dakotans and in our country. She joined the United States Senate in 2013 and has served in a Congress often divided by partisan views. She has been willing to work with President Trump and to work across the aisle on many issues, all for the good of the people of North Dakota. I have been one of those she has worked with and I'm happy to call her a friend. The accomplishments that brought her to the Senate are substantial. Before serving in the United States Senate, Senator Heitkamp served as North Dakota's tax commissioner and later attorney general. I have had the privilege of working with Senator Heitkamp on many issues. Notably, we worked together on an issue that has long been important to Wyoming, forging parity between brick and mortar stores and e-commerce. During her time as tax commissioner, North Dakota sought to make an out-of-state mail order retailer, which had no physical presence in the state, collect and pay use taxes on sales into the state. After entering Congress, Heidi cosponsored my bill, the Marketplace Fairness Act, seeking to level the playing field for brick and mortar retail stores and out-of-state online sellers. Later we worked on amicus briefs with several of our colleagues and our efforts to create this level playing fields went all the way to the Supreme Court in the case South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court sided with our position! These efforts have been such an important part of my time in the Senate and I thank Senator Heitkamp for her work on this issue. Heidi has consistently and tirelessly fought for the people of North Dakota. She has worked in the best interests of small businesses and contributed in a significant way to culture of the Senate and the nation as a whole. If her past is any indication of her future, I think it is clear that she will be closing the door on this great chapter of her life and moving on to something new.Whatever that may prove to be I am certain it will make good use of her abilities, background, and experience. My best wishes to Heidi, her husband Darwin, and their children as they enter the next chapter in their lives. I thank her for her willingness to serve the people of North Dakota and the people of the United States. There are countless ways of saying farewell, one of my favorites is- Happy Trails. Until we meet again.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=6C85592D-A3FF-4BA5-92E9-D6A5448F5EE4,"Enzi outlines strategy to avoid future gov shutdowns, overhaul budget process",2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"During a speech on the floor of the United States Senate, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, outlined his plans to begin fixing the broken budget and appropriations process in the new Congress. Change the names of the Budget and Appropriations Committees to better reflect each committee's function. Switch to a biennial government funding system, where six appropriations bills would be considered in the first session of a Congress and six would be considered in the second. Require that any new mandatory programs should be self-financed or offset by eliminating an existing program. A full evaluation of the concepts and procedures that underlie Congress's budgeting process and make it too easy to spend. I come to floor today to talk about the need to reform our broken budget and appropriations process and to lay out a few ideas I have for how to do so, Enzi said. Each of the above suggestions would improve our process and help us control spending and meet our constitutional obligations. I plan to pursue them and others in the next Congress and look forward to working with my colleagues to fix our broken budget and appropriations process. Click here for more information on Senator Enzi's budget proposals. Click here for to read Enzi's full speech.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=270CE11A-0F89-482E-BB9E-AC24AD456F2A,On Budget and Appropriations Process Reform,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Floor Statement by Senator Michael B. Enzi on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform Mr. President, later this week, Congress is expected to send the President another continuing resolution to allow more time to resolve the partisan impasse that has us once again at the brink of a government shutdown. The current episode is yet another example of the breakdown of what should be the basic nuts and bolts of governing keeping the government open and funded. And so I come to floor today to talk about the need to reform our broken budget and appropriations process and to lay out a few ideas I have for how to do so. As Chairman of the Budget Committee, I have worked on budget and appropriations process reform for several years and have always believed that changes need to be guided by two core principles. The firstReforms should end brinksmanship and the threat of government shutdowns. The secondReforms should guide us to create enforceable plans to stop the outrageous growth of our federal debt, which is approaching $22 trillion. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal debt held by the public, as a percentage of our economy, is at its highest level since shortly after World War II and that debt is expected to rise sharply over the next 30 years if current laws generally remain unchanged. Quite simply, our budget problems are too severe to put off any longer, and yet our dysfunctional budget and appropriations process is preventing Congress from tackling our pressing fiscal challenges. To start, one easy thing we could do to improve the process would be to change the names of the Budget and Appropriations Committees to better reflect each committee's function. The Budget Committee, which is tasked with crafting an annual fiscal framework to guide Congress, really should be called the Debt Control Committee. The Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for making decisions about how money is spent each year, should be renamed the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Too often when we come up against appropriations deadlines as we are now press reports declare that Congress has to pass a budget to avoid a shutdown, when in reality the budget reflects the start of the process and the appropriations the end. Changing the committee names would more clearly delineate the actual responsibilities of these committees and thereby make it easier for them to be carried out and understood by the public. A second important change would be to finally admit that Congress is not capable of sending 12 appropriations bills to the President before the September 30th end of the fiscal year. The current process leaves Congress in a nearly perpetual quest to develop and pass 12 funding bills for the next fiscal year to avoid a funding lapse. And yet, the sheer size and complexity of the federal budget and appropriations process virtually guarantee that Congress will not consider all of the appropriations bills individually each year. In the last 40 years, we have succeeded only four times in passing all of the appropriations bills on time. Our inability to pass appropriations bills on the current schedule has made reliance on continuing resolutions a routine part of the process and comes with a cost. Earlier this year, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer identified $4 billion in waste owing to lack of financial stability resulting from these continuing resolutions. He said, Since 2001, we have put $4 billion in a trashcan, poured lighter fluid on top of it, and burned it. It's enough money that it can buy us the additional capacity and capability that we need. Instead, that $4 billion of taxpayer money has been lost because of inefficiencies [caused by] continuing resolutions."" While it's true that this year we were able to pass five appropriation bills prior to September 30th remarkably, an improvement from recent years that still leaves seven bills yet to be enacted. Five out of twelve, Mr. President. That is the best we could do in a year where there was a budget agreement well in advance of when a typical budget resolution would be completed. Included in the seven outstanding bills is support for critical agencies and programsranging from federal law enforcement and border security to funding for national parks and food safety. To address this problem, I have proposed moving to a biennial system and halving the number of appropriations bills considered each year, so that six would be considered in the first session of a Congress and six would be considered in the second. By providing a more realistic and attainable schedule, we could allow for a more thoughtful process for considering individual bills, free up more time for oversight of federal spending, and reduce the likelihood of continuing resolutions and large, year-end spending bills that are inefficient and too often loaded with waste. We could also give agencies the certainty they need to plan and make wise decisions regarding how to implement funding. But successful and timely enactment of the appropriations bills is only part of the solution. Congress needs to look at authorizations of spending too. For fiscal year 2018 alone, CBO tells us that Congress appropriated at least $318 billion for programs with expired authorizations. But this unauthorized funding is not for new programs, it is for programs for things like veterans' healthcare and foreign affairs to name a few. Hundreds of accounts continue to receive funding, despite many committees failing to reauthorize them for decades. We must do better. We need to take stock of all federal programs, supporting the ones that work and ending those that are duplicative or wasteful. We also need to look at the mandatory side of the ledger and programs that don't have adequate revenue to maintain obligations. Any new mandatory programs should be self-financing or offset by the elimination of existing programs. Autopilot programs have grown too large and will soon consume every dollar the federal government brings in. We need to look at the spending bias that underpins our budget baseline and makes it too easy to spend. The time has come for a full evaluation of the concepts and procedures that underlie our budgeting process. To address the long-term, structural deficit problems, we need to create binding fiscal targets that are monitored and enforced annually to make sure lawmakers stay focused on deficit reduction and achieving a sustainable federal budget. The newly revamped Debt Control Committee should be empowered to establish such targets and enforce spending constraints. When we reach consensus on targetswhether it look like the budget resolutions of recent years or my Penny Plan that would balance the budget in five years' time by cutting just one sent of every dollar spentwe should conform the debt limit to them. I know that dealing with the debt limit in a responsible manner is a priority for many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I am ready to work with them on it. Each of the above suggestions would improve our process and help us control spending and meet our constitutional obligations. I plan to pursue them and others in the next Congress and look forward to working with my colleagues to fix our broken budget and appropriations process. However, while reforms are needed, the reality is there will never be a perfect process and no reform, by itself, can force the hard decisions that are needed. What we need is leadership and a commitment from both sides to work together to do what we know needs to be done to confront these challenges. Mr. President, I look forward to working with my colleagues on these critical issues in the next Congress and yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=2F7BEA85-8BE5-4DDB-B037-F09C1FC52435,The retirement of Senator Dean Heller,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"REMARKS OF SENATOR MICHAEL B. ENZI REGARDING THE RETIREMENT OF SENATOR DEAN HELLER As a Congress ends, it is a tradition for the Senate to pause for a moment to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the service of senators who will not be returning for the next Congress. Today I would like to pause in appreciation of the service of my friend and colleague Senator Dean Heller. Dean will be leaving the Senate after 30 years of dedicated public service at both the state and federal level. During his time in Congress he always demonstrated a willingness to consider all viewpoints, while remaining true to the principles that guided his career in public service. It is safe to say that Dean's commitment to Nevada is as strong as ever, and his unique perspective in areas critical to his state will surely be missed in the next Congress. Growing up in Carson City, Nevada, Dean earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1985. After working as a stockbroker in California, Dean moved back to Nevada and brought the skills he gained in the business realm to the public sector when he became the deputy state treasurer for Nevada. Learning about Dean's time as a Nevada assemblyman was something I appreciated because of my time in the Wyoming Legislature. Dean's hard work led him to become Nevada's secretary of state for 11 years, then to the House of Representatives in 2006 and finally he joined the Senate in 2012. His background in both the financial sector and public service was invaluable as a colleague on the Senate Finance Committee. As a former small business owner, I appreciated his expertise and business acumen as the committee considered complex and important issues like tax reform. Dean's insightful perspectives and willingness to work with people on different sides on key issues will surely be missed by the committee moving forward. It was a pleasure to work with a senator representing a state that shares so much with Wyoming. From the prominence of public lands, to welcoming visitors year-round to world class destinations, Nevada and Wyoming's similarities afforded us the opportunity to collaborate on key issues important to the people of both states. Dean's dedication to Nevada ensured he was a strong voice for the people who lived there.I'm sure he will continue to use that voice to help others. Diana joins in sending our best wishes and appreciation to Dean, his wife Lynne, and his four children for his dedication to this country and the state of Nevada. His effect on the Senate was profound and he certainly made a difference. We will always appreciate his service to the Senate and wish him the very best in whatever the future holds.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=8BE65640-125C-4E50-B533-902171C625FB,On the retirement of Senator Bob Corker,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"REMARKS OF SENATOR MICHAEL B. ENZI REGARDING THE RETIREMENT OF SENATOR BOB CORKER Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a member of the Senate who will be retiring at this end of this Congress, my colleague and friend, Senator Bob Corker. I've had the pleasure of serving in the Senate alongside Bob for close to 11 years and it's been a privilege to work and join with him on a number of legislative efforts. Particularly, I am grateful for his diligent fiscal conservatism on the Budget Committee. I will miss working with him to address our nation's fiscal issues. Bob's path to the U.S. Senate began at the young age of 25, when he founded his own construction company, which would eventually expand operations in over 18 states. He continued to polish his business acumen thereafter, acquiring two of the largest real estate companies in Chattanooga in 1999. As a testament to his success in business, he would later be inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Bob carried his business-oriented results-driven attitude with him when he ran for mayor in the scenic city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the turn of the millennium. As mayor, Bob excelled, delivering to Chattanooga denizens a lean and balanced city budget while also lowering the tax rate among other noteworthy accomplishments. Bob's path to Washington is one that we shared, I too was a business owner and a mayor before serving in the U.S. Senate. Bob's commitment to public service didn't end in Chattanooga far from it his career was just beginning to take off. In 2006, he won one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races of the year. Incidentally, that was the year I met Bob. My initial impressions of him still hold true today: industrious and principled. Later I would realize our shared experiences as business owners and as mayors uniquely shaped our understanding of the proper role and scope of the federal government. Bob quickly ascended in Washington, becoming Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and making a name for himself on the Banking Committee. His reputation soon preceded him on a host of issue areas, including housing finance reform and strategic diplomacy abroad. He made his disagreements respectfully clear and stood up for what he believed was right. Evidently the people of Tennessee liked what they saw and handily elected him to a second term. Bob should be incredibly proud of his work and tenure as Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee. His breadth of experience on the committee and visits to over 70 countries have provided his colleagues with invaluable institutional insight on the impact American leadership and diplomacy abroad continues to have on our economy and national security. The Electrify Africa Act is a significant achievement on the committee I would like to pay special homage to. The bill states it is the policy of the United States to promote first-time power services for at least 50 million people in sub-Sharan Africa by 2020. Having traveled to Africa myself and witnessed firsthand the severe shortage of electricity-generating infrastructure, I know that Bob's bill was a noble one. He worked tirelessly on it before it was signed into law in 2015. It is with these memories of his service that I watch him depart the Senate. His bold presence and tested leadership will be profoundly missed. The mark he has left on the institution will not be forgotten. My wife Diana joins me in sending our very best wishes and gratitude to Bob for his public service. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and we are happy he will be able to spend more time with his wife Elizabeth and his three children. Bob, from one Sigma Chi alum to another, ""In Hoc Signo Vinces. May you continue to pursue a life of high ideals, noble purposes, and strong character. Happy trails.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=B654AEE2-595C-4731-97DB-21B1EB3A9BCB,On the retirement of Senator Jeff Flake,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Mr. President, at the end of each session of the Congress, we, the Senate, take a moment to express our appreciation and acknowledge the efforts of those members who will be retiring in just a few weeks. This year one of our colleagues who will be leaving is Senator Jeff Flake. Jeff will be leaving us after a career of nearly 20 years in Congress. He has impressed many of us with whom he has worked with the strength of his views and determination to fight for those things in which he truly believes, both as a senator and a proud husband to his wife Cheryl and father to his five children. He has been a reliable advocate for what he sees as the best interests of Arizona and the future of the nation. He leaves behind a legacy of which he should be very proud. Jeff was born in Snowflake, Arizona. His family name was well known to the people in his neighborhood in part because it was named for his great-great-grandfather, William J. Flake, an early pioneer. His family played an important role in the founding and day-to-day life of their town, and Jeff always embodied the pioneering spirit through his work in Congress. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Arts in Political Science, he took a two-year leave of absence to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa. Jeff's early career work as the Executive Director of the Foundation for Democracy in Namibia and Executive Director of the Goldwater Institute helped prepare him for the House of Representatives. He became a strong voice for the political views of the people from back home. Several years later Arizona's Senate seat was open and Jeff took up the challenge. The people of Arizona and our nation were fortunate to have him to rely on for so many issues. He has been a steady and dependable force for tackling difficult, complex, and occasionally unpopular issues in the Senate while remaining respectful of his fellow colleagues and loyal to Arizona. As a senator, Jeff worked tirelessly to reduce the deficit and control government spending. As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, I sincerely appreciate his efforts and share the same goal of reducing waste and ensuring the government operates efficiently. His keen insight and attention to these critical issues will surely be missed in Congress. While serving with him in the Senate I also learned that Jeff is an avid survivalist. It was a pleasure to read about his excursions to small, distant islands with only a few key survivalist tools in tow. As an Eagle Scout, I understand how important these skills are to have, and it is always fun to hear about others putting these critical skills to use and what they learn along the way. If he would like to continue participating in survivalist adventures after leaving Congress, I would be happy to recommend some places in Wyoming that he might enjoy camping in for an extended period of time. We both have a strong Western heartbeat that we express every day in everything we do. Diana joins in sending our best wishes to Jeff and his family and we thank him for his hard work and dedication to the state of Arizona and this country. I appreciate his willingness to serve and work so hard for what he believes in. He has helped encourage and inspire another generation of leaders. In that way and so many others he has made a positive difference.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=08031099-11E3-4031-AD76-911E181F7BC0,Barrasso on FOX News with Neil Cavuto about Saudi Arabia,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=29C2FEEA-146B-466A-9010-E9880A4D9D5E,Wyo delegation asks President Trump to help Keystone XL Pipeline get completed,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., sent a letter to President Trump to urgeany immediate action necessary to move construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline forward. The letter, led by U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., and signed by 40 other members of Congress, asked Trump to take every practicable step to help get the project over the finish line. The Keystone XL pipeline will bring nearly 6600 high paying jobs in the near-term and nearly $4 billion in new capital investment next year alone, the letter stated. [O]ne of your first actions as President was to expedite the approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline across six western and rural states. While we sincerely appreciate your strong leadership on this issue, we write now to encourage that leadership and attention to continue so that this important infrastructure project can become a reality. To read the full letter, click HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=3EFC663B-7FF0-4FA7-96FE-08BE1B88C8BB,Enzi statement on Obamacare court ruling,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S.Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued the following statement after a federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday that Obamacare was unconstitutional. It has been eight years, but Obamacare is still struggling to meet the needs of Americans across the country. I warned the law's authors from the start about their top-down, federal first approach to health insurance.It has decreased competition and raised prices on folks just trying to make ends meet. The constitutionality of the law will continue to be debated in the courts. No matter the outcome, Congress still needs to work to help ensure individuals, including those with pre-existing conditions, have access to high quality and affordable health insurance coverage. Obamacare has failed to ensure that for many Americans, but I will continue to work with my colleagues to bring about a better system to help those in need. The Trump Administration has said that it expects the court's ruling to be appealed to the Supreme Court. As the U.S. District Court decision is not an injunction, which halt enforcement of Obamacare, the Department of Health and Human Services said it will continue administering and enforcing all aspects of the law as it had before the court issued its decision.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=55BC39F5-1568-45AF-A141-5853DACB0863,Enzi statement on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enz, R-Wyo., released the following statement on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017. ""We owe our veterans, who have sacrificed for their country, our careful consideration of legislation that would affect them so much.The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act is no exception. Yet the Veterans Administration continues to have serious concerns.This could impact veterans across the board.We need to carefully increase benefits. ""As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee tasked with oversight and enforcing rules on government spending, I have to be concerned that the bill would cost far more than originally estimated. More than that, I am concerned that this bill as it stands would harm the VA itself and thus all the veterans it is tasked with serving. The VA is already struggling with an enormous backload of unaddressed cases leaving many veterans without the care they need when they need it. I have personally spent a lot of time working with VA leadership to ensure Wyoming veterans get timely care. We must take care of our veterans, but we need to be sure additional benefits can be administered effectively and without delays. The VA has expressed these warnings. If we're going to make a promise to our veterans, it must be one that we can keep and one that is fair to each veteran. ""According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill would cost at least $1.3 billion more than the original estimate.The VA's analysis shows the cost could be nearly five times what Congress assumed it was when the House passed it. The bill's sponsors have paid for their cost estimates by increasing home loan fees for veterans, but even that doesn't offset the true cost of the bill. ""We need to take care of our veterans, but we need to do it in such a way as not to harm other veterans and we need to have a better idea of the costs before we greatly expand a new program. I look forward to continuing work on this legislation to ensure it best fits with the needs of all veterans.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/newsletter-archives?ContentRecord_id=2F474968-B8A9-45F0-B6FC-8C520A9D40B9,The Enzi Update - December 2018 Newsletter,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"It always occurs to me when we hit the last month of the year --Where has the year gone?We're now at the end of the year, and looking back over the past 12 months or so, we are reminded of the special moments we've shared with family and friends. Each one will serve as an instant replay memory we will look back on for years to come. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year.It's a special time to spend with family, eat good food, and exchange gifts with the ones you love. It is also the season when dreams come true. Ask any child, no matter their age!May it be so for you and your families, too. I know I won't be the first, but let me be among the chorus of those you will hear every day, just about everywhere you go -- Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!The sound of those special words always helps to brighten the day and lift my spirits.My wifeDiana and I hope the joy of this season stays with you, not just today and tomorrow, but throughout the coming year. Enzi: Trump Administration right to roll back Obama-era WOTUS rule Enziapplauded the Trump Administration for proposing a rule that would scale back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Obama-era Waters of the United States rule gave the Environmental Protection Agency power to regulate bodies of waters it should have never had control over, Enzi said. Wyo delegation asks President Trump to help Keystone XL Pipeline get completed Enzi, U.S. Senator John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., sent a letter to President Trump to urgeany immediate action necessary to move construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline forward. The letter, signed by 40 other members of Congress, asked Trump to take every practicable step to help get the project over the finish line. Enzi applauds ending regulation that halted construction of new coal power plants Enzi praised the Trump Administration for releasing a plan to roll back an Obama-era regulation which essentiall stopped new coal power plants from being constructed in the United States. ""I am glad to see action is being taken to roll back one of the more outrageous regulations imposed. Coal plays a vital role in powering America due to its reliability as an energy source There are a lot of challenges that still face the coal industry, but thanks to the Trump Administration, this would be one less hurdle."" Learn more Enzi nominated 28 Wyoming residents for the United States service academies for 2019.Click hereto see the full list of nominees. On December 10, 1869, Wyoming territory became the first government in legislative history to extend the right to vote to women. We now celebrate December 10 as Wyoming Day! The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $20 million grant for an Interstate 80 winter freight improvement project in southeastern Wyoming. The project will construct more than five miles of passing lands and two truck parking areas, along with dedicated short-range communication roadside radios.Learn more",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=79CB5D39-B88D-4BDE-909B-82EE0A912AF9,"On Face the Nation, Barrasso Discusses Obamacare Ruling and Border Security",2018-12-16,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click Here to Watch Sen. Barrasso. WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) appeared on Face the Nation this morning to discuss the recent federal court ruling on Obamacare, border security, and funding the government. Below are key excerpts of the interview: On Funding the Government: I'm working to the fact of keeping the government open. I think that is what the American people expect of the people that they elect. Keep the government open. If there's any short of shutdown, it would only be a partial shutdown. Remember, Margaret, through the appropriations process we've already have approved 75% of the funding for the government for the next year. But I still think it's better to not have any sort of - even a partial - shutdown, whether it's over Christmas or any time, I don't think people benefit by that. I know we're trying in the House and the Senate to come up with a proposal to get passed in both of those bodies before Friday the 21st, and then send that to the White House, which I hope the president would choose to sign. There are a number of different options, that's one, another is longer-term. I would like to actually get all the appropriations bills passed. I think we do much better governing for our country if we do the whole thing through the appropriations process. We were able to do 75% of the funding, we still have a ways to go. On Border Security: Border security is critical to this country, it is part to me, part of national security along with economic security and energy security. Border security is key to us as a nation. There are lot of things you need to do with border security, one is a physical barrier, but also the technology, the manpower, the enforcement. All of those things. Our current laws are in some ways an incentive for people to come to this country illegally and they go through great risk and possibly great harm. There are people working on this to get to a conclusion so the government will remain open, which is what I believe the American people would prefer. On Obamacare Ruling: Well, one part of the health care law that we took out with the tax law was the individual mandate, that people had to pay a fine. The Democrats didn't even offer an amendment to leave it in the bill. Because they know that of the people that were paying this fine, millions paid the fine, most of them earned less than $50,000 a year. It was very punishing, money they could have used to see a doctor for their child or their family. If the mandate goes away then other things go away. As a doctor, people say to me, what does this mean to me? For right now, very little. If you're getting treatment, if you have a preexisting condition, if you signed up for Obamacare in this recent sign up period, it doesn't change a thing. On if Supreme Court Will Take Up Obamacare Case: We have a different makeup of the Supreme Court. It may be several years until it gets there. But as a doctor, I will tell you I focus on people with pre-existing conditions. I've always been focused, as I was working on health care legislation, making sure people could get the care they need from a doctor that they choose at lower costs. We didn't get that in Wyoming. After Obamacare was passed, many people lost their insurance, premiums doubled, so that doesn't give people affordable insurance that's appropriate for them and their families. On Protecting Patients with Pre-existing Conditions: Government never does big things really well. I'm for more of a step by step, and I want to start with the first step of people with pre-existing continues. My wife, Bobbi, is a breast cancer survivor. She's been through three operations, chemotherapy twice, and I will tell you as a husband as well as a doctor, I am committed to helping people with pre-existing conditions. We can do that, there are number of ways to do it. One is what Maine has done in terms of their high-risk people, helping with additional subsidies but at the same time, it allows insurance to be much cheaper, more affordable for other people. Our children's health insurance plan that works across the country it works so well because states have a bigger say in that. When I was in our state senate in Wyoming, we knew what we wanted to do in Wyoming may not fit what people would want in New York state. If you give states that flexibility and freedom to do what works best with the money, I think it works much better for families and for patients. On Replacing Obamacare: I want to work with additional Democrats. What we're seeing from the Democrat side, whether it's Bernie Sanders or so many of the Democrat candidates for president in 2020, they're talking about a different step away from Obamacare as well. They agree that Obamacare hasn't worked, and they're talking about a program of complete government takeover of health care with increased taxes and fewer choices and longer lines, and that to me doesn't help people in the long run. I talked to people yesterday. I was in Wyoming at a wreath ceremony, and talked to somebody on Medicare that said, we don't want Medicare for all, we've paid in to Medicare our whole life. This isn't the time to put more people on to that program. We want to make sure that that is saved and strengthened and held for people that are already on the program and have paid in over their lifetime. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=A19BD910-6A13-4F4C-8A20-DD3B4CAE7DB8,Enzi announces 2019 nominations for U.S. service academies,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., nominated 28 Wyoming students for the United States service academies for 2019. Today, he announcedhis choices for the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy. Each year, Wyoming students demonstrate their patriotism and willingness to serve their country by applying to our service academies, said Enzi. In addition to a quality education, the service academies open doors and provide a unique set of experiences that graduates will carry with them throughout their careers. It is an honor to nominate these Wyoming students. Nominees are selected with the aid of an academy selection committee put together by Enzi. Receiving a nomination is the first step in the process of seeking an appointment to an academy. Once the nomination process is complete, each academy will make a final selection. Nominees may also be considered for admission under other categories. Enzi's nominees include: Air Force Shelby Apodaca (Wright) Garrison Greenwald (Lingle) Ben Smith (Burlington) Taylor McCampbell (Cheyenne) Conrad Swenson (Lander) Jackson Black (Gillette) Quillan Reed (Casper) Tucker Nelson (Shell) Eric Wyatt (Cheyenne) Ragan Smith (Laramie) Andy Deniz (Worland) Samuel Mittleider (Douglas) Bodi Morris (Jackson) Christian Moody (Wheatland) Kevin Parish (Torrington) Levi Hren (Green River) Merchant Marines Samuel Mittleider (Douglas) Navy Levi Hren (Green River) Eric Wyatt (Cheyenne) Jackson Black (Gillette) Garrison Greenwald (Lingle) Cami Mathis (Rock Springs) Seth White (Casper) Francys Johnson (Cheyenne) Brady Tosh (Torrington) Conrad Swenson (Lander) Hannah Tallerico (Etna) Jadon Williams (Glenrock) Kirwin Johnson (Meeteetse) Reese Romero (Cody) Andy Deniz (Worland) Malia Hart (Casper) Shelby Apodaca (Wright) Bodi Morris (Jackson) Military at West Point Anna Spear (Centennial) Cami Mathis (Rock Springs) Malia Hart (Casper) Brady Tosh (Torrington) Michael Newman (Rock Springs) Andy Deniz (Worland) Bodi Morris (Jackson)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=8977C9FE-8DAD-4E43-87E8-4C95A2332F2C,Working to help small businesses throughout the year,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Running a small business is rewarding, but challenging. Washington, D.C. should not be making it even more difficult. Throughout 2018, I worked to help make small business ownership a little easier. In June, the Department of Labor announced a rule that makes it easier for small businesses to join together to create Small Business Health Plans. This lets small businesses pool together to provide health insurance and helps to provide negotiating power that small businesses would not have on their own. I have championed this idea for nearly 20 years and previously introduced legislation in the Senate similar to the Department of Labor's rule. I also held a hearing on the proposed rule earlier in the year to discuss how the change could help small businesses lower the costs of providing insurance to their employees. This rule is a big win for small businesses and employees alike. The Senate held several hearings throughout the year focused on helping small businesses; an important one was about the opportunity zone program included in tax reform. An expert at the hearing explained how opportunity zones were designed to benefit small businesses. He said this program can help provide a lifeline to entrepreneurs in underserved and overlooked areas in our country including in Wyoming, where we have 25 opportunity zones. In August, the president signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, which included my bipartisan legislation with Maryland Senator Ben Cardin to accelerate payments to small contractors doing business with the federal government. Wyoming has many small businesses that contract with the Defense Department, and ensuring that they receive their payments promptly for their work seems like a common sense decision. As a former small business owner, I know that receiving timely payments on a contract can make a world of difference. Small business lending is an important pillar for community banks.In May, Congress passed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act which rolls back cumbersome regulations intended to regulate Wall Street after the 2008 financial crisis, but adversely affected our smallest lenders.This law improves access to capital, and mortgage credit for community banks and credit unions, which foster economic growth on Main Street. Every year, I host an Inventors Conference and co-host the GRO-Biz Conference in Wyoming. At the Inventors Conference, small business owners and inventors come to learn about patent processes, business planning, funding options and marketing. GRO-Biz helps business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs learn about government contracting and different methods of business management. These events are near and dear to my heart, and I invite you to attend an upcoming conference. Now is the time to empower our nation's entrepreneurs because they have the expertise, energy and initiative to lead our economic growth and lead us on a path of recovery. As a former small business owner and senior member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will continue my efforts to promote small businesses and look after their interests in the years to come.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=6A430659-B205-403D-9D1A-EE5C52B183B5,Barrasso on FOX Business about Possible Shutdown and EV Tax Credit,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=47CBAECC-363C-4034-805D-9CCFC9574FF9,U.S. Dept. of Transportation announces $20 million grant for I-80 improvement,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., praised the Tuesday announcement by U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao of a $20 million grant for an Interstate 80 winter freight improvement project in southeastern Wyoming. The project will construct more than five miles of passing lanes andtwo truck parking areas, along with dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) roadside radios, on Interstate 80 between Walcott Junction and Quealy Dome Road. While these types of grants have historically gone to higher population areas of the country, I am glad that the Trump Administration and Transportation Secretary Chao are working to fund these important projects in more rural areas, such as Wyoming, Enzi said. I've been working to change grant criteria so that rural areas have more flexibility they need to get funding for important work. The BUILD Transportation Grants re-balance a 10-year historical underinvestment in rural communities, according to the Department of Transportation.Rural applications more than doubled from the previous year's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) applications. Underinvestment in rural infrastructure has led to a decline in the routes that connect communities in rural America. In this round, in which 59 percent of the applications were for rural projects, 62 projects were awarded to rural grant applications.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=BF57130D-E309-4E47-924C-99D8402160EE,Farewell speech to retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As this session of the Congress draws to a close it does provide us with an opportunity to acknowledge and express our appreciation to those members of the Senate who will be retiring in just a few weeks. And one senator who is retiring and whose leadership and institutional knowledge will be missed is my friend Orrin Hatch of Utah. I have known Orrin since my first days 22 years ago in the Senate and I have very much appreciated working with him over the years. His mentoring, his guidance, his love, and his sharing of his faith have made a tremendous difference to me. He comes from a state that borders my own. We're neighbors. As a western senator he has an understanding of what is truly important to the people in our neck of the woods and has fought to make this country better during his time in the Senate. Before I talk about his many accomplishments in public service, I want to acknowledge some of the other things about him, that have also been mentioned, his life and role beyond the Senate. So often it is easy to gloss over the things that are important to senators personally.Sometimes it is easy to forget that the men and women we know here have lives that stretch beyond these halls. Orrin has been married to his wife Elaine for more than 60 years. He is a father of six, grandfather of 23, and currently has 24 great grandchildren. He is an author and a man of many talents. It has been mentioned that he is a talented composer and musician and has both a gold and a platinum record from the Recording Industry Association of America. He has been instrumental in the musical world and has been awarded an honorary Grammy. He has been the main protector of Copy Rights. Orrin has dedicated his life to serving the people of Utah. He has always worked for the best interests of Utah that includes Americans nationwide. He has served in the Senate since 1977 and since 2015 has been the President Pro Tempore where he can be seen presiding during the opening of the Senate for daily business. Probably more than any other president of the Senate. The numbers are in and they are impressive. He has served under seven presidents, been a part of both the minority and majority, and has served the people of Utah in the United States Senate for over 40 years. Orrin has served in a variety of leadership roles and has helped America every step of the way. He has had the opportunity to serve as the chairman of three major Senate Committees -the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Judiciary Committee and most recently the Finance Committee, while I did the tax bill. He has run for president, been considered as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court and played a role in confirming every Supreme Court Justice currently sitting on the bench. Orrin is eminently qualified for so many positions and America has been lucky to have his leadership through the years. The people of Utah, our nation, and people of all faiths were fortunate to have him to rely on. Orrin is a man of faith, one who defends others' right to worship in peace. He has consistently fought to reign in the federal government, has been a champion of responsible government spending and a leader for states' rights. He authored a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget that received 66 votes, just one short of what is needed to amend the Constitution. One of those votes was somebody who just ran for election and said that was the most important thing, and no matter how many times it up, he would be voting for it. And he voted against it and that was the one vote that was needed. Just by virtue of his legislative triumphs he has helped to author some of the most consequential pieces of legislation in our time. Many have been mentioned. He paved the way for the sale of generic drugs and helped advance innovation for patients with rare diseases. He has contributed to the protection of children's health and well-being, as well as the rights of Americans with disabilities. I know one of his proudest accomplishments is passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protects individual Americans' right to exercise their religion. Most recently, he had the honor of having the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act named after him which overhauled musical copyright law. We both have a strong touch of the West in our hearts that we express every day in what we do. That is why I wasn't surprised when last year, Orrin announced he would not be running for another term in the Senate. He said, and I quote, I've always been a fighter. I was an amateur boxer in my youth but every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves. I look forward to spending more time with family, especially my sweet wife Elaine, whose unwavering love and support made all of this possible. Orrin has been a great source of strength and support for our party and he will be missed. My wife Diana joins me in sending our best wishes and our appreciation to Orrin and Elaine. We wish them all the best as they have time to spend with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Together they have been great examples of the importance of public service and we wish them the best in whatever adventure they choose to pursue next. Orrin, it will be said that it was well done, good and faithful servant.' Happy Trails.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=06F48D86-5B32-41B2-8A2B-9FA2C106F198,Enzi: Trump Administration right to roll back Obama-era WOTUS rule,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S.Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., applauded the Trump Administration for proposing a rule that would scale back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Introduced during the Obama Administration, the WOTUS rule vastly expanded the definition of which waterways the federal government could regulate. The Obama-era Waters of the United States rule gave the Environmental Protection Agency power to regulate bodies of waters it should have never had control over, Enzi said. It was an executive overreach, which not only took away authority that was rightly vested in the states, but it failed to take the concerns of the stakeholders who were most impacted by it into consideration. I opposed this rule from the very beginning, cosponsoring a Senate resolution to overturn it. I am glad the Trump Administration has taken steps to more clearly define which bodies of water the federal government should be managing and look forward to fully reviewing the new rule.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=19C7C637-6D74-4492-BD35-B18E4BA81BC8,Bipartisan Tribal Energy Bill Headed to Presidents Desk,2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) praised the House of Representatives for passing S. 245, the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017. The Senate passed S. 245 in November 2017. Barrasso, a cosponsor of S. 245, originally introduced the legislation in 2011. The legislation, which is now headed to the president's desk to be signed into law, will give Indian tribes more tools to develop energy resources and remove unnecessary barriers to economic development in Indian Country. For years, Indian tribes have expressed concerns about the numerous job-crushing federal laws and duplicative regulations governing the management of Indian energy resources, said Barrasso. This bill will go a long way toward breaking down barriers to tribal energy development and will help create good-paying jobs for tribal members. It will also contribute to the country's energy security by developing more American-made energy. I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law and fostering economic development in tribal communities across the country. S. 245 was introduced by Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chairman John Hoeven (R-ND) on Jan. 30, 2017 and has seven bipartisan cosponsors including Barrasso and Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). Background The Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017: Directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) to provide Indian tribes with technical assistance in planning their energy resource development programs. Expands the Department of Energy (DOE) Indian energy education planning and management assistance program. Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to give Tribes, in addition to states and municipalities, preference for the receipt of preliminary hydroelectric licenses. Creates at least four new biomass projects to be implemented for Tribes and Alaska Native corporations, in order to promote biomass energy production. Senator Barrasso originally introduced the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments in 2011 during the 112th Congress. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=5B22D228-33EE-4D02-987C-E26F28C67F52,Enzi applauds ending regulation that halted construction of new coal power plants,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S.Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., praised the Trump Administration for releasing a plan today to roll back an Obama-era regulation which essentially stopped new coal power plants from being constructed in the United States. The proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would lift requirements that tried to force newly-built coal power plans to use emission-cutting technology that has not been perfected for commercial use. It was no secret that the Obama Administration tried to use the EPA to regulate coal use out of existence, Enzi said. I am glad to see action is being taken to roll back one of the more outrageous regulations imposed. Coal plays a vital role in powering America due to its reliability as an energy source. There are a lot of challenges that still face the coal industry, but thanks to the Trump Administration, this would be one less hurdle. According to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, 40 percent of the nation's coal plants are set or have announced plans to retire, and without replacements, the U.S. will lose a key source of reliable energy for the electrical grid.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=C16E2C9F-537A-4995-8891-565ABC635C45,Wyoming delegation applauds federal funding for Roosevelt Fire recovery,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval of Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) funding to help in the Roosevelt Fire recovery effort. The Roosevelt Fire in Sublette County was initially deemed ineligible for Emergency Watershed Protection Program funding. The Wyoming delegation sent a letter last month urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to review the request. The Roosevelt Fire caused significant damage and losses, and it is critically important that the federal government provide all appropriate forms of assistance, in accordance with relevant rules, laws, and regulations, the Wyoming delegation wrote. We urge you to review the request for EWP assistance as quickly as possible and provide any assistance appropriate so that plans to mitigate hazards caused by the Roosevelt Fire can be developed and executed as soon as possible. More than $500,000 will be allocated from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which was created to provide aid in order to fix erosion and land destabilization that occurs from natural disaster. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the local communities will have to provide a small percentage of matching funds for the projects undertaken with these funds. The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Wyoming said that if funding wasn't provided to help recovery efforts, it would likely cost significantly more, at least $2.6 million, to fix additional damage that would occur later. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had already provided the state with a $425,000 mitigation grant to repair the fire damaged areas.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=177A506F-94A0-44BA-97F0-740D3800CEB8,Remembering President George Herbert Walker Bush,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"This past weekend the news that George H.W. Bush, our forty-first president had died, quickly made its way across the country and around the world. Today, I would like to honor the late President George Herbert Walker Bush. I appreciate having this opportunity to celebrate the life and accomplishments of President Bush and to mourn him. His loss will be deeply felt by all of us here in Congress, throughout the nation, and around the world. He is survived by his five children, including former President George W. Bush, former Governor Jeb Bush, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy Bush, his 17 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Great thinkers, writers, and other speakers, will take up their pens and try to determine President Bush's place in history, and they will debate his significance to the United States of America and his effect on the world. For those of us who lived through his presidency, who experienced his time as our leader, those questions and debates are unnecessary. His place in history has been determined not by what we say now, but by his actions as president, his dignity as a person and his compassion for others. His dedication to service and humility remained at the forefront even as he filled the role as leader of the free world. I was serving in the Wyoming Legislature and did not work alongside President Bush in Washington, but while I did not have the pleasure of working with him personally, his career and his life speak to what a remarkable man he was. He was a dedicated husband, father and public servant. He lived his life with honor and distinction, from enlisting in the Navy at the age of 18 during World War II to serving in Congress. He continued his tradition of public service in the executive branch as an ambassador, vice-president and finally as president. His dedication to serving his country was exemplary. As an ambassador and negotiator, he was a talented diplomat and powerful champion for America's interests. As president, he worked toward education reform and signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, helping to ensure disabled Americans have opportunities others take for granted. He was a practical man who preferred prudence and what's real to the abstract and ephemeral. It was this belief in practicality and prudence that allowed him to handle some of the most challenging events in our history with calm tenacity. His pragmatic nature allowed President Bush to collaborate and befriend President Bill Clinton, once his political adversary, to help lead the relief efforts to raise funds for the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. During his presidency the Cold War finally ended, the Iron Curtain came down, and the people of Eastern Europe chose freedom. These events left a singular super power amid a world free of major conflict and he aimed to lead the world into an era where the world would recognize its shared responsibility for freedom and justice, a world where the strong respect the rights of the weak. President Bush once listed the qualities he most cherished and among them were: family,.love, decency, honor, pride, tolerance, hope, kindness, loyalty, freedom, faith, service to country, [and] fair play He and Barbara passed thosevalues on to their children, and lived them in front of the country. In many different ways they nurtured the next generation of leaders whose contributions have continued to enrich this nation. President Bush's faith helped him through many of the more trying times in his life, through his daughter's death, through his time in war, he was a man who had not one moment but many that helped him turn to God on his spiritual journey. He once said, I am guided by certain traditions, one is that there's a God, and He is good and His love, while free has a self-imposed cost: We must be good to one another. This sentiment is emblematic of his life. He served as many things, father, husband, president, humanitarian, and fighter. His life is a study of strong choices and bold strokes across the history of the United States, all of them guided by the strongest fundamentals of right and wrong. I am sure that he is joyous to be reunited with his closest companion, Barbara, and their daughter Robin, in heaven. While America is remembering a combat veteran, a president, and an ambassador. His family will be remembering a husband and a father. My wife Diana and I send our thoughts and deepest condolences to the entire Bush family as we mourn the passing of a president.The passing of a loved one, especially someone who has meant so much to so many, has never, and will never, be an easy burden to bear. How can I adequately speak about the life of a man who has had such a long and distinguished career? By praising the accomplishments of a man who never stopped working to make the world a better place, the man who reached across the political aisle to foster friendships, and by saying thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your leadership. God bless you and may you and your family find peace. I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=CBE7616A-2208-4394-A178-4C2347B645B6,Barrasso on Fox News with Charles Payne,2018-12-05,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=98904CEB-63DB-4B1E-9493-C93D410A39A9,Barrasso on FOX News Remembering Former President George H.W. Bush,2018-12-03,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=6E9826AC-75EF-46CE-8A1F-27381348C97D,"On Meet the Press, Barrasso Remembers Pres. Bush, Discusses Russia and New NAFTA Trade Deal",2018-12-02,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Putin is somebody that respects strength and territory. Words don't mean much to him, action does. I think we need to do more. I've called for sending ships to the Black Seaand have NATO do it as well. To show the people of Ukraine that we are with them. To show Russia that international law must be followed. Click Here to Watch Sen. Barrasso. WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) appeared on Meet the Press this morning to remember former President George H.W. Bush and to talk about Russia's increased aggression toward Ukraine. Barrasso also discussed the new NAFTA trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Below are key excerpts of the interview: On President George H.W. Bush's Legacy: You know, my memories of President Bush are his times in Wyoming, in my hometown of Casper, in Jackson Hole and how kind he was to children. Bending down, looking in, listening to them. You know, he treated everyone witheveryone got a smile, everyone got a handshake, everyone got respect. And he never rested in his work and dedication to the American people and now may he rest in peace. On Pres. Trump Not Meeting with Russian Pres. Putin: I think it was the right call not to meet. Putin is somebody that respects strength and territory. Words don't mean much to him, action does. I think we need to do more. I've called for sending ships to the Black Seaand have NATO do it as well. To show the people of Ukraine that we are with them. To show Russia that international law must be followed. But in terms of lethal weapons for Ukraine, we've given them anti-tank, we need to give them anti-aircraft, we need to give them weapons also in terms of anti-ship. Putin respects strength and action. He will not stop until he is stopped. He can smell fear and that's the way he acts. On What's Next with Countering Russia Aggression: Any kind of action has to be a deterrence and a deterrence has to be a forceful response. Not just saying something to Putin. He's cunning, he's opportunistic, he's aggressive. He probes for weakness and then he takes it further. That's what his position has been with Ukraine. He treats Ukraine as a guinea pig. He tries something there and then says I can try it other places. Putin's powers are three: cyber, as well as energy, as well as his military. We need to do everything we can to become more energy independent and dominant, to use that energy, and I think we need NATO's involvement as well. Angela Merkel ought to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline because she's addicted to Russian energy. On New NAFTA Trade Agreement: I'm a free trader, I'm a fair trader, I want to be a smart trader. I think the president has proven to be a successful trader. We saw it with his arrangement and visit at the G20 with the president of Mexico and the president of Canada and then just last night, what's happened with China and putting the pause button there on the trade war with that, with more products heading to China, agriculture, energy products. Everything the president has promised he's delivered on and these are going to be helpful to the economy and people at home. On Passing New NAFTA in Congress Before Cancelling Old NAFTA: I think we should see if we can get it passed first. I want to see how many Democrat votes come on board for this. I support what the president has been doing. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=54DFE907-CD10-4777-9259-4617D1615CD2,Enzi statement on the passing of President George H. W. Bush,2018-12-01,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S.Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued the following statement on the passing of President George H. W. Bush. As a dedicated husband, father and public servant, George H. W. Bush lived his life with honor and distinction. From his time in the Navy during World War II, to Congress, to being an ambassador, to his service as vice-president and president, his dedication to serving his country was exemplary. Diana and I send our deepest condolences to the Bush family.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=5F8E0CE0-C81B-4C92-A2B9-30A0F2DE78E4,Wyo Senators Urge President Trump to Consider Key Factors in Review of U.S.-Russian Nuclear Treaty,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., signed a letter led by U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to President Trump urging him to consider the key factors that underpin the continued viability of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Those factors include a sustained and vigorous U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program, strict compliance by Russia with its arms control obligations and a true balance of nuclear capabilities between the parties to the treaty, according to the senators. We remain committed to funding the necessary resources for the U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program and we support the rigorous review of continued viability of the New START the Administration is undertaking. We know you agree that arms control is not an end to itself; it is but a single tool that may be used to advance U.S. national security when carefully considered, the senators wrote. F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne is home to the 90th Missile Wing, which is scheduled to receive new modernized strategic nuclear missiles to replace the older Minuteman III missiles as a result of U.S. nuclear modernization. The letter is also cosigned by 22 other U.S. senators, including Roy Blunt, R-Mo., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., John Kennedy, R-La., James Lankford, R-Okla., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=E3B6BC7C-1D28-4B1D-98C8-112B0A0EE4F7,Barrasso on FOX with Bill Hemmer about Senate Briefing on Saudi Arabia,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=77CDC6CB-51FA-4C59-B1FB-793CF9818AF1,Enzi concerned with excessive markups on FEMA hurricane relief funds,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long expressing his concerns about significantly marked-up prices FEMA contractors charged for repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Maria. Recent news stories report that more than 60 percent of what a FEMA-supported program spends on repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Maria is spent on overhead and markups, rather than actual repairs. I am troubled that federal disaster-relief money intended to help Puerto Rico residents recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria has gone to pay excessive contractor markups and overhead costs, Enzi wrote. While I understand that sending materials to Puerto Rico on tight deadlines and with the island's infrastructure challenges affects the cost of materials for repairs, I remain concerned that without proper oversight and controls, money intended to assist disaster survivors has and will be wasted. Enzi noted that FEMA has provided $3 billion in housing assistance after Hurricane Maria, and more than $1 billion of that money has gone to the Tu Hogar Renace (Your Home Reborn) program run by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing to repair homes damaged by the hurricane. It has been reported that more than 60 percent of what the program spends was used to pay contractors' overhead and markups, rather than actual home repairs. Reports show that FEMA paid $3,700 for generators that cost contractors $800, $666 for new bathroom sinks that cost contractors $260 to buy and install, and other overly marked-up prices for items such as doors and roofing materials. Enzi is specifically asking FEMA about the source of funds provided to Tu Hogar Renace and how the agency conducts oversight of state-run disaster-relief programs that receive funds to ensure they are properly managed. Enzi also wants to know what the Puerto Rico Department of Housing's guidelines are for awarding contracts and setting prices for equipment and services and how much overhead, profit, and markup FEMA allows in disaster-relief prices. Read Enzi's letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ED20EE32-EC98-4597-BE73-F4C75356625E,Wyo senators urge President Trump to consider key factors in review of U.S.-Russian nuclear treaty,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., signed a letter led by U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to President Trump urging him to consider the key factors that underpin the continued viability of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Those factors include a sustained and vigorous U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program, strict compliance by Russia with its arms control obligations and a true balance of nuclear capabilities between the parties to the treaty, according to the senators. We remain committed to funding the necessary resources for the U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program and we support the rigorous review of continued viability of the New START the Administration is undertaking. We know you agree that arms control is not an end to itself; it is but a single tool that may be used to advance U.S. national security when carefully considered, the senators wrote. F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne is home to the 90th Missile Wing, which is scheduled to receive new modernized strategic nuclear missiles to replace the older Minuteman III missiles as a result of U.S. nuclear modernization. The letter is also cosigned by 22 other U.S. senators, including Roy Blunt, R-Mo., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., John Kennedy, R-L.A., James Lankford, R-Okla., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=E552AB19-8E71-4261-B66D-07A995697065,Remarks regarding the retirement of Senator Heidi Heitkamp,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"At the end of each session of Congress it is a tradition for the Senate to pause for a moment to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the service of each senator who will not be returning in the next Congress. With that in mind, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. During the past six years, those of us who had a chance to come to know and work with Senator Heitkamp have been impressed with her dedication to the people of her home state, her involvement with tax issues, and her willingness to work with members on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to the problems and concerns of the people of North Dakota. I share a connection with Senator Heitkamp, who is a senator from a smaller rural state. Because of this shared background, we have had the opportunity to work on various issues. But beyond our work together I have enjoyed knowing Senator Heitkamp. Heidi is a remarkable person. She is the first female senator elected from North Dakota and a survivor of breast cancer. She would feel comfortable in my home state of Wyoming, the Equality State, where we know what it's like to have women trailblazers. She may be leaving us after this Congress, but she does so knowing that during her time she has made a significant difference in the lives of North Dakotans and in our country. She joined the United States Senate in 2013 and has served in a Congress often divided by partisan views. She has been willing to work with President Trump and to work across the aisle on many issues, all for the good of the people of North Dakota. I have been one of those she has worked with and I'm happy to call her a friend. The accomplishments that brought her to the Senate are substantial. Before serving in the United States Senate, Senator Heitkamp served as North Dakota's tax commissioner and later attorney general. I have had the privilege of working with Senator Heitkamp on many issues. Notably, we worked together on an issue that has long been important to Wyoming, forging parity between brick and mortar stores and e-commerce. During her time as tax commissioner, North Dakota sought to make an out-of-state mail order retailer, which had no physical presence in the state, collect and pay use taxes on sales into the state. After entering Congress, Heidi cosponsored my bill, the Marketplace Fairness Act, seeking to level the playing field for brick and mortar retail stores and out-of-state online sellers. Later we worked on amicus briefs with several of our colleagues and our efforts to create this level playing fields went all the way to the Supreme Court in the case South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court sided with our position! These efforts have been such an important part of my time in the Senate and I thank Senator Heitkamp for her work on this issue. Heidi has consistently and tirelessly fought for the people of North Dakota. She has worked in the best interests of small businesses and contributed in a significant way to culture of the Senate and the nation as a whole. If her past is any indication of her future, I think it is clear that she will be closing the door on this great chapter of her life and moving on to something new.Whatever that may prove to be I am certain it will make good use of her abilities, background, and experience. My best wishes to Heidi, her husband Darwin, and their children as they enter the next chapter in their lives. I thank her for her willingness to serve the people of North Dakota and the people of the United States. There are countless ways of saying farewell, one of my favorites is- Happy Trails. Until we meet again.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=ECC84DB0-9C24-4605-8C20-323B117607B6,Barrasso on FOX with Dana Perino about Briefing on Yemen and Saudi Arabia,2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=571C9801-89FB-4B99-ADAB-23027B39F3C1,Enzi named 2018 U.S. National Mammal Champion,2018-11-27,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As part of the National Bison Day celebration, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the American Bison Coalition presented U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., with the 2018 U.S. National Mammal Champion Award. The American bison is one of the most powerful symbols of the American West, Enzi said. Since our frontier days, the bison has become a symbol for not just Wyoming, but one of strength and determination for our country. It has been integrally linked culturally and spiritually to many Native American tribes over the centuries. Though there was a time when the bison were almost extinct, now there are half a million living across North America. We have also seen bison ranching become a viable business for many small and medium-sized ranchers. I was honored to be recognized for my legislative work to help promote the American bison. In the Senate, Enzi led the resolutions from 2012 to 2016 that designated National Bison Day each year. Enzi also introduced the Bison Nickel Restoration Act of 2004, which would have required that one of the new designs for the nickel feature an image of a bison. In 2005, the U.S. Mint announced the Bison Nickel as part of its Westward Journey Series.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=8368135D-29B5-4F7D-BF9A-3BFB24CE11E3,Wyoming delegation says its time to end Japanese tariffs on U.S. soda ash,2018-11-26,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to prioritize eliminating the Japanese tariff on U.S. natural soda ash during the U.S.-Japan trade agreement negotiations. While the United States currently supplies nearly 50 percent of the Japanese soda ash market, from 2014 to 2017, U.S. exports of natural soda ash to Japan decreased by 2 percent while Chinese exports of synthetic soda ash to Japan increased by 73 percent. In their letter, legislators emphasized how eliminating the Japanese tariff of 3.3 percent on soda ash could help increase U.S. production and support the more than 20,000 well-paying direct and indirect jobs in America. Synthetic soda ash is lower quality and less environmentally friendly than U.S. natural soda ash, yet China has been steadily increasing its exports of synthetic soda ash to Japan, the letter said. Eliminating the 3.3 percent duty would help U.S. soda ash exports to compete more fairly in Japan and prevent further market share erosion. In addition, greater soda ash exports would contribute towards reducing the United States' nearly $70 billion trade deficit with Japan. Soda ash is a basic raw material required to manufacture other basic commodities such as glass and detergents, accounting for roughly 60 percent of the raw material cost for glass production and 15 to 30 percent of the raw material cost for detergent manufacturing. Soda ash deposits in the Green River basin in Wyoming could supply the world's requirements for soda ash for hundreds of years.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=8B25B894-AA16-438F-9D22-BB99C7A8CAC5,Barrasso Spends Thanksgiving with Wyoming Troops Along Polish-Russian Border,2018-11-22,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sen. Barrasso visits with members of the U.S. Army's Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division stationed on the Polish-Russian (Kaliningrad) border. ORZYSZ, Poland U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) shared Thanksgiving dinner with Wyoming troops serving in Poland, near the Russian province of Kaliningrad. Barrasso visited with members of the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division stationed on the Polish-Russian (Kaliningrad) border. Wyoming currently has service members attached to the division, which is charged with assisting North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies in deterring Russian aggression and increasing European border security. (Map showing where Wyoming soldiers are currently stationed) Sharing Thanksgiving dinner with Wyoming troops serving overseas is always a highlight of my year, said Barrasso. Wyoming is blessed with so many men and women who have bravely answered the call to serve our nation. I had the honor of meeting some of them who are stationed near the Polish-Russian border. They are a long way from home, so it was a pleasure to bring a little bit of Wyoming to them this holiday season. As we count our blessings this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the brave service of our men and women in uniform. In addition to sharing Thanksgiving dinner with the troops, Barrasso toured training facilities and was briefed by U.S. and NATO military leaders on the status of their mission. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=CE46D387-579B-4E14-85E5-E0E8BAC2C860,Enzi chosen as congressional honoree for dedication on autism legislation,2018-11-20,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Autism Awareness Gala designated U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., as a congressional honoree earlier this month in recognition for his yearsof work on legislation to help those with autism and their families. It is truly an honor to receive this award. I have worked on legislation related to autism for many years because I believethat it is important that we find solutions to improve the lives of children and families affected by autism, Enzi said. I want to thank the community of individuals with autism, their families, and the many folks who come together on their behalf to bring autism issues to the forefront.I truly appreciate how this community comes together to work with me and my colleagues to raise awareness on this issue in order to improve the lives of people with autism spectrum disorders. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Enzi has worked with his colleagues on legislation to ensure that there are effective programs in place to meet the needs of people with autism and their families. He was Chairman of the HELP Committee and a co-sponsor of the Combating Autism Act of 2006 the first law passed by Congress that uniquely focused on autism spectrum disorders. Enzi was alsoa lead sponsor of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act in 2011 and the next reauthorization of the law, named the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act. The annual event is hosted by the State of Qatar in partnership with Autism Society of America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=C89D73E5-61C5-42E2-8EC3-4800264A209B,Enzi presses Veterans Affairs for answers on problems with GI benefits,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"After recent reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) information technology (IT) systems have prevented thousands of veterans from receiving their full GI Bill benefits, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) pressed the agency on what actions it was taking to address this significant problem. Since August 1, hundreds of thousands of veterans have either not received their monthly housing allowance for the fall 2018 semester or received an incorrect amount. These problems have forced our veterans to go without money to pay for basic necessities like food and rent, with some facing potential eviction or the prospect of getting kicked out of school, said Enzi. They deserve better. Enzi is seeking information on how much money the VA has spent to address this IT system failure and the number of employees working to address this problem. He would also like to know the current status of the IT upgrades and if these systems will be upgraded in time for the spring semester. The Chairman would like to know how long will it take the VA to reimburse the veterans who did not receive their MHAs or received incorrect MHAs and how much the VA estimates it owes to student veterans affected by this issue. Finally, he wants to know what steps the VA is taking to communicate with the veterans and schools affected by these delays. Read Enzi's letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=F8E0D1A2-E5AD-4183-8235-7D2C0990B82E,Barrasso Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Chronic Wasting Disease,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Jones, Bennet join Barrasso to help stop spread of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) was joined by Senators Doug Jones (D-AL) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) in introducing legislation to increase wildlife managers' ability to keep wildlife healthy. The bill authorizes a special resource study to determine how chronic wasting disease (CWD) spreads and could be prevented in deer and elk. CWD can affect both wild and domestic herds of deer and elk in 25 states. However, state recommendations for preventing the spread of the disease vary. The bill would give state wildlife agencies and wildlife experts information to conduct targeted research on how the disease is transmitted, determine which areas are most at risk, and develop consistent advice for hunters to prevent further spread. Chronic wasting disease has negatively affected white-tailed and mule deer in Wyoming for decades, said Barrasso. To protect our wildlife populations and our hunters, we need to know more about how this disease is spread and which areas are most at risk. Our bill gives wildlife managers the tools they need to research and identify exactly where chronic wasting disease is most prominent and how we can better prevent it. It's a critical first step to addressing this debilitating disease and keeping our wildlife herds healthy. As an avid outdoorsman and hunter, I am deeply troubled by the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, said Jones. This disease is threatening to impact the wildlife population in Alabama just as it has in a number of other states throughout the country. That's why it is so vital for the Senate to pass legislation that will ultimately give state and local wildlife officials the tools they need to contain the spread of CWD. The deer and elk herds affected by Chronic Wasting Disease are a critical part of Colorado's wildlife heritage and economy, said Bennet. We need to learn more about containing CWD, and this bipartisan legislation will provide the information state wildlife professionals need to align their work and prevent further spread. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Thune (R-SD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) cosponsored the legislation. Barrasso's Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act addresses the needs identified by state wildlife agencies. The bill requires the USDA secretary to enter into an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences to review current data and best management practices (BMPs) from the CWD Herd Certification Program and state agencies regarding: 1. Pathways and mechanisms for CWD transmission 2. Areas at risk and geographical patterns of CWD transmission 3. Gaps in current scientific knowledge regarding transmission to prioritize research to address gaps ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=5276099D-C9A9-41C8-817C-89954EE32282,Barrasso on FOX News about Leadership Elections,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=6E3F5129-AF9A-44BE-A0BA-CB1780985CDF,Preparing your small business for the holiday season,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"I used to be in the retail shoe business and always knew the holiday season was quickly approaching. It can bring new customers and increased sales to help your business to succeed. The National Retail Federation (NRF) found that 20 to 40 percent of yearly sales for small and mid-sized retailers take place within the last two months of the year, so there is no doubt that it is important for small businesses. The NRF also projects that consumers will spend 4.1 percent more than last year during the winter holidays. If you take steps to prepare your business and capitalize on these valuable opportunities, it can truly be the most wonderful time of the year. A few of the biggest shopping days come at the end of November Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. A 2017 survey conducted by market researchers OnePoll and commissioned by Groupon found that 67 percent of Americans preferred shopping at small businesses over large national chains for their holiday shopping. With more people wanting to shop local, it's important to be prepared with enough staff to handle an influx of customers. As a former small business owner myself, I understand nothing can get done if you do not have the people and resources to do it. In the same vein, if you are promoting incentives like gift wrapping or a small gift with purchase, be sure to have plenty of the necessary equipment. As always, it is best to prepare for these things in advance so big days like Small Business Saturday can run more smoothly. Advertising is an important part of running a business, and it's especially important during the holidays. If you are having any sales or events, be sure to promote them on your website, your social networks and any other media outlets you think will work for your business. Offering great sales is one thing, but it's just as important to get the word out about them. The Small Business Administration provides countless tools for small business owners, including tips for Small Business Saturday and advice on preparing for the holiday season. It also offers free advertising materials like posters, press releases and social media posts for Small Business Saturday. When I owned my shoe store in Gillette, I found that one of the most important things you can do to get ready for the holiday season is to plan ahead for success. A simple place to start is filling out a calendar with holidays, events and sales. Once you have the important dates written down, you can think about how you can prepare for each. By planning ahead and establishing a schedule, you can take necessary steps toward a more positive and productive end to the year. Make this holiday season one to remember and keep the tradition going in the future by taking steps to prepare for it. I hope the joy of this special season stays with you and your business throughout the year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=84DB7876-C786-4246-AE5E-41D0CA275ECE,Barrasso Elected to Serve as Republican Conference Chairman,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Third-highest leadership position in Senate will provide additional opportunities to advance Wyoming's interests WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement after he was elected to serve as chairman of the Republican Conference, the No. 3 leadership position for Senate Republicans. It's an honor to be elected chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. People in Wyoming want to know that their thoughts, ideas and concerns are being heard in Washington. This leadership position will give our congressional delegation even more opportunities to advance Wyoming's interests on a national stage. As chairman, I'll continue to work on issues that are important to the people of Wyoming including: quality jobs, affordable healthcare, lower energy costs and a safe and secure nation. We will continue to confirm federal judges who will apply the law, not legislate from the bench. I'm grateful for this new role and look forward to working with the Conference and the administration on solutions to the challenges facing Wyoming and the West. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=AFE8BDB2-AFFC-4B2C-BA61-13FEF5CDB3B3,Barrasso on FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=DA97D332-E144-4172-8BF7-FB4CA0DEA74A,Enzi statement on Barrassos and Cheneys elections as chairs of the Senate and House Republican Conferences,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued the following statement after senators elected U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and representatives elected U.S. Congresswoman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., chair of the House Republican Conference. This is the No. 3 Republican leadership position in both the Senate and the House. Congratulations to my friends and colleagues Senator Barrasso and Congresswoman Cheney on being elected chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and chair of the House Republican Conference. It is wonderful to have them both representing Wyoming in these leadership positions. This will help our state's voice to be heard through the noise. I am confident they will both serve the Cowboy State, our conferences and the country well.These choices, first by the people of Wyoming and then by other members of Congress, make a strong Wyoming delegation even stronger. I doubt that any other state has that much clout. It's really something for one state to be in this position, but we've earned it.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=44D6B915-8A28-4CC9-A659-6BCAF63CE59C,Enzi statement on midterm election,2018-11-07,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued the following statement regarding Tuesday's election. America once again saw millions of citizens go to the polls to exercise their right to vote on Election Day. No matter their party affiliation, running for office takes a leap of faith and I applaud those who took a chance and put their name on a ballot. Congratulations to Senator John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney on their re-elections to the Senate and House. Wyoming has long had a strong team in its delegation and I look forward to continuing to work with them to tackle the most important issues ahead in the next Congress. I am also looking forward to working with Wyoming's next governor Mark Gordon to support the people of Wyoming. From our national debt, to immigration, to rising health care costs and more, our country continues to face a host of challenges. A newly divided Congress will pose its own unique challenges in the years ahead, but it is important that we as public servants who wish to do best by our constituents and our country remember the importance of finding agreement without needing to compromise our principles. I am honored to represent the great state of Wyoming and will continue to work to ensure America is the best country in the world.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/facebook?ContentRecord_id=E03A81BC-2F0A-489E-A5FE-FFFCAD791EA3,The attempted attacks aimed at public officials and the media are reprehensible.,2018-10-24,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,Press alt + / to open this menu,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=D1E986DB-466E-4CF2-9253-9C4734605076,President Trump Signs Barrassos Water Infrastructure Legislation into Law,2018-10-23,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"EPW Chairman Barrasso shakes President Trump's hand during signing ceremony for America's Water Infrastructure Act. Photo courtesy of the White House. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on President Trump signing S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act into law. Barrasso attended the signing ceremony at the White House. America's Water Infrastructure Act achieves significant national and Wyoming-specific water infrastructure priorities. As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Barrasso was the lead Senate author of the bill. ""I applaud President Trump for signing this significant piece of infrastructure legislation into law, said Barrasso. The president called on Congress to act and America's Water Infrastructure Act delivers. The bipartisan bill will keep communities safe and cut red tape, all while being fiscally responsible. It is good for Wyoming and good for the nation. America's Water Infrastructure Act will upgrade and maintain aging dams and irrigation systems, increase water storage, and deepen nationally significant ports. It authorizes funds to repair aging drinking water systems, so that communities across America have access to clean drinking water. It authorizes important projects that will create jobs and grow our economy. America's Water Infrastructure Act is a win for all Americans, and I am pleased the president has signed it into law."" Click here for video of Sen. Barrasso on the legislation's importance. Read the text of America's Water Infrastructure Act here. Background Information On May 8, 2018, Barrasso along with EPW committee members Sens. Carper (D-DE), Inhofe (R-OK), and Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 2800, America's Water Infrastructure Act. On May 22, 2018, the legislation unanimously passed the EPW committee by a vote of 21 to 0. On September 10, 2018, both Barrasso and Carper announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on comprehensive water infrastructure legislation with the leadership from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The legislation was S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act. On September 13, 2018, the House of Representatives passed S. 3021 unanimously by voice vote. On October 10, 2018, the Senate passed S. 3021 by a vote of 99 to 1. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=6D53F43A-817A-4054-865A-8903D90C6525,Barrasso on FOX News about the Elections and Talks on Nuclear Treaty with Russia,2018-10-23,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/facebook?ContentRecord_id=214D9E2D-CB6B-4125-81C2-CD97759EC97D,Diana and I had a wonderful time in Laramie.,2018-10-23,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,Press alt + / to open this menu,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=5B55920A-C8BB-45C6-BD5D-A21F4C4ED0EC,Senate encourages Americans to save for retirement,2018-10-19,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As part of a part of a national effort to help workers focus on their financial needs for retirement, the Senate has designated Oct. 21-27 as National Retirement Security Week. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., introduced the resolution, which the Senate passed without any opposition. Enzi hopes the week will encourage Americans to take steps toward securing their futures by saving through an employer-sponsored or individual retirement plan. The lack of retirement planning by Americans at all stages of life illustrates the need to explore the resources already available, Enzi said. Knowing the best way to save for retirement can reap huge rewards down the road. The resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, D-Md., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Doug Jones, D-Ala., Todd Young, R-Ind., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=5C9136E5-B133-4702-90DA-16754022C85B,U.S. Senate pages wanted for spring 2019,2018-10-16,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., is encouraging Wyoming high school juniors to apply to be a Senate page in Washington, D.C. The deadline for spring applications is Nov. 7.There are 30 page positions in the U.S. Senate each session and Enzi is fortunate to have the opportunity to sponsor a student from Wyoming to serve in one of these positions. The U.S. Page program is a great opportunity for young people and provides experiences that participants will carry with them for the rest of their lives, Enzi said. Not many people can say they've worked on the Senate floor the page program gives students a front row seat to see history in the making while gaining real work experience. Page duties consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative material at the Capitol.Other duties include preparing the Senate chamber for sessions and carrying bills and amendments to the appropriate people on the Senate floor. Spring page eligibility is limited to high school juniors who will be 16 or 17 years old by the date of appointment. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. The Senate Page School provides the necessary requisites for a junior year course of study that is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Pages live in Webster Hall located near the Capitol and receive a stipend to cover the cost of the residence. Breakfast and dinner are provided each day. The springsession runs from Jan. 28 to June 7, 2019.The application and additional information can be found atwww.enzi.senate.gov. Further questions can be directed to Dianne Kirkbride in Senator Enzi's Cheyenne office at 307-772-2477 orDianne_Kirkbride@enzi.senate.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/facebook?ContentRecord_id=4420A842-5083-4098-97CD-1556C0073FD3,"The GSA operates a vast portfolio of federal government property including about 267,000 buildings, 496,000 structures and 42 million acres of land at a cost of nearly $26 billion each year.",2018-10-15,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,Press alt + / to open this menu,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/facebook?ContentRecord_id=5DE1C5C1-EBAB-4290-A248-C900E746DA55,The president signed a bill into law to reauthorize the Congressional Awards program.,2018-10-15,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,Press alt + / to open this menu,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=88B88BBE-8925-451B-B374-A573CAD0E1EE,Tax reform helps small businesses,2018-10-15,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"It has been nearly 10 months since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. The full benefits have not been fully realized yet, but the initial results are promising. The economy is expanding at its second-fastest pace in 13 years, and 1.7 million jobs have been added since Congress passed the historic tax reform legislation. Workers saw their disposable incomes grow 3.5 percent over the last year, helping families keep more of their hard-earned money. And, importantly, it has provided certainty for the small business community and lowered employers' tax burden so they can expand their businesses, create jobs and keep money in their pockets. The National Federation of Independent Business recently released survey results showing that the majority of small businesses are optimistic about the effects of tax reform. Specifically, it found that 87 percent of member businesses believe the new tax law will have a positive effect on the economy, 76 percent believe it will positively affect business and 70 percent of owners anticipate it will positively affect their personal tax situation. I've always had a strong focus on helping small businesses that was an especially important part for me when I was working on the tax reform legislation so I am happy to see these positive findings. In early October, I attended a hearing with my fellow members of the Senate Small Business Committee to examine the impact of the tax reform law. At the hearing, we heard from experts about an economic development tool included in the tax reform bill called opportunity zones. The opportunity zone program allows states to designate struggling communities as opportunity zones and is designed to spur economic growth in these areas. In Wyoming, we have 25 opportunity zones. One expert at the hearing, John Lettieri, the president and CEO of a research and advocacy organization called the Economic Innovation Group, discussed how these opportunity zones were designed to benefit small businesses. He said the main purpose was to drive investment into operating businesses in underserved areas particularly new ventures and existing small- to medium-sized businesses poised for growth. Lettieri stressed that his hope for opportunity zones is that it will provide a lifeline to entrepreneurs in underserved and overlooked areas of our country. I am hopeful that opportunity zones will help revitalize some of our communities across Wyoming. Small businesses serve as an engine of economic growth in our country, and I believe the tax reform law has a lot of positive components for small businesses some we have already seen and some we will see in the coming years. I will continue my efforts to promote small businesses and look after their interests.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=A1FF5088-13B8-4B7C-B53F-98B7CBE8DE78,"President signs Enzi, Barrasso bill to reauthorize Congressional Awards program",2018-10-11,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. President Trump signed a bill into law today to reauthorize the Congressional Awards program, which is the U.S. Congress's award for young Americans. The bill was introduced last month by U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo. When Wyoming's Senator Malcolm Wallop created the Congressional Awards program in 1979, he wanted to encourage our young people to push the boundaries of their lives so they could discover what they were truly capable of achieving, Enzi said. Over the years, I've enjoyed meeting those who have been recognized by this important program, and I am happy that young people across the country will have the opportunity to earn this award for years to come. The Congressional Awards program recognizes young people for their hard work and dedication to achieving challenging goals, developing valuable skills and helping their community, Barrasso said. It isn't an award that is won it is something students earn through their own perseverance and sacrifice. The program which was created by Senator Malcolm Wallop has been a great success in Wyoming and all around the country. Now that it has been reauthorized, we look forward to having more Wyoming students participate in this wonderful program in the future. The Senate and House passed the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 unanimously last month. The reauthorization extends the program until 2023. - end-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=CFAF0AD4-06FC-48C8-89FF-D94617DBE7F7,"President signs Enzi, Barrasso bill to reauthorize Congressional Awards program",2018-10-11,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"President Trump signed a bill into law today to reauthorize the Congressional Awards program, which is the U.S. Congress's award for young Americans. The bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., last month. When Wyoming's Senator Malcolm Wallop created the Congressional Awards program in 1979, he wanted to encourage our young people to push the boundaries of their lives so they could discover what they were truly capable of achieving, Enzi said. Over the years, I've enjoyed meeting those who have been recognized by this important program, and I am happy that young people across the country will have the opportunity to earn this award for years to come. The Congressional Awards program recognizes young people for their hard-work and dedication to achieving challenging goals, developing valuable skills and helping their community, Barrasso said. It isn't an award that is won it is something students earn through their own perseverance and sacrifice. The program which was created by Senator Malcolm Wallop has been a great success in Wyoming and all around the country. Now that it has been reauthorized, we look forward to having more Wyoming students participate in this wonderful program in the future. The Senate and House passed the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 unanimously last month. The reauthorization extends the program until 2023.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=4F2840C8-5828-4A6B-816C-5887F804E1CA,Congress Passes Americas Water Infrastructure Act,2018-10-10,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan Legislation supports our nation's economic prosperity, cuts red tape, and keeps communities safe by improving America's water infrastructure. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and committee ranking member Tom Carper (D-DE), Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee ranking member Ben Cardin (D-MD) released the following statements on the Senate's passage of S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. The bipartisan legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 99 to 1. The bill will now go to the president to be signed into law. America's Water Infrastructure Act is the most sweeping infrastructure package to be considered this Congress. It grows the economy, keeps communities safe, cuts red tape and is fiscally responsible. The House of Representatives passed the legislation by voice vote. For more information on the legislation, click here. President Trump called on Congress to take action on the country's water infrastructure and we have done that today, said Barrasso. America's Water Infrastructure Act will cut Washington red tape, grow the nation's economy, and help keep communities safe. It will create jobs, reduce the deficit, and give local stakeholders more control of projects. This bipartisan legislation will help communities in Wyoming by increasing water storage, fixing irrigation systems, addressing the maintenance needs of older dams, and by finding a permanent solution for flooding caused by ice jams. I am thankful to my fellow senators for supporting this important bill. I am pleased to send America's Water Infrastructure Act to President Trump for his signature. This bipartisan infrastructure bill delivers for families in every state across our country, and I'm proud that it's on its way to be signed into law, said Carper. This legislation invests in the critical water infrastructure we don't see every day, but that American families in every state rely on, such as drinking water systems, dams, reservoirs, levees, and ports. It supports and creates good-paying jobs here at home, incentivizes businesses to buy and use American products, and authorizes and expands programs for clean drinking water for the first time in more than two decades. And when it comes to local infrastructure projects, it ensures the voices of our country's local governments are being heard by the federal government to ensure needs are being met and taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently. This is the first major infrastructure bill to clear this Congress, and it's one that should be celebrated. Today we've passed the third consecutive biennial water resources bill, which allows us to ensure America has modern, updated water resources and infrastructure to maintain our economic competitiveness, said Inhofe. By passing this bill, Congress is taking bipartisan action on infrastructure to support states and local communities across the country. I'm pleased this bill supports Oklahoma by giving state and local stakeholders greater say in which projects get funded. We also cut needless red tape in this bill by allowing for greater transparency into Corps permitting and real estate processes. I fought to secure provisions in this legislation that will promote economic development in Oklahoma by further advancing the MKARNS priorities, as well as provide certainty in water storage pricing for Bartlesvillesaving taxpayers over $10 million. I also worked to include language that could extend the authorization for the Booster Pump Station in Midwest City and provide for the Altus-Lugart dike rehabilitation. Water infrastructure should not be a partisan issue and I have been proud to work with my colleagues to develop legislation that will benefit our aging water resources and infrastructure, said Cardin. Congress has a responsibility to be a strong partner with states and localities to repair and maintain our nation's waterways and infrastructure, and keep our drinking water safe. This bipartisan legislation is a major step toward fulfilling that responsibility. America's Water Infrastructure Act will: Authorize federal funding for water infrastructure projects, which leverages billions in water infrastructure spending; Expand water storage capabilities; Include billions of dollars in deauthorizations and reduce the deficit; Assist local communities in complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act by upgrading aging drinking water, wastewater and irrigation systems; Reduce flooding risks for rural, western, and coastal communities; Ensure that America maintains the competitiveness of our coastal and inland ports, and maintain the navigability of our inland waterways; Create a new framework to allow for more Army Corps projects to be budgeted with increased local stakeholder input and expanded transparency; Authorize or reauthorize important water infrastructure programs and projects; and Address significant water infrastructure needs in tribal communities. Read the text of America's Water Infrastructure Act here and a section-by-section of the legislation here. Background Information: Barrasso, Carper, Inhofe, and Cardin introduced S. 2800, America's Water Infrastructure Act on May 8, 2018. On May 22, 2018, the legislation unanimously passed the EPW committee by a vote of 21 to 0. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3C64752-3229-4C11-9793-37961CE394D7,Barrasso Secures Key Wyoming Projects in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill,2018-10-10,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), praised the Senate's passage of S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. The bipartisan legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 99 to 1. The bill will now go to President Trump to be signed into law. America's Water Infrastructure Act achieves significant national and Wyoming-specific water infrastructure priorities. As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Barrasso was the lead Senate author of the bill. The legislation has the support of a broad group of Wyoming leaders and stakeholders. For more information on the legislation, click here. President Trump called on Congress to take action on the country's water infrastructure and we have done that today, said Barrasso. America's Water Infrastructure Act will cut Washington red tape, grow the nation's economy, and help keep communities safe. It will create jobs, reduce the deficit, and give local stakeholders more control of projects. This bipartisan legislation will help communities in Wyoming by increasing water storage, fixing irrigation systems, addressing the maintenance needs of older dams, and by finding a permanent solution for flooding caused by ice jams. I am thankful to my fellow senators for supporting this important bill. I am pleased to send America's Water Infrastructure Act to President Trump for his signature. Wyoming Provisions in America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 will: Approve the expansion of water storage at the Bureau of Reclamation's Fontenelle Reservoir in Lincoln County, Wyoming; Require the Secretary of Interior and Secretary of Army to work together on regional sediment management plans and prioritizes funds for reservoir sediment management activities within the Missouri River basin. This will restore the active water storage capacity of these resources. These would include BOR reservoirs in Wyoming and the Upper Missouri River Basin; Authorize a Snake River Basin Flood Prevention Action Plan to protect Wyoming communities in the Snake River Basin. Under the bill, the BOR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) will develop an action plan for each state or portion of state within the Snake River Basin. Such plans will focus on the areas most likely to experience flooding in the next two years and include steps to manage and reduce flood risks within the Snake River Basin. The plan should include what steps the two agencies will take to improve coordination with local stakeholders to help manage and reduce flood risks in the areas most likely to experience flooding in the next two years; Make permanent the pilot program established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act for ice jam prevention and mitigation and doubles the number of pilot projects; Expedite the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to process take and harassment permits in a timely manner, while maintaining compliance with other laws. Extend the Indian Irrigation Fund through fiscal year 2028. This fund was created in the WIIN Act and is used for maintenance, repair, and replacement activities of Indian irrigation projects, including the irrigation project on the Wind River Indian Reservation; Authorize $20 million a year for four years to provide clean water for communities by establishing a pilot program to improve existing drinking water lines and water towers for tribal communities, like the Wind River Indian Reservation, in the Upper Missouri River Basin; Authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to provide $25 million in grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to small, rural and tribal water systems in order to come into compliance with the Clean Water Act; Extend until 2030 the program to address the deferred maintenance needs of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) dams. Barrasso introduced the Dam Repairs and Improvements for Tribes Act (DRIFT Act) in 2016 and secured its inclusion as a provision in the WIIN Act. This program would include dams such as those on the Wind River Indian Reservation; Authorize $30 million for more inspection stations in the Upper Missouri River Basin to prevent invasive species such as zebra or quagga mussels from getting into reservoirs and waterways in states like Wyoming; Create a process where the Army Corps must provide certainty to states and localities who are applying for approval of water storage projects, that the Corps agrees with the proposed water storage project up front in the process as opposed to denying the project years later in the approval process; Prioritize funding for ecosystem restoration projects that modify existing Army Corps levees in the Upper Missouri River Basin. This could benefit cities like Sheridan, WY, which are working with the Army Corps to do ecosystem restoration to improve aquatic, wetland and riparian habitat along Goose Creek and its two largest tributaries, Little Goose Creek and Big Goose Creek; Establish a ten-year pilot program to expedite the review of applications for permits to expand small community (80,000 people or less) reservoirs to increase water storage and supply if the city water supplies have been polluted from legacy Department of Defense (DOD) activities where mitigation is occurring. This would benefit cities like Cheyenne, WY that have ongoing cleanup activities with the Corps to address DOD legacy pollution and have projected water supply needs; Expedite flood and drought monitoring in the Upper Missouri River Basin that was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act in 2014. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=BB468A8F-8773-4904-8107-B20CBA10EAAC,Wyoming Supports Barrassos Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Legislation,2018-10-10,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. A broad group of Wyoming leaders and stakeholders have voiced support for Sen. John Barrasso's (R-WY) bipartisan legislation, S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. America's Water Infrastructure Act achieves significant national and Wyoming-specific water infrastructure priorities. As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Barrasso was the lead Senate author of the bill. The legislation is scheduled for Senate consideration today. It will then go to President Trump to be signed into law. For more information on the legislation, click here. What They Are Saying About the Legislation: Governor Matt Mead: I am in support of America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. This bipartisan bill includes key provisions that would allow modification of Fontenelle Dam. This is a critical project highlighted in my 2015 Water Strategy. Once completed, it could allow from 100,000 to 200,000 acre-feet of usable storage in the water short Colorado River Basin, without changing the environmental footprint of the project. I look forward to the swift passage of this legislation, and thank you for recognizing the importance of water infrastructure in the West. Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA): WSGA is pleased to offer our support to S. 3021. This very comprehensive legislation focuses on assuring efficient operation and maintenance of water infrastructure while enhancing the opportunity for cooperation and collaboration with local governments and water users. In particular, WSGA strongly supports the provision in Section 4310 that would assist in ensuring that the State of Wyoming can proceed with the necessary modification to the Fontenelle Dam to allow for full use of the available water supply. Timely approval of this effort is critical to enabling the state to meet water development goals established by our GovernorMead. Jim Magagna, Executive Vice President Wyoming Wool Growers Association: On behalf of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association, we write to support S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018we believe this bill remains a good bill for Wyoming, including our sheep and livestock producers, and the West. We are pleased to offer our support for its final passage. Amy Hendrickson, Executive Director Family Farm Alliance: We believe the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, developed and advanced by your Committee, -- in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner -- shows a strong commitment to existing and future water infrastructure, recognizes the unique challenges faced by Western rural communities, and makes important strides in addressing those challenges. The public infrastructure needs our Nation is currently facing are daunting, and they will require innovative solutions to meet those needs. The infrastructure investments made by prior generations have benefited this country for over a hundred of years. Now it is this generation's responsibility to invest in our water infrastructure for future generations. S. 3021 makes a significant contribution toward meeting that responsibility Pat O'Toole, President and Dan Keppen, Executive Director ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=4E58A935-3A70-4D91-A4F0-9C71767224B6,Enzi applauds Senate passage of major water infrastructure bill shepherded by Barrasso,2018-10-10,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Senate passed legislation today with strong bipartisan support that would help local communities improve access to water for drinking, waste treatment and irrigation. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who voted in favor of the bill, said it would also support trade and a healthy economy by authorizing improvements to other water infrastructure projects across the country. Enzi applauded the work by U.S. Senator John Barrasso who, as Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, helped craft the America's Water Infrastructure Act. As a former mayor, I understand how vital it is for local communities to have access to enough safe water and working sewer systems, especially out west, where water can be a scarce commodity, Enzi said. By providing improvements for water infrastructure projects, we are helping support our communities, our farmers, our ranchers and everyone else. I congratulate Senator John Barrasso for his work on this legislation that garnered a lot of bipartisan support, which can be tough work around here. The bill authorizes important projects to deepen nationally significant ports, maintain inland waterways, upgrade dams and irrigation systems and increase water storage while also setting up a process to deauthorize $4 billion in unnecessary projects. The bill now heads to the president's desk for his signature.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=DE560C52-A468-4558-AEBC-A9B937866CE6,Enzi pushes GSA to better manage federal property,2018-10-10,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, contacted the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) about how effectively the agency manages the federal government's real property. The agency operates a vast portfolio of federal property including approximately 267,000 buildings, 496,000 structures and 42 million acres of land, at a cost of nearly $26 billion each year. Federal real property managed by GSA does not include public lands, which are overseen by the Department of the Interior. Enzi is pushing the GSA to be a more effective property manager in order to protect taxpayer dollars. Managing this property presents major challenges for the General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget, Enzi wrote. Indeed, the Government Accountability Office has had real property management on its High Risk List since 2003. But information disclosed by GSA, along with omissions of required information, raises concerns about how effectively the agency manages the federal government's real property. Enzi noted that the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (FASTA) requires GSA to publish a real property database that includes specific information about each property, such as its size, level of utilization, and annual operating costs. This database helps inform Congress about the use of real property, such as whether it can be transferred or sold. Although the database includes much of the information required by law, key information is missing. The database excludes required annual operating costs, replacement value, and actual and projected capital expenditures to operate and maintain a property. These data are important because they can help inform future funding needs for operating, repairing, and replacing real property. The Chairman wrote seeking estimates for annual projected operating costs for managing real property government-wide, as well as maintenance costs, and capital expenditures for each year over the next decade. He wants to know why total capital expenditures, estimated capital expenditures, annual operating costs, and replacement value were omitted from the FASTA database, and what steps are being taken to encourage agencies to utilize real property more efficiently and dispose of surplus or excess property, among other information. Enzi is also asking GSA why more than 4,000 leased properties have occupancy rates that are less than 50 percent, and what the associated costs are for this underutilized space. Managing the federal government's vast portfolio of real property presents challenges, but effective management is essential to protect taxpayer dollars, Enzi wrote. Read the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=E5D694E2-8790-4B98-82E3-97D16242ECAC,Remarks of Senator Enzi regarding the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court,2018-10-09,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to be our next Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Confirming Supreme Court Justices is one of the most important and sacred roles of the Senate. Supreme Court candidates represent individuals who have reached the highest level of their profession and are often the brightest legal minds of their generation. Beyond their stellar resumes, they must have a proven track record of approaching each case with care and a commitment to upholding our rule of law and the Constitution. Judge Kavanaugh easily exceeds these standards and is highly qualified for confirmation to our nation's highest court. I met with Judge Kavanaugh in July and got the chance to talk with him about his judicial philosophy and record. During our conversation, I was struck by his professionalism, commitment to the Constitution, and vast knowledge of our legal system. We discussed the important issues facing Wyoming, and I believe he understands my state's unique challenges. As a rural, western state, we are constantly battling federal government overreach from Washington, D.C. Judge Kavanaugh has a long history of reining in executive agencies that stretch beyond their statutory authorities, which is a welcome relief for my state. Wyoming is a state full of citizens who expect our courts to uphold the Constitution as the framers originally intended it. I voted to confirm Judge Kavanaugh as a Judge to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals over a decade ago. Since that time, Judge Kavanaugh has become widely regarded by his peers as one of the most respected circuit judges in the nation. He's a prolific writer and has authored more than 300 opinions, demonstrating his firm commitment to the rule of law. Having reviewed his record, and based on his experience and writings, I believe Judge Kavanaugh will fairly and impartially interpret the law. Over a decade ago, when the Senate was considering the nominations of Justice Alito and Chief Justice Roberts, I gave a floor speech where I stated that [W]e have shifted into an era of judges who legislate. We must return to the elementary doctrines that [recognize] the important and distinct roles of each branch. That sentiment is more true now than ever. Elected representatives in Congress are held accountable to the people and must demonstrate their fidelity to their constituents' concerns to remain in office. There is no such check on our judiciary. Congress's job is to write the law, and the courts are tasked with interpreting the law and determining its adherence to the Constitution, not writing it themselves. I believe Judge Kavanaugh understands this distinction thoroughly and has a proven track record of refraining from re-writing laws from the bench. His confirmation to the Supreme Court will set a new standard for our judicial system that encourages this type of philosophy one that shies away from activism and focuses on the true role of the courts to interpret the law. I also appreciate Judge Kavanaugh's commitment to service. Since the beginning of his career, he's spent several decades in various roles in the public sector, serving our nation. From the Bush Administration and now to the courts, he's dedicated his life to public service and served our nation honorably. He's also a family man who volunteers his extra time at his church or helping deliver meals to other people. Of all of the shining spots on Judge Kavanaugh's resume, this may be the most impressive. Serious accusations were recently made against Judge Kavanaugh. It is a senator's job when giving advice and consent on nominations to give such accusations, and the people making them, careful consideration. I do not condone sexual assault in any case, and allegations must be taken seriously.All parties deserve fair treatment.I believe they got it and the committee rendered its decision. The situation surrounding these accusations included noise and political pandemonium the likes of which we've thankfully not had too many occasions to witness in the history of our country. That's why I was appreciative of how Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley conducted committee consideration of this nomination. He cut through the conjecture, speculation, frenzy, and focused the committee on fair consideration for accusers and accused. I made my decision to vote for Judge Kavanaugh based on my meeting with him, his long and meritorious record of public service and as a judge, which involved multiple FBI background checks, including the most recent supplemental review, and the Judiciary Committee's work on the nomination. That work included a day of questions about the accusations made against Judge Kavanaugh. At the conclusion of this process, no new facts were revealed and no corroboration of the accusations was presented. Like Justice Gorsuch before him, I believe Judge Kavanaugh would issue decisions adhering to a strict interpretation of the Constitution, free from outside pressure. I applaud President Trump for taking his responsibility to nominate qualified Justices so seriously. Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=D658033F-CAA2-4A39-973D-33F34029EF6E,Barrasso Statement on Confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh to U.S. Supreme Court,2018-10-06,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next justice of the United States Supreme Court. For the second time in two years, the Senate has confirmed a highly qualified judge to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite attempts to smear his good name, Judge Kavanaugh has proven himself to be a mainstream, independent judge. He understands that it is the judge's job to apply the law, not legislate from the bench. Decisions the Supreme Court makes will impact our freedoms, our land, and the rights of every person in Wyoming. I'm confident Justice Kavanaugh will serve all of us with fairness and respect for the Constitution. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=64C4CD4A-6F06-4B13-871A-9DB5C75535A2,Wyoming senators urge president against year-round E-15,2018-10-05,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., joined a bipartisan group of 20 senators in urging the president to reject the year-round sale of 15 percent ethanol by volume (E15). In reccnt months, media outlets reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering regulatory action to expand the sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol by volume (E15) year-round by waiving certain Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements related to Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), the senators wrote. However, a one-sided approach to addressing concerns related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that favors only one industry stakeholder is misguided. We are concerned that doing so would do nothing to address the policies impacting refinery jobs, could hurt millions of consumers whose vehicles and equipment are not compatible with higher ethanol blended gasoline, and risk worsening air quality. The letter was led by U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and was also signed by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, D-Md., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Tom Udall, D-N.M., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., John Boozman, R-Ark., Pat Toomey, R-Penn., Bill Cassidy, R-La., James Lankford, R-Okla., Steve Daines, R-Mont., John Kennedy, R-La., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss. View the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=72E55EBD-C646-424B-B9CA-BC4D38C918BB,Enzi statement on vote to move forward with Judge Kavanaughs nomination,2018-10-05,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., supported a procedural motion in the Senate today that set up a final vote on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. After the vote, Enzi released the following statement. I have read the FBI's supplemental background investigation on Judge Kavanaugh. We're prohibited from revealing specifics, but I found no new facts were revealed and no corroboration of the accusations were presented. Sexual assault allegations deserve to be taken seriously and career agents at the FBI compiled this background information independent of political considerations. Throughout this process I have believed that it is important to fairly examine the evidence presented without prejudice. I continue to believe Judge Kavanaugh is a well-qualified nominee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=20005B06-32FE-4E48-ACDF-BE62E6680EFB,Senate Budget Committee Republicans press CBO on new health insurance model,2018-10-04,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As part of the Senate Budget Committee's ongoing oversight of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Republican members of the Committee sent a letter to the agency encouraging it to release details of its new health insurance simulation model (HISIM) to the public prior to its use next spring. The members also asked CBO to consider re-estimating federal spending and coverage under the Affordable Care Act using the new health care model to determine whether the agency's estimates would have been closer to the actual, observed amounts since its enactment. Led by Budget Chairman Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Pat Toomey, R-Penn., Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., Bob Corker, R-Tenn., David Perdue, R-Ga., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., John Kennedy, R-La., John Boozman, R-Ark., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also signed the letter. CBO's current health insurance simulation model was originally developed in the mid-2000s. While CBO has made some minor modifications to the model since its introduction, it has now embarked on a major effort to replace the model entirely to reflect the most current date and information. In their letter to CBO Director Keith Hall, the senators wrote, We strongly encourage CBO to release details of its new model to the public prior to its use next spring. This would allow for a more extensive peer-review process before its adoption, which is consistent with your goal of fostering greater transparency of the agency's models and its work. To ensure that it is thoroughly tested and validated, the senators also requested that CBO publish detailed information about the new model's specifications, including the specific data it relies on, a description of the estimation methods, and a full explanation of key assumptions within the model before it is adopted. In addition to soliciting feedback from the agency's technical review panel, the senators recommended CBO establish a process for broader external validation of the new model by the public prior to putting it into use next spring. We believe CBO should consider re-estimating federal spending and coverage under the Affordable Care Act using HISIM2 to determine whether the agency's estimates would have been closer to the actual, observed amounts since its enactment. This type of real-world testing not only could serve to validate the model but would help further the goal of developing a new model that is capable of producing more accurate estimates for Members of Congress and the public, wrote the senators. Read the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=34557B8B-FA4E-497C-AD04-28AD11E574BB,Barrasso: Time for Senate Democrats to End Their Charade and Vote on Judge Kavanaugh,2018-10-03,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"It's now all about the politics of personal destructionThe American people deserve better than this. It's time for the Democrats to end their charade before they do more harm to the Senate, to the Supreme Court and to the United States of America. Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor calling on Senate Democrats to end their charade and move forward with a vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Excerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks: I rise today to speak about the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the United States Supreme Court. He was nominated on July 9 86 days ago today. Even before he was nominated, a number of members in this body stood and said they would oppose the nomination not even knowing who he or she might have been. After the name came out that evening, other members of the Senate said they would oppose that. That's what Senator Schumer said. He said he would oppose it with everything that he had. It used to be that we could disregard language like this as empty rhetoric. Not anymore. Now we know exactly what Democrats had in mind from the very start. We have seen the kind of smear campaign they've been planning from the very beginning. What I've heard from people at home in Wyoming is that they didn't think things could get any lower in Washington D.C. until they saw this. Democrats have done everything under the sun to delay Judge Kavanaugh's nomination and to tarnish his reputation. It began with misrepresenting Judge Kavanaugh's sterling judicial record. That didn't work. Then, they unfairly complained that they didn't have enough documents by Judge Kavanaugh. When that didn't work, they shifted to surprise attacks on his character. The only thing they've accomplished is to set a new low for how Democrats treat people in Washington D.C. There's a way we do things in the Senate to make sure we can fairly and fully investigate nominees for important jobs. Democrats have absolutely rejected this bipartisan tradition. They hid information for more than two months. Then, after Judge Kavanaugh had gone through four days of confirmation hearings, Democrats leaked that information to the press. Information that they had been sitting on and hiding from the American people, hiding from Republicans on the committee, hiding from the judge himself. This isn't the first time we've seen Democrats try to change the rules when it comes to judicial nominees. Democrats really do have a double standard. They do it time and time again. They want one set of rules when there's a Democratic president, and a totally different set of rules when there's a Republican president. Democrats have had for years what's known as the Biden Rule. This Biden Rule said you shouldn't confirm a Supreme Court nominee once the presidential election is in full swing. Democrats wanted that rule in place when George Bush was president. Once President Obama was in office, Democrats wanted to pretend they never said it. They wanted a totally different set of rules for considering nominees for a Democrat president. Then we had the Reid nuclear option. That's when Democrats decided and voted to get rid of the filibuster for confirming judges and other nominees. Democrats set the rule when they were in the majority, when there was a Democrat in the White House, and they wanted to confirm people that were nominated by President Obama. As soon as a Republican came into the White House, the Democrats that voted to change the rule, now complained when the rule that they changed was applied to them. Now what we see is the Schumer Rule. Democrats took the normal process for how we review nominees, and they threw it out the window. Democrats' new rule is this: Defeat the nominee no matter what. Democrats are willing to do whatever it takes to delay, to disrupt, to intimidate, to obstruct this Republican nominee. Democrats haven't just thrown out the standards for how we do our work here. They have absolutely trampled on common, human decency. It was bad enough when Democrats were just trying to delay things. They demanded reams of paperwork. Well, senators have been given access to 500,000 pages of records from the judge's time as a judge and throughout his career in public service. That's triple the amount of information that they've ever gotten about any other Supreme Court nominee. After Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, he responded to nearly 1,300 written questions from senators. That's more questions than we've had for every other Supreme Court nominee in history combined. Judge Kavanaugh has served on the Circuit Court here in the District of Columbia, the second highest court in the land, for 12 years. He's written opinions in 300 cases. If anyone wants to know how he'll act as a judge, they should look at how he's already acted as a judge for the past dozen years. These are the documents that matter. These are the ones that tell you how he approaches being a judge. People can look at the 13 cases where the Supreme Court adopted Judge Kavanaugh's reasoning. That's how much respect other judges and justices have for his careful and compelling decisions. Washington Democrats don't seem to care about any of this. Democrats got the documents that they asked for so they just changed their demands. You can see how transparent Democrats have been by looking at what they said last week. As late as last Friday morning, the Democrats were saying that we should pause for a week. That's what Senator Schumer, and Senator Feinstein, and other members of the Judiciary Committee said. Let's pause for one week. As soon as Republicans said that we would do that, Democrats started saying it's still not good enough. They said it doesn't matter what happens this week, they're still voting no. Because it was never for them about finding the truth. For many, it was never about the name of the nominee, because they came out opposing him before his name was even nominated by the president. This has always about the far left wing of the Democrat party doing as they've described it, whatever it takes to push their talking points. It's now all about the politics of personal destruction. They don't seem to care much about what they do and how they damage the people involved. They don't care about the damage they're doing to the Senate, or the damage they're doing to the Supreme Court. The American people deserve better than this. It's time for the Democrats to end their charade before they do more harm to the Senate, to the Supreme Court and to the United States of America. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=C5CAFB5B-D635-4E4A-8A98-5374C18E3B7C,Barrasso Statement on U.S. Trade Agreement With Mexico and Canada,2018-10-01,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement regarding the announcement of a new trade agreement among the United States, Mexico and Canada. Since day one, President Trump and his trade team have promised to level the playing field for American families, workers, and businesses. The president's announcement of a new, modernized trade agreement with Canada and Mexico represents a major step toward fulfilling that promise. While the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) played an important role in strengthening all three economies, it's been nearly a quarter century since the original NAFTA was signed. A new approach to North American trade was long overdue. There is still a great deal of work to be done before this agreement is implemented. In the coming weeks, I look forward to analyzing the pact in detail to assess its impact on Wyoming workers and families. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=52362780-F432-4114-BECA-2B2798B3F05C,Senate Recognizes September as National Workforce Development Month,2018-09-28,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Senate today passed a bipartisan resolution to encourage investment in education and training for American workers by designating September 2018 as National Workforce Development Month. The resolution, introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), supports federal initiatives to promote workforce development and recognizes the crucial role that they play in growing the economy. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to educate and train American workers, said Senator Feinstein. Our resolution recognizes that and encourages investments in higher and vocational education, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. These invaluable workforce development programs ensure that our workers are not only ready for today's jobs, but that they're also prepared to adapt to the changing needs of an increasingly competitive global economy. Workforce development is the fuel of our economy, driving innovation and the emergence of new technologies, said Senator Hatch. To maintain America's competitive edge, we must ensure that our federal training programs are teaching workers the skills they need to succeed in the global marketplace. That's why I am honored to co-lead a bipartisan Senate Resolution that seeks to align federal workforce training programs with industry needs. We must ensure America's workers have the skills they need to succeed and help grow our economy, said Senator Baldwin. I'm proud the Senate passed our resolution to recognize National Workforce Development Month. I also look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan effort to advance my PARTNERS Act which would provide resources to expand industry and sector partnerships to help small and medium sized businesses develop work-based learning programs, and train the workers they need to remain competitive and grow their businesses. If we want Americans to thrive under a healthy and dynamic economy, it is important that our workers are trained and educated with the skills needed to compete for the best jobs and to create the best business, said Senator Enzi. That's why I applaud the Senate for passing our resolution to declare September National Workforce Development Month. Whether it is through job corps or career and technical education programs or programs supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, we are looking to help ensure American workers are properly prepared to succeed in the 21st century economy. Access to effective workforce education and training programs are critical to supporting workers and expanding access to living wage jobs. Federal programs and funding provide the foundation for these programs. Earlier this year, Congress reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which supports high-quality career and technical education programs. Approximately 11 million high school and college students benefited from these programs from 2016 to 2017. Programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 served more than 7 million young people and adults in 2016. Nationwide, there are more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,500 American Job Centers that work with job seekers and employers across industries ranging from healthcare and information technology to manufacturing and construction. Full text of the resolution can be read here. The resolution is supported by the following organizations: National Skills Coalition National Youth Employment Coalition National Association of Workforce Development Professionals Center for Law and Social Policy AdvanceCTE United States Workforce Association Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs Young Invincibles National Association of Counties National Association of Development Organizations American Association of Community Colleges Coalition on Adult Basic Education The Corps Network Goodwill Industries International, Inc. National Association of State Workforce Agencies EasterSeals Association for Career and Technical Education Association of Community College Trustees National Education Association National Governors Association The School Superintendents Association Association of Educational Service Agencies Anitab.org Future Business Leaders of America American Federation of Teachers National Association of Regional Councils National Immigration Froum Jobs for the Future Local Initiatives Support Corporations National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Augustus F. Hawkins Foundation United Way",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=58E3B1EA-B956-47D0-ABB6-2C145FAC66C5,Enzi statement on Supreme Court nomination,2018-09-28,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., today released the following statement: When I met with Judge Kavanaugh in July, I noted that he was an extremely well-qualified nominee whose prior rulings and writings demonstrate his commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. Some serious accusations were recently made against Judge Kavanaugh, and I agreed with many of my colleagues that the Judiciary Committee should review those allegations. I am appreciative of how Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley conducted the committee focusing on fair consideration and fair treatment. As part of the committee's process, we heard testimony from Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh, but I haven't learned any new facts. My opinion of the judge hasn't changed, and I continue to believe he is a well-qualified nominee.As the Senate moves forward, I will continue to carefully consider all the information before us. I hope the Senate votes on the nomination soon.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=5569F0EF-DA7F-4F1C-9A35-88787A0FF32E,"Senators Lankford, Enzi bill to improve federal grant reporting moves to Senate floor",2018-09-26,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators James Lankford, R-Okla., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. today applaud the passage of their bill, the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act, S. 3484, out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The GREAT Act was introduced on Monday and would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create a comprehensive and standardized data structure to cover all data elements reported by recipients of federal awards, including grants and cooperative agreements. The bill now awaits a vote by the full Senate. Congress should have usable and auditable data from grant recipients in an easy and straightforward format, said Lankford. When an agency spends the money of hardworking taxpayers, everyone should know how and where their money was spent. Increased demand for federal oversight does not have to mean burdensome requirements on grant recipients. The GREAT Act requires federal data transparency to make the grant process more efficient and effective. The GREAT Act streamlines data transparency requirements for grant recipients, which will ultimately make data collection and dissemination to Congress easier and faster. I am grateful for the Committee's work on this important bill for better federal data transparency, and I look forward to full consideration on the Senate floor soon. The GREAT Act would help simplify the grant process and make it more efficient and transparent, Enzi said. As an accountant, I know the value of keeping tabs on expenditures. This legislation would build on previous progress in government spending oversight and better track hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants each year, reduce compliance costs and allow for more modern technologies in the federal grant process. The US government awards more than $600 billion every year to state and local governments, agencies, and other organizations. The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 required OMB and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a pilot program to alleviate reporting burdens for grant recipients. HHS is currently the top awarder of federal grants. The pilot program found that grant recipients are often required to enter identical data multiple times, and there is no single repository for the data. This redundancy is burdensome for grant recipients and for congressional oversight.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=A7164D3D-2606-40D3-A330-8CB18BAD5DEE,"Wyo. insurance commissioner, bipartisan Senate panel seek rural health care answers",2018-09-26,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=DDFE6AA0-33AA-4D87-8B64-BF52D57C7C30,"Wyo. insurance commissioner, bipartisan Senate panel seek rural health care answers",2018-09-26,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Competing for a chance of winning a bull riding world championship in 2012, Wyoming Insurance Commissioner Tom Glause's son came out of the gate with a bull named Canadian Tuxedo spinning hard to the right. Eight seconds later, with a victory in his pocket, his son went to dismount when the bull kicked and, in turn, hyperextended Seth's arm. Over the next two years, Glause's son had four separate surgeries -- but none of them took place in Wyoming, in part because of health care access challenges in the state. Speaking as a witness at a U.S. Senate subcommittee roundtable on rural health held Tuesday by U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Glause told this story as example of the issues facing health care delivery and health insurance in rural or frontier states like Wyoming. Enzi organized the roundtable to examine what drives health care costs in rural states and how we can create more value for patients. It struck me that as we explore health care costs in more depth, we should also take a serious look at health care in rural America to understand the unique challenges that rural patients and providers face how those challenges can affect the cost of care and learn more about how our current policies are working and where they might be improved, Enzi said. According to Glause, rural areas have a host of unique challenges, including fewer medical providers and a shortage of health care professionals across the board, more burdensome transportation needs to reach or deliver medical services and fewer insurance companies competing to offer plans. He also said there are even potential privacy concerns acting as a barrier to health care access because rural residents are more likely to have close personal relationships with providers or health facility workers and may thus avoid care for certain conditions that they are not ready for their friends to know about. Health care consumers don't always have a shop local attitude when it comes to health care. About 70percent of Wyoming's population lives within 70 miles of a state border and larger urban centers with medical care. Glause said that many folks leave the state to obtain health care, which increases the challenges the state already faces. All of these rural population factors affect the people of Wyoming, Glause said. As a result, Wyoming's insurance rates are generally regarded as the second highest in the nation. Wyoming is truly the land of wide open spaces, but that claim comes with a price. Some of the possible solutions listed by Glause and other witnesses at the hearing included price transparency for drugs and medical procedures, expanding telemedicine and allowing it to work across state lines and creating more competition in the rural markets at the provider and insurance level. The people in Wyoming and all of rural America deserve quality, affordable and accessible health care, Glause said. Video and testimony for the roundtable witnesses can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=F4E6C317-408E-423B-AF43-DDA1C0ED9C77,Enzi statement on federal court decision to return grizzly bears to endangered species list,2018-09-25,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., released the following statement on the decision by a U.S. District Court judge to return the Yellowstone grizzly bear to the endangered species list. Wildlife experts and federal officials have agreed that the grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region have been fully recovered for years. It is disappointing that the state of Wyoming and U.S. Fish and Wildlife services have once again seen their well-researched attempts to delist a recovered species struck down by a federal judge. As the grizzly bear population has increased in Wyoming, so has the danger to livestock, property and humans. That is why it was so important that management of the species had been turned over to the state. I hope that a quick resolution to keep the Yellowstone grizzly bears delisted can be implemented.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=F9F6F1F3-C61E-418F-A39F-29138F217BBC,Have an inventive idea? Learn how to navigate next steps to make your idea a reality,2018-09-19,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If you are an inventor, small business owner or entrepreneur, head to Casper on Oct. 13 to attend the Inventors Conference hosted by U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. The annual conference is dedicated to helping individuals with ideas learn more about the patent process, business planning, funding options and marketing. The Inventors Conference has become a Wyoming tradition and features speakers and inventors who share knowledge and expertise, Enzi said. The conference is free and open to the public. This year's keynote speaker is Nate Storey, who is the co-founder and chief science officer of an indoor vertical farming company called Plenty. His startup business with 43 employees in Laramie grew to a company with more than $200 million in investments and a goal to build indoor farms outside of every major city in the world. Folks in Wyoming have big ideas, and that is why I host the Inventors Conference each year, Enzi said. Inventing isn't easy. Inventors constantly have to learn the latest in patent law or find financing. The experts at this conference are there to help with those problems. Regardless of background or experience, everyone is welcome to attend and learn how to build on their ideas.The conference will be held at Casper College on Oct. 13 in Strausner Hall 210. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and events start at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration is available now by contacting Enzi's state director, Karen McCreery, at (307) 527-9444 or Karen_McCreery@enzi.senate.gov. If you are unable to pre-register, registration will be available the morning of the conference.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=DF0DCFD9-8531-421F-8FAB-C4406A6960FF,Barrasso Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Make Sure Patients Receive Lowest Prescription Drug Prices,2018-09-17,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act (S. 2554). The bipartisan legislation will make it easier for patients to know if they're paying the lowest price for their prescription medication. S. 2554 passed the Senate today by a vote of 98 to 2. Barrasso, who was an original cosponsor of S. 2554 when it was introduced in March 2018, spoke on the Senate floor today in support of the legislation. Excerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks: I come also to speak on this important piece of legislation and in favor of this important piece of legislation. I just visited with Senator Collins who knows as so many members of this body that I practiced medicine for a long time before coming to the United States Senate. I took care of a lot of Wyoming families as a practicing physician. As a doctor, I often prescribed medication to help my patients fight disease and to improve their quality of life. So I know the importance of prescription medication. I also know the important role that pharmacists play in the lives of their patients as well because the same patient that I'm taking care of, the pharmacist is also caring for. And in so many ways, the pharmacist has to be able to speak freely to their patientsabout information about their medication. Pharmacists provide vital, important roles to the patients on a daily basis and it happens all around the country. So they need to be able to speak freely about those things, and they need to be able to speak freely about the things that can save a patient's life, but also things that can save a patient money. And that's what this piece of legislation is about. Because I know that many patients fail to take the medications that their doctor might prescribe because of the cost involved, the expense of the medicine. That's why I'm so glad to see President Trump make it a priority to find ways to lower the costs that people pay for their medicine. The administration actually put out a blueprint for ways we could address drug costs. Part of the plan was to eliminate the so-called pharmacy gag clauses. These gag clauses are clauses that are sometimes included in contractsnot between the patient and the pharmacistcontracts between a drug company and an insurance company. This needs to be stopped. A gag clause says that if a patient brings a prescription to a drug store to be filled, the pharmacist cannot talk about the cash price of the drug. It's not allowed. It's wrong. Maybe someone has an insurance plan where their co-pay for medication is $10. So for the prescription they're filling, the drug would actually only cost them $5 to fill if they paid in cash. But, under these gag clauses, the pharmacist is not allowed to say anything about it. Right now, the pharmacist can't tell the patient, You know, you could save a little money if you just paid cash and you didn't bother to use insurance along the way.' The way things are now, the insurance company would collect its $10 co-payment from the patient and only have to pay $5 to the drug company. The insurance company keeps the rest and the patient doesn't know anything about it. The patient is left in the dark because the pharmacist cannot share this important information with the patient. And I believe it's wrong, and that's why I cosponsored the legislation that's on the floor right now. The Trump administration has taken a close look at this situation and they completely agree. They said that people should know if there's a simple way they can save money. And today, I'm hoping that Congress agrees as we vote on this legislation. Earlier this month, the Senate passed legislation that prohibits the gag clauses for Medicare plans. And that was the right thing to do. It passed unanimously, and I'm so happy to see that. Today we're taking the next step. We're going beyond Medicare. This legislation that we're about to vote on eliminates the gag clauses in insurance plans that people get through their employer, through their work, plans they buy on their own. We are saying with a clear voice today that patients should be able to talk with their pharmacists. Pharmacists should be able to talk with their patients to know if they're paying the lowest price for their medication. I support this bill, and I want to thank the members who led this bipartisan effort. It was a privilege to work with Senator Collins, Senator Stabenow, Senator Cassidy, and Senator McCaskill to get this done. I appreciate your attention to this important piece of legislation and I look forward to voting to support it and getting it passed today and getting it down to the president for his signature. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ED15CCF7-6CAF-4880-80F4-C9C3F3B22C51,"Barrasso Op-Ed: Democrats Want To Make Our Nightmarish, Costly Health Insurance System Even Worse",2018-09-17,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Republicans are providing alternatives to ObamaCare that lower costs for families and protect people from catastrophic medical bills. More people will now be able to choose affordable insurance that works for them. Democrats Want To Make Our Nightmarish, Costly Health Insurance System Even Worse By: U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, M.D. Sept. 15, 2018 FoxNews.Com The American health insurance system is, for many, an expensive bureaucratic nightmare. The Trump administration has put in place affordable options to inject more choice and competition into the marketplace. Democrats are trying to block them. Republicans are providing alternatives to ObamaCare that lower costs for families and protect people from catastrophic medical bills. More people will now be able to choose affordable insurance that works for them. This is the result of two Trump rule changes. The first expands access to short-term health plans, and the second allows more people to join association health plans. Combined, these two changes are likely to provide more affordable insurance to 8 million Americans. More than 2 million of these people are living without health insurance today. Short term plans have been expanded from 90 days under President Obama to as long as three years by President Trump. These plans aren't bound by the most burdensome requirements of ObamaCare, so they cost less. An analysis by the insurance company eHealth found that these plans cost an average of 80 percent less than the cheapest plans on the insurance exchanges. A 25-year-old woman in Cleveland would now pay $266 a year compared to $2,301 for ObamaCare insurance. The liberal Urban Institute expects 4.3 million Americans will choose this sort of plan next year. Of these, 1.7 million currently have no insurance. Many Americans will see this option as a great opportunity to escape from ObamaCare. A second Trump administration action helps the millions of Americans who work for small businesses or are self-employed. These people lack the leverage to negotiate better rates on their insurance, so their coverage has become very expensive. Ranchers in Wyoming wanting to insure their families and their workers have been priced out of the market by ObamaCare. Now, ranchers and others can join together to shop for better insurance rates, just like big businesses do. Under these association health plans, the same protection for pre-existing conditions apply. The Congressional Budget Office says 4 million Americans will join these types of plans, including 400,000 who have no insurance today. With these two steps, Republicans are giving relief to millions of Americans who want health insurance and have struggled to afford it. These are options, not mandates. No one will be forced to buy either of these policies or any other kind of insurance that's not right for them. ObamaCare plans will still exist and so will the subsidies for people who prefer to buy that coverage. ObamaCare will just have to compete in the open market with more affordable options. States will still have the authority to regulate these plans, dispelling claims by the liberal left that the policies are junk insurance. It's this competition that Democrats fear. Thirty-one Democrats in the Senate are trying to keep people from getting access to expanded popular short-term plans. Democratic politicians in several states and Washington D.C. are blocking these plans and suing to stop association health plans as well. Their main argument against Republican reforms is that too many people will choose an affordable alternative rather than the one-size-fits-all ObamaCare coverage. Democrats know that their health care law was based on limiting peoples' options. This caused prices to spike. In states using the federal HealthCare.gov exchange, average premiums have doubled since the law took effect. It also caused choices to disappear. People living in more than half of America's counties have only one insurer in their ObamaCare exchange. When people can pick affordable insurance that is appropriate for them, Democrats fear even fewer will sign up for ObamaCare. Republicans know a better solution is to give Americans more options, and let them choose the coverage that works best for them. Each of these changes will give people a fair choice. Add them together and they'll help millions of Americans obtain the affordable insurance they have been seeking since before ObamaCare became law. Republican John Barrasso represents Wyoming in the U.S. Senate. He serves in the Senate as a member of both the Energy and Environment Committees. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=DFA1ED3A-5B28-49A4-B573-F05632CDF73E,Barrasso Highlights LNG Bill and International Energy Security,2018-09-13,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click here for video of Sen. Barrasso talking about the role of U.S. liquefied natural gas in meeting European energy demand WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) highlighted the need for his legislation, the ESCAPE Act which deals with the export of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) at a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The ESCAPE Act enhances the energy security of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members by providing those countries with reliable and dependable American energy. It also mandates sanctions on the Nord Stream II pipeline that would carry natural gas from Russia to Germany, along with other Russian energy export pipelines. Barrasso also questioned Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council Dr. Agnia Grigas, Managing Director of ClearView Energy Partners LLC Kevin Book and Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Mark Mills. Grigas, Book and Mills testified at the committee's hearing to examine the role of U.S. liquefied natural gas in meeting European energy demand. Excerpts of Sen. Barrasso's Remarks: Russia continues to undermine peace and security in Europe, as we've talked, through a variety of mechanisms, including its use of energy as a weapon. It uses its energy sector as a weapon to intimidate, to influence and to coerce other nations. Russia continues to be Europe's main energy supplier. It also has significant ownership in Europe's energy infrastructure, including pipelines, distribution and storage facilities. I believe it's in the national security interest of the United States to help our allies reduce their dependence on Russian energy. If America does not step up to the plate now, then Russian influence is only going to grow and continue to grow. Due to technological advances and a newfound abundance of natural gas, the United States really now has the capability and capacity to be a strategic energy supplier to Europe. The United States can help Europeans meet their energy demands and diversify their energy imports away from countries that use energy as a weapon against them. I think our LNG exports create jobs across America, they assist in reducing our nation's trade deficit, and they help our allies and strategic partners across the globe. We have plenty of natural gas to meet our own needs while helping our country's allies. There are a couple of export facilities right now in the United States able to ship natural gas overseas one in Maryland and one in Louisiana. Three more are due to be operational by the end of the year, and at least 20 additional projects are awaiting federal permits. And I think we have to expedite these approvals to give our allies alternatives to Russian gas. On July 18 of this year, I introduced the ESCAPE Act, it stands for Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act.' It's going to improve energy security and help end the political manipulations by Russia through its energy resources. It does require the State Department, USAID, and the Department of Energy to create a transatlantic energy strategy focused on enhancing the energy security of our NATO allies and increasing American energy exports to these countries. The bill also requires the Secretary of Energy to expedite approvals of natural gas exports to NATO allies and other foreign countries where exports to that country would promote our national security interests. So I think it is time for Congress to clear away regulatory hurdles and make the changes necessary to give Americans, as well as our European allies a better energy option. The United States' natural gas infrastructure to me is still inadequate. There are groups and some members of Congress wanting it to stay that way to prevent our resources from ever being developed. Is it appropriate to keep this incredible resource locked in the ground? What do you think we should be doing? ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=2BED4112-5DAC-427E-8628-B07D232C7509,"Inventors, mark your calendars for October 13",2018-09-13,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In 1867, a man named Anson Mills found the standard ammunition cartridge belt too bulky and difficult to adjust. So he decided to do something about it. He fashioned a new belt with a lighter, pliable band he made of leather or a material with similar thickness and improved upon the existing belt so much he got a patent for improvements in cartridge belts. With this invention, Mills became Wyoming's first patented inventor. Folks in Wyoming continue to have big ideas, and that is why I host a conference for inventors each year. I held my first Wyoming Inventors Conference in 2004 as a way to help Wyoming's small business owners and inventors succeed in today's marketplace. The conference helps guide entrepreneurs by providing information about the patent process, business planning, funding options and marketing. This year, the Inventors Conference will be at Casper College on Oct. 13. You will hear from people who have turned their dreams into realities and learn about the resources available in Wyoming to help you do the same. You'll be able to network with fellow attendees who have ideas and experiences you can learn from. Inventing isn't easy. Inventors constantly have to learn the latest in patent law or find financing for their inventions. The experts at this conference are there to help with those problems. This year's keynote speaker is Nate Storey, who is the co-founder and chief science officer of an indoor vertical farming company called Plenty. As a doctoral student at the University of Wyoming, Storey started experimenting with vertical farming and patented a growing tower that would pack the plants more densely than other designs. His startup business with 43 employees in Laramie grew to a company with more than $200 million in investments and a goal to build indoor farms outside of every major city in the world. We will have additional speakers at the conference. Tiffany Bishop and Victoria Bryant from the University of Wyoming Research Products Center will discuss patent searching. Toni Tease, an attorney, will discuss intellectual property education. Molly Kocialski is the director of the Rocky Mountain US Patent and Trademark office and will discuss the business case for intellectual property. There will also be three panels that discuss getting an idea off the ground, alternative methods to funding and marketing your product. The Inventors Conference is free and open to the public. Doors open Oct. 13 at 7:30 a.m. at Casper College and events start at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration is available now by contacting my state director, Karen McCreery, at (307) 527-9444 or Karen_McCreery@enzi.senate.gov. If you're unable to pre-register, registration will also be available the morning of the conference. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur, a small business owner or recently came up with an idea you'd like to pursue further, everyone is welcome to attend and learn how to build on ideas. I highly encourage anyone interested to register and take advantage of the knowledge and opportunities this conference provides. I hope to see you there.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=AB470D15-EDB6-481E-A72C-810FA0E108A3,Barrasso: America Needs Judge Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court,2018-09-12,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor about why he believes the Senate should move quickly to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Excerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks: The Senate recently completed what was easily the most productive August in memory. We passed six appropriations bills with a full debate on the Senate floor. We passed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. We confirmed 25 appointees to important jobs in the administration. We confirmed 17 federal judges to the bench and we set up votes for another eight earlier this month. When I was home in Wyoming, I talked with a number of people all around the state and they were very pleased to see how much we've actually been getting done. I can tell you that they absolutely think that we should keep up this pace. Maybe the most important thing that people expect us to deal with quickly is confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. We're off to a good start with the confirmation hearings for Judge Kavanaugh that were held last week in the Judiciary Committee. What people learned is that Judge Kavanagh is a well-respected, mainstream, highly qualified person for this important job. What people also saw is that some Democrats in the Senate were totally unwilling to give him fair consideration. Senators have been given access to more than 500,000 pages of records from his time as a judge and throughout his career in public service. That's three times the amount of information that any other Supreme Court nominee has ever produced. For some nominees to the Supreme Court, these kinds of documents are very important. They can tell us a lot about how a nominee thinks, about how he or she might approach the job of being a justice. It's especially important when the person under consideration has never served as a judge before sometimes that's all we have to look at. Well, that's not the case here. Judge Kavanaugh has served on the Circuit Court for 12 years and he has written opinions in 300 cases. If anyone wants to know what he'll act like as a judge, they can just look at how he's already acted as a judge for the past dozen years. These are documents that matter. They are the ones that tell us how he approaches being a judge. Senators have had access to these court opinions since the day Judge Kavanaugh was nominated eight weeks ago. If Democrats would just take the time to read through these opinions, they would see that Judge Kavanaugh is extremely thoughtful and he's independent. He is absolutely devoted to preserving the rule of law, to protecting the separation of powers that is the basis of our Constitution. If Democrats don't want to read through all of these documents and these decisions, they could focus on the 13 cases where the Supreme Court adopted Judge Kavanaugh's reasoning. That's how much respect other judges and justices have for his careful and compelling decisions for which he has written. There was one case that dealt with a regulation that the Environmental Protection Agency wrote. Judge Kavanaugh found that the agency exceeded its authority under the law when it wrote their regulation. He wrote: It is not our job to make the policy choices and set the statutory boundaries, but it is emphatically our job to carefully but firmly enforce the statutory boundaries.' The Supreme Court agreed with Judge Kavanaugh's reasoning. One constitutional scholar pointed out that Judge Kavanaugh commands wide and deep respect among scholars, lawyers, judges, and justices.' Another legal scholar said Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most learned judges in America on a variety of issues, ranging from theories of statutory interpretation to separation of powers.' A third law professor agreed. He called Judge Kavanaugh a true intellectual a leading thinker and writer on the subjects of statutory interpretation and federal courts.' Finally, if it's even too much for some Democratic senators to read through all of the glowing reviews of Judge Kavanaugh's career, they could just look at what he's actually said. Look at his own simple, straightforward summary of his judging philosophy. In a speech last year he made it very clear. He said, The judge's job is to interpret the law, not to make the law or make policy.' This view and every example I have seen from Judge Kavanaugh's record is squarely in the mainstream of American legal thinking today. Despite all of this information being available, some Democrats are trying to say that they still want even more documents. They are hoping against hope that if they request another 500,000 pages they can delay things a little longer. Let me assure you, it's not going to happen. I think that most Democrats who have been making the most noise really don't want more documents. That's because so many of the Democrats complaining the loudest are the ones who've already made up their mind and made announcements that they are planning to vote against the nominee. Some were saying it before the nomination was even announced. From the very beginning, liberal activists called on Senator Schumer to do everything in his power to keep this seat empty for as long as necessary.' There are several senators on the other side of the aisle who have gladly taken up this challenge from the far-left corners of their base. I hope that more-reasonable Democrats will reject the calls for needless delays and dangerous obstruction. I hope that there are Democrats in the Senate who are willing to listen to what Judge Kavanaugh actually said during his hearing. I hope that there are Democrats who are willing to read some of the hundreds of thousands of pages of documents. I hope that there are Democrats who are willing to listen to the experts who are describing Judge Kavanaugh as one of the most learned judges in our country. It is clear that Judge Kavanaugh has the right approach to being a judge. It is clear that he is a person of solid character and that he has a strong intellect. It is clear that America needs Judge Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court and that it's time for Democrats to give up this pointless obstruction. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1BF26A10-A59F-4DF0-916A-35769CD23EEC,Wyoming senators introduced legislation to reauthorize Congressional Awards program,2018-09-12,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., introduced legislation today to reauthorize the Congressional Awards program, the United States Congress's award for young Americans. The Congressional Award is a wonderful program that rewards students across the country for volunteerism and personal development, Enzi said. Every year I am amazed by the kids from Wyoming that work so hard to earn these prestigious awards.Last year, Wyoming students accounted for nearly 10 percent of all those Congressional Gold Medalists. I am proud to introduce the reauthorization of this program. Senator Malcolm Wallop created the Congressional Award as an opportunity to recognize the initiative, achievement and service of young people, Barrasso said. This award isn't something anyone selects you for it is something you earn through your own perseverance and sacrifice. It's been my privilege to witness the success of this program, both in Wyoming and around the country. Senator Enzi and I will work to make sure this incredible program continues to be around for a long time. First introduced by Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop in 1979, the non-partisan and voluntary program is open to everyone ages 13 1/2 to 23. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas; volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=8DF2ED13-7970-4A12-A253-7BD8BACB58E4,Enzi asks health secretary to stop Obamacares abortion coverage expansion,2018-09-12,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., joined U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., in writing U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to request the Administration take additional steps to mitigate Obamacare's unprecedented expansion of abortion coverage. The letter was signed by 17 other U.S. senators. The senators criticized Obama-era regulations that failed to enforce Section 1303 of Obamacare, which requires that insurers that choose to offer abortion coverage collect a separate payment for that coverage, to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used for these purposes. The law provides an exemption for abortions in the case of rape, incest or where a physical condition endangers a woman's life. The senators wrote in part, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should issue new regulations aligning with legislative intent that insurance companies comply with and collect the abortion surcharge separately. Faithfully applying the law as written through new regulations will improve consumer awareness of the abortion surcharge. They went on to say, As long as Section 1303 is implemented through current Obama-era regulations, its enforcement will remain sorely deficient. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., John Hoeven, R-N.D., James Inhofe, R-Okla., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., James Risch, R-Idaho, Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., John Thune, R-S.D., and Todd Young, R-Ind. Click here for a PDF copy of the full letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=B6D6BE5A-39B1-4EAC-8251-3F39637FFA36,Wyoming delegation receives Friend of Farm Bureau award,2018-09-12,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., were each named a Friend of Farm Bureau for the 115th Congress for their support of America's farmers and ranchers and food security for consumers. I am honored to be selected as a Friend of Farm Bureau, Enzi said. For every farmer and rancher, there are countless people across our country who benefit from the food they produce and the economic benefit they provide. I will continue to work hard for America's agricultural leaders. I'm proud to be named a Friend of the Farm Bureau for the 115th Congress, Barrasso said. In Wyoming, agriculture has a long and proud history. We know if agriculture is strong, so are our western communities. I will continue to fight against Washington overreach and work to preserve the water rights of farmers and ranchers across the country. ""It's an honor to receive the Friend of Farm Bureau Award from theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation,"" Cheney said. ""Ranchers and farmers in Wyoming and across America produce the food we rely on and are crucial to our economy. I will continue to work hard on behalf of our ag industry and am grateful for this award. This award, presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), is given to members of Congress who have supported Farm Bureau's position on policy issues as demonstrated by their voting records. Enzi, Barrasso and Cheney were nominated by the Wyoming Farm Bureau and approved by the AFBF Board of Directors. Voting records are based on issues selected by the AFBF Board.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=BC2715DC-A7ED-4872-9FEF-8935F56E9D84,Enzi accepting applications for nominations to military academies,2018-09-12,2018,2018-09,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., is accepting applications for nominations to the U.S. military service academies for the 2019-20 school year. Every year, Enzi gives Wyoming youth considering military careers the opportunity to apply for a nomination to the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy. Military service academies provide exceptional opportunities to young people, including a quality education, Enzi said. These academies open doors and provide a unique set of experiences that graduates will carry with them throughout their careers. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to apply. All applicants for service academies require a nomination and an appointment.Nominations are based on an evaluation of leadership, extracurricular activities, academic grades, SAT/ACT test scores and letters of recommendation. Based on the applicant's interview with Enzi's selection committee, applicants are recommended to Enzi for final approval. Following Enzi's nomination, final appointments will be made by each academy. The application, procedures and specific criteria are available at www.enzi.senate.gov under the Academy Nominations tab.For additional application information, please contact Martha Wilson at (307) 772-2477 or Martha_Wilson@enzi.senate.gov. Applications for a nomination are due to Enzi's Cheyenne office by Nov. 5 at 2120 Capitol Ave. Ste. 2007 Cheyenne, WY 82007.Qualified applicants will be interviewed by Enzi's selection committee on Dec. 1.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=D7866FF9-B36A-40C9-8CC2-26B92D01361C,Barrasso Statement on Federal Court Decision to Block Grizzly Bear Hunts in Wyoming,2018-08-31,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on the decision by a federal judge to place a 14-day hold on public grizzly bear hunts in Wyoming and Idaho. In June of 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to remove the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the Endangered Species Act's (ESA) list of threatened species. Delisting the grizzly transferred management of the bear to the state of Wyoming. The grizzly bear has successfully recovered in Wyoming, said Barrasso. The state of Wyoming should be able to move forward with management of the bear. This judge's decision demonstrates exactly why the Endangered Species Act must be modernized. The good work Wyoming, and other states, are doing to protect and manage species should have an opportunity to succeed. The grizzly bear delisting shouldn't be undone by the courts. Even the Obama administration determined that the grizzly should be delisted. I will continue to work to make sure that management of the grizzly remains with Wyoming. Background Information: On March 3, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed to delist the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) from the federal threatened species list. According to the USFWS, The Yellowstone grizzly bear population has rebounded from as few as 136 bears in 1975 to an estimated 700 or more today. Grizzly bears have more than doubled their range since the mid-1970s and now occupy more than 22,500 square miles of the ecosystem. Stable population numbers for grizzly bears for more than a decade also indicate that the GYE is at or near its carrying capacity for the bears. On June 30, 2017, the USFWS published the final rule to delist the grizzly bear in the GYE. The USFWS noted, The participating States of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming and Federal agencies have adopted the necessary post-delisting plans and regulations, which adequately ensure that the GYE population of grizzly bears remains recovered. On July 2, 2018, Barrasso released the Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2018 discussion draft. The discussion draft reauthorizes the ESA for the first time since 1992. The discussion draft emphasizes elevating the role of states and increasing transparency in the implementation of the ESA. It also prioritizes resources to better meet its conservation goals and provides regulatory certainty to promote conservation and recovery activities. The draft legislation has received broad support from stakeholders, state and local governments, and conservation organizations. Barrasso has worked with the Western Governors' Association (WGA) in drafting the legislation. The bipartisan WGA has stated that the chairman's discussion draft legislation is generally consistent with the WGA recommendations for modernizing the ESA and includes provisions inspired by the association's Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative, led by Governor Matt Mead of Wyoming. On July 17, 2018, the EPW Committee held a legislative hearing on the draft legislation. The hearing featured testimony from Gov. Mead. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=07E7262B-36CD-474F-9C59-BE43FA17EC74,Enzi: Federal judge should not halt grizzly bear hunts in Wyoming,2018-08-31,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., expressed his disappointment that a federal judge temporarily blocked grizzly bear hunts that were set to start in Idaho and Wyoming on Saturday. Experts and wildlife officials agree that the grizzly bear in the Yellowstone region has been recovered for many years, Enzi said. It is unfortunate that activist litigation has once again delayed the process of allowing states to properly manage their own wildlife. After reviewing the evidence, I hope the judge recognizes the recovered status of the bears and allows Wyoming to continue management of the species.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=2C70668C-A116-4A1D-85C9-B6CD5F89D516,Enzi applauds Trump for taking action to strengthen retirement security options,2018-08-31,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., praised President Donald Trump for signing an executive order today that would make several changes to expand and enhance retirement security for workers. Enzi highlighted the potential creation of regulations that would make it easier for small businesses that are members of the same association to join together to offer retirement plans for their employees, but said Congress still has a role to play in allowing Open Multi Employer Plans (MEPs). Ensuring that we are helping Americans properly prepare for their retirement is a vital issue and I appreciate that President Trump is looking at strengthening efforts in this area, Enzi said. Making it easier for small employers to work together to provide 401(k)-type plans could make it easier for millions of Americans to save for their retirement. But the Administration can only go so far. Congress should continue to look at passing legislation, like the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act. That would allow for full Open Multiple Employer Plans, which would allow a much larger swath of businesses to join together to help American workers prepare for the future. As the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Enzi has emphasized the potential retirement security benefits of Open MEPs, which would likely allow more types of businesses to joint together to provide retirement options.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/newsletter-archives?ContentRecord_id=2E463BB7-865B-48C9-B428-F723BFCFD248,The Enzi Update - August 2018 Newsletter,2018-08-30,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"It's August, which means folks in Wyoming have a great opportunity to get outdoorsand do the summer activities we will miss in the winter.Work will continue here in the Capitol, so you may need to catch some fish for me at home.The Senate is still continuingwork on measures to fund the government and on confirming nominees to federal judgeships and other important positions. I was also very pleased to seethecareer and technical education legislation I have worked on for more than a decade be signed into law by the president. I look forward to continuing to work hard for the people of Wyoming and I hope you have a good end to your summer. President signs Enzi career and technical education bill into law President Trump signed a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act into law, which will help students and workers get the skills they need to find high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who worked to get the legislation passed with Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., praised its final passage. ""I am proud of this bill and the bipartisan, and almost unanimous, support it has received. That does not happen without a tremendous amount of work to get it to that point."" Enzi meets with U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Enzi showing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a colorized photo of the original Wolf Hotel in Saratoga. Enzi met with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and issued the following statement: It was great to talk with Judge Kavanaugh about his years of experience and dedication to the judicial system. He is an extremely well qualified nominee whose prior rulings and writings demonstrate his commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. I appreciated his thoughtful answers to my questions and look forward to the Senate's consideration of his nomination this fall. Enzi cosponsors bill to hold senior IRS officials accountable In an effort to give the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) commissioner clear authority to fire senior officials for misconduct or poor performance, Enzi cosponsored the IRS Accountability Act of 2018, which was introduced by U.S. Senator Richard Burr, R-N.C. It is important that we can hold employees of the IRS accountable for their actions no matter how high up the chain of command they are,"" Enzi said. ""Misconduct is misconduct, and having the status of senior executive should not allow anyone to escape responsibility.""Learn more here. Enzi also wrote an op-ed article with Burr about the legislation to bring more accountability to the IRS.Click hereto read the op-ed. It's August, which means folks in Wyoming have a great opportunity to get outdoorsand do the summer activities we will miss in the winter.Work will continue here in the Capitol, so you may need to catch some fish for me at home.The Senate is still continuingwork on measures to fund the government and on confirming nominees to federal judgeships and other important positions. I was also very pleased to seethecareer and technical education legislation I have worked on for more than a decade be signed into law by the president. I look forward to continuing to work hard for the people of Wyoming and I hope you have a good end to your summer. President signs Enzi career and technical education bill into law President Trump signed a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act into law, which will help students and workers get the skills they need to find high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who worked to get the legislation passed with Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., praised its final passage. ""I am proud of this bill and the bipartisan, and almost unanimous, support it has received. That does not happen without a tremendous amount of work to get it to that point."" Enzi meets with U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Enzi showing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a colorized photo of the original Wolf Hotel in Saratoga. Enzi met with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and issued the following statement: It was great to talk with Judge Kavanaugh about his years of experience and dedication to the judicial system. He is an extremely well qualified nominee whose prior rulings and writings demonstrate his commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. I appreciated his thoughtful answers to my questions and look forward to the Senate's consideration of his nomination this fall. Enzi cosponsors bill to hold senior IRS officials accountable In an effort to give the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) commissioner clear authority to fire senior officials for misconduct or poor performance, Enzi cosponsored the IRS Accountability Act of 2018, which was introduced by U.S. Senator Richard Burr, R-N.C. It is important that we can hold employees of the IRS accountable for their actions no matter how high up the chain of command they are,"" Enzi said. ""Misconduct is misconduct, and having the status of senior executive should not allow anyone to escape responsibility.""Learn more here. Enzi also wrote an op-ed article with Burr about the legislation to bring more accountability to the IRS.Click hereto read the op-ed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=75B6898C-629E-452A-8E18-DDA7DFFC5EFC,Barrasso Remembers U.S. Senator John McCain,2018-08-29,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks. WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) recently paid tribute to the late U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Excerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks: I come to the floor today to add my voice to the many around the world who are remembering our dear friend and our colleague John McCain. John McCain was a man of the highest character, courage, and credibility. Known for his stubborn courage and his heroic patriotism. He leaves a legacy of unquestioned devotion and love for his country and his family. When I first came to the Senate, John was very welcoming. He knew I'd been an orthopaedic surgeon, and he told me I really ought to take a look at his X-Rays. Of course, the X-Rays showed his many fractures that were the result of being shot down over Hanoi and the injuries that resulted from the crash and the subsequent beatings as a prisoner of war. It was out of pure generosity on his part that we became friends and traveling companions. John took great pride in this institution and knowing that none of us in this body of 100 left or right, Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, none of us agreed with him 100 percent of the time. But every one of us respected him and the strength of his convictions. I always have. Probably no one knows the first person to give him the nickname of Maverick,' but he certainly lived up to it. For John, it was not about playing a character on television. For him, there was no switching between a public and private persona. He was the same when the cameras were off as when they were on. His voice would thunder on the Senate floor when he was stirred to outrageincredible force and conviction. And so he came another affectionate nickname Hurricane McCain.' His humor was legendary. He used his biting humor as a surface to air missile. We all know his incredible biography -- the courage he showed as a naval officer and as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. It was a story that inspired millions of people around the world. And I could see it when we traveled the world together. We would visit American troops overseas, and it was incredible to see the respect that he commanded no matter where he went. Our men and women in uniform looked at him in awe and they hung on his every word. Foreign leaders did the same. John really was a reassuring figure around the world. My first trip with John was Thanksgiving 2007, it was before he was the nominee for president, he was actually trailing significantly in the polls and went to Iraq during the surge. We spent the day in Bagdad and in another location. And in the dark of night, flew out in to the Anbar province where his son, a marine, was serving. We had Thanksgiving dinner with a number of the soldiers. And when John got to see his son, he went to hug him, to lift his arms, but because of the orthopedic injuries that he had sustained until the end of his life, he had been unable to really lift his arms due to the fractures. So he was up on his toes, trying to hug his son in the Anbar province of Iraq. I had a change to have dinner with six Wyoming soldiers that evening and they had only one request of me could I introduce them to Senator McCain? Our final trip was over Memorial Day this past year, 2017 it was to Vietnam. We went to the lake where he had been shot down. It was a bipartisan group, Senator Coons of Delaware went along. We went to the Hanoi prison where he spent 5.5 years. We saw the cell. We went to the presidential palace. No matter where we went, he was met with a hero's welcome. I don't know how many people could have sustained and survived 5.5 years in that prison, with the beatings. It took a man of incredible courage and character and he gained credibility as well as a certainty for his own life. We also went to Cam Ranh Bay during that trip to Vietnam. Many Vietnam War veterans have been through that area. And they brought in the U.S.S. John McCain, the ship named after his father and his grandfather. And while there, we had a luncheon on the deck of the ship, and it was called McCain Field.' And he was greeted warmly by everyone and he greeted them just as warmly. Every senator who ever traveled with Senator McCain shared a common experience. It was being approached by someone on the street or in a restaurant and being asked are you were with Senator McCain. We would say yes. Then they would hand us a cell phone and ask if you would take a picture of me with Senator McCain. And of course, we would always say yes. You could see the reverence and respect that each of these individuals had for Senator McCain. People also respected his incredible legacy of service, and also his strength as one of the fiercest legislators in our nation's history. It is fitting that a few weeks ago Congress paid tribute to him by passing the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. Because we all know that caring for the military was an abiding concern in his career. He wanted to make sure that the men and women in uniform were treated fairly by their government that they were respected, and that they were honored for their service. We get used to using the language of combat in all sorts of other areas where it doesn't really belong. We talk about fierce political battles, we talk about hard-fought election campaigns. As someone who knew what real battles looked like, John had a realistic perspective on the political kind of battle. He took them seriously, and he never engaged in a fight where he didn't believe that he was on the side of right. He never tired of ridiculing what he saw as wasteful government spending. Every soldier, every sailor, every airman knows that none of us are indispensable. We serve our mission -- and if we fall, another will step up to take our place. John understood that truth about public service. I think John would also understand the sincerity of our grief that members are feeling today. I remember vividly the last time I saw John McCain. I went to visit him and his wife Cindy at the ranch in Sedona. I will tell you, John and Cindy have been so kind to my wife Bobbi when we have visited the ranch in the past. I remember John taking my wife Bobbi on a tour of the many historic trees on the ranch. John has also been so very kind to my daughter Emma on her visits in Washington and some of her travels with me. Let me assure you about Cindy McCain. Cindy is also an American of great strength and great courage. When I was there, we sat together and we talked about the Senate, about his beloved Arizona, about the past and actually about the future as well, and about the places around the world we had visited together. Senator McCain was a great lover and student of history, and we talked of Teddy Roosevelt's Man in the Arena speech. And it goes: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again ..... who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends his life in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement ..... and who ..... if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.' John McCain knew both. He knew victory and he knew defeat. John McCain was the man in the arena. Mostly, John and I sat and enjoyed the view of the river, the trees, and the red rocks. I know that view was one of his great joys, the peace and serenity of a hard landscape shaped by years of wear and weather. Think about that--the serenity of a hard landscape shaped by years of wear and weather. People will see all sorts of symbolism in that hard landscape shaped by years of wear and weather, but if John had heard me say that, he would have said: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot--get to the point. So I will. People will see all sorts of symbolism in that, but if John heard me say it, he'd say Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and get to the point. So I will. John McCain was the conscience of the Senate. He served the American people and the Senate on his own terms. He left us on his own terms as well. We grieve today because for us there was just not enough time. That's the thing about our heroes we start to believe that they will live forever. But of course, they do not. Ronald Reagan's final letter to the American people said this: When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.' John McCain has left this world I can assure you with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. Rest in Peace, my friend John McCain. Rest in Peace. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7629D558-072D-4DA7-BC58-14AAC5FC08D6,Wyo Delegation Applauds Decision to End Tariffs that Hurt Local Newspapers,2018-08-29,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., applauded the decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today that reversed the tariffs on uncoated groundwood paper imported from Canada, which increased the cost of newsprint used for newspapers. The USITC, an independent federal agency that rules on antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, made the determination that the uncoated groundwood from Canada does not injure the U.S. industry. It is a relief that the U.S. International Trade Commission has ended these tariffs that were already hurting our newspapers in Wyoming and the communities they serve, Enzi said. Our local papers play a vital role in the state and shouldn't have to struggle to survive because of these tariffs that were being pushed by one company. The International Trade Commission made the right decision today to eliminate tariffs on imported newsprint, Barrasso said. Families in Wyoming rely on their local newspapers for coverage of local and national news, as well as community events. These punishing tariffs have significantly increased costs for publishers, hampered production and threatened good jobs at newspapers across our state. Now that they have been removed, Wyoming's newspapers can renew their focus on keeping communities informed and up to date. I'm pleased the International Trade Commission heard the concerns of Wyoming newspapers and unanimously voted to reverse the tariffs on uncoated groundwood paper, Cheney said. Local newspapers in Wyoming are small businesses that rely on uncoated groundwood paper to provide essential local and national news coverage to communities, sometimes as their only news source. The ITC made the right decision."" The Wyoming delegation submitted testimony last month to the USITC asking them to end the tariffs after taking into account the devastating effects they could have on local papers. - end-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=7A45E5C0-C817-4579-B294-7EA73A6C33AE,"Barrasso on Fox News ""America's Newsroom"" about Kavanaugh Hearings",2018-08-29,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=DD8841C4-16D5-442B-9616-DD2FCBC7AA3A,Wyo delegation applauds decision to end tariffs that hurt local newspapers,2018-08-29,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, all R-Wyo., applauded the decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today that reversed the tariffs on uncoated groundwood paper imported from Canada, which increased the cost of newsprint used for newspapers. The USITC, an independent federal agency that rules on antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, made the determination that the uncoated groundwood from Canada does not injure the U.S. industry. It is a relief that the U.S. International Trade Commission has ended these tariffs that were already hurting our newspapers in Wyoming and the communities they serve, Enzi said. Our local papers play a vital role in the state and shouldn't have to struggle to survive because of these tariffs that were being pushed by one company. The International Trade Commission made the right decision today to eliminate tariffs on imported newsprint, Barrasso said. Families in Wyoming rely on their local newspapers for coverage of local and national news, as well as community events. These punishing tariffs have significantly increased costs for publishers, hampered production and threatened good jobs at newspapers across our state. Now that they have been removed, Wyoming's newspapers can renew their focus on keeping communities informed and up to date. I'm pleased the International Trade Commission heard the concerns of Wyoming newspapers and unanimously voted to reverse the tariffs on uncoated groundwood paper, Cheney said. Local newspapers in Wyoming are small businesses that rely on uncoated groundwood paper to provide essential local and national news coverage to communities, sometimes as their only news source. The ITC made the right decision."" The Wyoming delegation submitted testimony last month to the USITC asking them to end the tariffs after talking into account the devastating effects they could have on local papers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tv-appearances?ContentRecord_id=62181A0B-2699-454E-AB42-531610876069,Barrasso on BBC News with Katty Kay about Sen. McCain,2018-08-28,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Search Offices Services Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Menu About John Biography Official Photo Wyoming State Facts Wyoming Links Services Legislation Newsroom TV Appearances News Releases Photo Gallery Second Opinion Reports Students Contact Contact Form Office Locations Newsletter Search Privacy Policy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=FA9A61E6-8BF5-4384-BFF7-8EC0C198EC26,Remembering Senator John Sidney McCain III,2018-08-28,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"M-. President, Today I would like to honor the late Senator John McCain. I appreciate having this opportunity to celebrate the life and accomplishments of John McCain and to mourn him as he has lost his battle with cancer. His loss will be deeply felt by all of us here in the Senate, not only by those of us who served with him, but also by the many staff and individuals he has worked with over time. Senator McCain was a true patriot who dedicated his life to serving others. His dedication to his country and its defense was unmatched. After graduating from the Naval Academy, he served for two decades in the Navy. He was tested as only few men ever are after his plane crashed in Vietnam. He showed incredible resilience and moral fortitude during his time as a prisoner of war. After leaving the Navy he represented the great state of Arizona in Congress for 35 years, first in the House and later in the Senate. His sense of duty, loyalty, honor, and compassion were bedrock strong and served to guide him in his long career of public service. He rightfully earned his Maverick moniker during his long public career with his iron strength of will to stand up and fight for what he believed was right, no matter the political consequences. He was renowned for his support of the military. John showed unwavering support to freedom, democracy and the country he loved. He found it in himself to push to reopen ties to Vietnam, believing that was how we could begin to heal the wounds of war. He was a lively speaker, a straight talker, and a prodigious leader but more than that he was a good man. I had the opportunity to work with John on several pieces of legislation over time and every time I was impressed with his ability to cut right to the heart of an issue. He always put what he thought would be best for his constituents and America above any political concerns or niceties. He was passionate throughout his long years of service to the people of Arizona. John was a man of faith. He had a quiet faith, one that was beyond simple expression. It meant when he did speak of his faith it made it that much more impactful, he once recounted how it was his faith in God, faith in his fellow prisoners, and faith in his country that helped him make it through his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. In an interview John gave in 2008, he shared what it meant to him to be a Christian, It means I'm saved and forgiven. During that same interview, he mentioned a guard at that prisoner of war camp in Vietnam who shared his faith one Christmas. He stood there for a minute, and with his sandal on the dirt in the courtyard, he drew a cross and he stood there, and a minute later, he rubbed it out, and walked away. For a minute there, there were just two Christians worshipping together. His moral compass was guided strongly by his faith in God and it meant that he always did what he thought was right rather than doing what was easy. I know that his quiet devotion and many of his other qualities earned him respect from members on both sides of the aisle. While America is remembering a war hero, veteran, senator, and presidential candidate, his family is remembering a husband, a father, a brother and experiencing a world that seems incomplete without him in it. My wife Diana and I send our thoughts and deepest prayers to his wife Cindy and the entire McCain family as we mourn the passing of an American hero. How can I adequately praise the life of a man who has had such a long and storied career, one with so many accomplishments? In an interview, John talked about how he would want to be remembered. He wanted people to remember him as a guy who served his country. I intend to do just that. John McCain, served his country. He served it well. America will never forget that service. Thank you. God bless you. May you find peace. I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3832F83-062B-4FD1-BF19-3DC9A985E28D,Barrasso Statement on John McCain,2018-08-25,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and John McCain (R-AZ) visited students at St. Michael Indian School in Arizona during a 2016 Senate Committee on Indian Affairs tour. CASPER, WY Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Senator John McCain. America has lost a true hero today. John McCain was a man of the highest character, courage and credibility. He was the conscience of the Senate. He was also my friend. John was known for the courage he showed as a naval officer and prisoner of war in Vietnam. He continued to display that courage throughout the rest of his life and career, never failing to stand up for what he believed in. In our time together visiting American troops or foreign leaders, John commanded unparalleled respect. Our men and women in uniform looked at him in awe and hung onto his every word. His incredible legacy of service, both in the military and as one of the fiercest legislators in our nation's history, will live on through the many lives he's changed for the better. The Senate and the country will forever feel his loss. I will miss his friendship, his wise counsel and his wicked sense of humor. Bobbi and I send our deepest condolences to his wife Cindy and the entire McCain family. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.enzi.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=B33C5CBC-66BE-4C27-8370-9B5E9F552934,Enzi statement on the passing of Senator John McCain,2018-08-25,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,Michael Enzi,E000285,www.enzi.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., released the following statement today on the passing of Senator John McCain, R-Ariz. Senator John McCain was a true patriot who dedicated his life to serving his country, his constituents and his family with honor. He rightfully earned his maverick moniker with his iron strength of will to stand up and fight for what he believed was right. His dedication to his country and its defense was unmatched. He was passionate throughout his long years of service to the people of Arizona. Diana and I send our thoughts and prayers to his wife Cindy and the entire McCain family as we mourn the passing of an American hero.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=211999E9-C063-400F-BA1A-DD6C79FAD268,Barrasso: Americas Economy is Booming,2018-08-23,2018,2018-08,Republican,House,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Small businesses are much more optimistic than they've been since 1983. They're hiring, they're expanding, they're raising wages, and they are much more confident about the future. It's all happening because of the Republican policies and the Republican priorities we've been putting into place. Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor about how the economy is booming and more Americans are finding jobs and seeing higher wages. Excerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks: We've been seeing a lot of great news about the American economy lately. Last Friday, the Wall Street Journal had an article with the headline Youth Unemployment Hits 52-Year Low.' For people between the ages of 16 and 24, this is the best job market we've had since 1966. The article went on to say more opportunities are available to groups that historically have struggled to find jobs.' People are getting opportunities because the American economy is booming. Since President Trump was elected, we've gotten more than 4 million additional Americans working. The economy grew at a rate of more than 4 percent last quarter. The Atlanta branch of the Federal Reserve is predicting that we're going to have another 4 percent growth this quarter. People are seeing the effect of the booming economy in their paychecks and in their lives. Average wages are up by more than 3 percent from last year. You look at all the good news and it's no wonder that confidence is going through the roof. Small businesses are much more optimistic than they've been since 1983. They're hiring, they're expanding, they're raising wages, and they are much more confident about the future. It's all happening because of the Republican policies and the Republican priorities we've been putting into place. It's what happens when you have a president who puts the needs of the people first instead of the desires of unelected, unaccountable, heavy-handed, Washington bureaucrats. When President Trump took office, one of the first things he did was to put Washington on a regulation diet. He said that America was open for business again. So what happened? In the Trump administration's first year, they issued three new regulations, and they cut 67 regulations. Three regulatory actions, versus 67 deregulatory actions. That's a ratio of 22 to one in favor of cutting red tape, cutting the amount of paperwork that people have to fill out. Nobody's ever seen anything like this. This administration working with this Senate and House has been streamlining, and simplifying, and striking out regulations from the very beginning and we're not slowing down. When you add it all up, it amounts to $14 billion in savings since the start of the Trump administration. Republicans in Congress have been doing our part as well. We know that the reason America's economy had been struggling for so long was because it was being strangled by all of the red tape that comes out of Washington. So we used the authority of Congress to roll back major regulations that were harming our economy. We cut 16 unnecessary, burdensome rules and saved Americans $36 billion in the process. So if you combine what the president has done and what we've done in Congress by passing the Congressional Review Acts, Republicans have saved Americans $50 billion and over 16 million hours of filling out needless paperwork. Of course, Republicans also passed the biggest tax cut in 36 years. That's the other big thing Republicans have done to get the American economy booming. Every Democrat in the Senate voted against the tax cut that Republicans passed. This tax relief law gave people an immediate boost in their take-home pay. Millions of Americans also got bonuses and raises because of the law. Because Republicans have cut regulations and cut taxes, America has a strong, healthy, and growing economy today. The Congressional Budget Office came out with a new report recently. They looked at the numbers for the first 10 months of the fiscal year that we're now in. They looked at the rising wages and the rising employment. The falling unemployment. They said those are big reasons why revenue for the federal government is actually $26 billion higher than it was at this point last year. Because when you cut taxes, you turn the economy looseyou turn it loose to create jobs, good things happen. The economy grows, more people find work, more people get raises, more people get more money in their own pockets, and revenue goes up as well. Republicans want to keep going with more of these policies that have worked so well to spur our economy. We want to do more to help the economy create jobs, and more to help people keep more of what they earn. I think that's what the American people want as well. What do Democrats in Washington want? Well, they seem to want the exact opposite. That's the way they vote, and that's what they've been saying. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts actually introduced legislation last week that would create an entirely new bureaucracy. Republicans are trying to rein in the bureaucrats, and Democrats are trying to give bureaucrats more power. This new Democrat plan would give Washington more power to control how American businesses operate. It would take away the freedom of the owners and the executives of these companies to create jobs, to serve their customers, and to grow the economy. Democrats are clearly hoping that this will become the new and latest liberal litmus test. It would be an absolute disaster just like all of the other plans that we've heard from the Democrats that they are trying to put in place. It's like Democrats' plan that they claim they want to raise taxes. That's actually what Nancy Pelosi said, the former Speaker of the House, she said Democrats would do if they can take back Congress, they would raise taxes. One Democrat leader, very prominent, on television, governor of one of the major cities, said We are not going to make America great again' they say, America was never that great.' This is what the Democratic governor of New York said last week. There are some very big differences between Democrats and Republicans. Republicans want policies that put more money in the pockets of hard-working people. Republicans want policies that take more control out of Washington and let the decisions be made back at homein the hands of states, and towns, and families. Democrats seem to want to raise taxes and raise barriers to the economy. We're coming up on Labor Day. And I hope that Democrats in Washington and around the country will embrace the policies that will actually help create jobs. I hope that Democrats are going to embrace the policies that are helping young people find work at the highest rate in 52 years. I hope that Democrats will embrace the policies that are actually raising wages for American families. I hope that Democrats will recognize that America is a great country and it is getting better every day. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z