WWA Policy Team Shares DC Experience
Last month, Jennie Mans, WWA's Bureau of Land Management Wildlands Director, and Peggie dePasquale, WWA's US Forest Service Wildlands Director, flew to Washington DC to attend the National Wilderness Coalition's Wilderness Week Fly-In and also to meet with the our WY congressional offices to ensure they are hearing about the wildland issues we care about most. Following the trip, Executive Director, Aaron Bannon posed some questions to his staff to learn about the trip. Check out their answers below.
What surprised you most about the Wyoming delegation?
Jennie: Barrasso does his research! While we had productive conversations surrounding his support of federal staffing, I was most surprised when he asked a question about my personal life - he came into the meeting having learned more about who we were prior to sitting down. It was a reminder that even when we come into these meetings with our WWA programs and issues, the conversation also serves as an important relationship building tool to get to know each other as people and constituents, working towards a shared goal of thoughtfully managing our state’s iconic & treasured landscapes.
Peggie: The thing that surprised me most was that we had the chance to meet all three of the Wyoming delegates in person. I know that is not always a guarantee, and to be face to face with these decision makers, regardless of how one might feel about their policy, was meaningful and cool. It was also interesting to see Senator Lummis sharing her surprise that there are flexibilities built into the current Roadless Rule that allows for forest treatment and wildfire response. I appreciated the opportunity to educate!
Who inspired you in the National Wilderness Coalition group?
Jennie: I so appreciated getting to hear from Dr. Doreen Bird, Jaylyn Gough of Native Women’s Wilderness, and Jessica Wiarda from Women of Bears Ears - Tribal voices and Indigenous leaders are crucial to shaping and driving the future of Wilderness work. In my individual work, as well as in the National Wilderness Coalition, we have so much to learn from their contributions to coalition work as original land stewards. Getting to speak with Idaho Senator Risch’s staffers alongside Jessica Wiarda was particularly impactful - hearing her share her personal experiences on behalf of Wilderness issues is a much needed reminder that the impact of Indigenous voices in DC is imperative to the work.
Peggie: It was an inspiring opportunity to simply sit in a room with Wilderness groups from across the county, and share our experiences, our goals and our struggles. It can be isolating working in wildlands advocacy and many times I find myself in the minority representing a group with a commitment to big “W” wilderness. It is powerful to know that WWA is a part of something bigger than what we are able to tap into in our day to day here in Wyoming!
What issue or issues do you think will get traction with our delegation?
Peggie: While Roadless Rule organizing and Travel Management Rule protection have been keystone issues for WWA this last year, in the Wyoming offices the issue that seemed to gain the most traction is that our federal agencies need boots on the ground staffing. Whether our delegates will support a FY2027 budget that allows agencies to rebuild the crews that were decimated through staffing cuts of 2024 and 2025 is still yet to be seen, but it was certainly the conversation piece that seemed to resonate the most. That is something that makes me hopeful.
Jennie: With various proposed revisions and rescissions to travel management rules and plans across multiple agencies, there were endless policies to talk about that fell in this category. Even within the meetings we provided clarification for what policies already allow, like mobility devices in designated Wilderness. As these rescissions and revisions continue to obfuscate the very real protections these policies provide to recreation, solitude, wildlife, and more, I continue to believe diverse coalition building is crucial in coming to our delegates - these policies are widely supported by an array of public land users!
What was your favorite meal?
Jennie: Hard to have any answer other than the incredible Thai food we shared after a long day of good conversations with our fellow Wilderness advocates. Sharing dumplings with your coworkers is a crucial part of any coalition building!
Peggie: I agree with Jennie! The Thai food per the suggestion of WWA’s former ED Martha Jenkins was my favorite meal, the drunken noodles were truly memorable. Holler at me if you want the recommendation, the restaurant is worth the Uber ride :)
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