By Congressman Fulcher | Column for the Idaho Cattle Association's Line Rider Magazine
Idaho’s ranchers are the backbone of our state's economy, yet they continue to face increasing federal overreach, threatening their way of life. As a fourth-generation Idahoan who grew up on a dairy farm, I understand the dedication families have poured into the vast natural resources across the state. As your representative, I have remained committed to fighting against burdensome regulations and ensuring that Idaho’s ranching community has a strong voice in D.C.
Wildfires continue to be a top concern for Idahoans. Each year, wildfires pose a severe threat to Idaho’s ranchers, destroying grazing land, killing livestock, and damaging critical infrastructure. In 2024 alone, wildfires burned roughly 640,000 acres across Idaho, leading to an estimated $131 million loss in timber sales and potentially cutting Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) by as much as $2 million—funding that many rural counties depend on.
In January, I hosted a wildfire roundtable in Cascade with federal, state, and local officials to address this crisis and pave the way for stronger collaboration going forward. Wildfires do not adhere to jurisdictional boundaries, and a fragmented approach only exacerbates the problem. Stakeholders—such as ranchers—need to be involved in land management decisions, and I’m actively working to expand grazing opportunities on public lands to reduce wildfire risks by naturally removing excess vegetation.
Since the start of this Congress, I’ve continued to push for increased domestic energy production to reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries and meet growing demand. Geothermal energy is a vast, largely untapped resource in America that can diversify our country’s energy portfolio, and Idaho has been at the forefront of harnessing its potential. However, nearly 90% of our nation's geothermal resources are located on federally managed lands, and bureaucratic red tape has slowed the leasing and development needed to fully utilize this resource.
That’s why I recently reintroduced H.R. 1687, the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act. This bill will require the Department of the Interior to hold regular lease sales and bring us one step closer to unlocking America’s geothermal potential.
Another issue that directly impacts Idahoans is the federal government’s continued mismanagement of grizzly bear populations. Grizzly bears have been listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act since 1975, yet their numbers have rebounded far beyond the original recovery goals. Despite this, the federal government rejected Idaho’s petition to delist them across the contiguous U.S.
Idaho’s wildlife should be managed at the state level, not dictated by bureaucrats in D.C. who have never been to our state. To reverse these unnecessary restrictions, I introduced the Grizzly Bear Review and Resource Restart (GRRR) Act to fully delist grizzly bears in the lower 48 states and allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus on populations that still require protection. Simply put, Idahoan wildlife officials are best equipped to make decisions regarding grizzly bear management, and I will continue to fight for policies that prioritize local control over federal overreach.
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recent Conservation and Landscape Health rule is another alarming example of government overreach. This rule fundamentally shifts the agency’s multiple-use mandate, prioritizing conservation over grazing, logging, and recreation. If left unchecked, it could drastically reduce ranchers’ access to federal grazing allotments, harming Idaho’s agricultural economy.
To combat this, I introduced the Western Economic Security Today (WEST) Act to nullify the BLM’s rule and restore the agency’s original mission of responsible land use. Idaho’s ranchers have responsibly managed their lands for generations and should not have to compete with environmental activists to continue running their businesses. Idaho’s agricultural heritage is worth protecting, and I will continue to stand up against federal regulations that undermine our way of life.
For too long, Idahoans have also been burdened by the federal estate tax—better known as the “death tax”—which unfairly penalizes family-owned businesses, ranches, and farms by forcing them to sell land and assets just to cover the tax bill when a loved one passes away. I proudly co-sponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act to permanently eliminate this tax, ensuring that Idaho’s family ranches can be passed down to future generations without government interference. More than 99% of farms and ranches in the U.S. are family-owned, and repealing the death tax would provide much-needed relief to those who work tirelessly to feed and support our communities.
As Idaho’s representative, I am committed to advancing policies that protect Idaho’s ranching families. Your hard work sustains Idaho’s economy, and you deserve a government that supports, not hinders, your ability to provide for your families and communities. Our state has a proud legacy of resilience, innovation, and stewardship of the land, and I am honored to represent the people who make Idaho great.