COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
10:00 a.m.

• Committee Action - Full Committee Oversight Hearings to Examine Job Creation Opportunities From American Energy Production (8/31/2011)

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

• "Creating American Jobs by Harnessing Our Resources: Domestic Mining Opportunities and Hurdles"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Mayor Tom Murphy
City of Gillette
State of Wyoming

Hal Quinn
President and CEO
National Mining Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Theresa O’Donnell
Geology Technician
Teck, Pend Oreille Mine
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Thomas J. Dewitt
President & CEO
Swanson Industries
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Professor John D. Leshy
Harry D. Sunderland Distinguished Professor
U.C. Hastings College of the Law
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

The oversight hearing will explore opportunities for job creation through new and expanded energy and mineral production and also review Obama Administration regulations and policies that have locked-up America’s vast natural resources and sent American jobs overseas. At a time when the American people are clamoring for jobs, one sector that President Obama seems to consistently overlook is that of domestic energy production. Increasing permitting efficiencies, rolling back burdensome federal regulations, even opening new areas up for responsible energy development all come at little cost to the Federal government, but will have substantial impact on economic growth and job opportunities nationwide – while also decreasing our nation’s dependence on foreign energy resources. Energy and minerals are vital to our economy and increased production will be vital to getting our economy back on track.