Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup and favorably reported 12 bills. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response: "While the Biden administration continues to tout ambitious goals for clean energy, they ignore the elephant in the room: supply to meet this demand. Unlike the Biden administration, we're not all talk.... Read More »
Today, the renewed Compacts of Free Association (COFA) were officially signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response: "During my time as chairman, renewing the Compacts of Free Association has been a top priority. Now, with this legislation officially signed int... Read More »
Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing on the Biden administration's strategy for natural capital accounting scheme and the implications of these policies. Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) issued the following statement in response: "By sidestepping Congress, the Biden Administration failed to take into account the impact of implementing these p... Read More »
Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on six bills regarding a wide variety of solutions to problems facing federal lands crafted by state and local stakeholders. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) issued the following statement in response: "If I have learned one thing during my time chairing the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, it is that local input and coord... Read More »
Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, regarding the Biden administration’s efforts to incorporate natural capital accounting and ecosystem services valuation into federal decision making and federal actions. The committee is seeking information from OMB to understand OMB’s role in... Read More »
Today, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on supporting tribal self-determination through the 638 contracting program. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement in response: These self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts reaffirm a tribe’s sovereignty. By running a program, tribes increase their institutional k... Read More »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman's (R-Ark.) bill, the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act. This legislation would provide states and tribes with the necessary resources to implement habitat restoration projects vital to preventing the listing of species and to accelerate the ... Read More »
Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on six bills focused on expediting the development of geothermal energy and streamlining processes impacting oil and gas production on federal lands. Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) issued the following statement in response: "In order to restore American energy dominance, we must utilize an all-of-the-... Read More »
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan spending package that included House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman’s (R-Ark.) Compact of Free Association Amendments Act. This legislation will maintain America’s commitment to the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, known collectively as the Freely Ass... Read More »
Last week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a group of 20 members in introducing H.R. 7408, the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act. "The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies appreciates Chairman Westerman’s commitment to providing funding to state fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife habitat restoration in the America’s Wildlife Habitat Co... Read More »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources issued the findings of the bipartisan Indo-Pacific Task Force. "America is committed to supporting our allies in the Indo-Pacific and combating the threat of the Chinese Communist Party. Our work on these issues has included countless meetings with leaders from the region, multiple hearings on the importance of America's support and travel to all thr... Read More »
By House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) A good forestry education informs students of the significance of the long game and the truth in the Greek proverb that "A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit." A good engineering education teaches one that science and math are remarkable tools in the toolbox, but they must be use... Read More »
Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) rolled out the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (AWHCA). Westerman issued the following statement in response: “The America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act will empower states and local communities to use proven practices to restore and maintain habitat, which will benefit species in their state’s wildlife... Read More »
By House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) Washington Examiner One of the defining matters of our time is energy security and affordability. In a world in which China and Russia are attempting to take over the global energy stage daily, America must remain the world leader in energy production, exportation, and innovation. Reliance on our adversaries is not an option... Read More »
This week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a letter to New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Chair Sharon Bowen and President Lynn Martin, seeking further information regarding their now-withdrawn Natural Asset Companies (NAC) proposal. In part, the members wrote: "On September 27, 2023, the NYSE filed notice of a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exc... Read More »