News List

Chairman Hastings Invitation Letter to Department of the Interior Officials Neal Kemkar and Mary Katherine Ishee to Testify at Full Committee Oversight Hearing
Letters
Aug 30, 2012 - Dear Mr. Kemkar and Ms. Ishee: On July 18, 2012, you were both invited to voluntarily appear at a planned July 25, 2012 Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) hearing regarding the Obama Administration’s decision imposing a Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium and the drafting and editing of the May 27, 2010 report... More

Secretary Chu Again Invited to Testify on Memorandum Directives that Could Increase Electricity Rates for Over 40 Million Americans
Press Release
Aug 29, 2012 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu inviting him to testify at a Full Committee hearing on Tuesday, September 11th regarding his Memorandum to the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs). Secretary Chu was originally invit... More

Chairman Hastings Second Invitation Letter to Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu to Testify on His Recent Power Marketing Administrations Memorandum
Letters
Aug 29, 2012 - Dear Secretary Chu: As you know, your March 16, 2012 Memorandum to the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) has generated many questions and controversy. As a result, both Republican and Democratic House Members and Senators have joined together to send letters of concern over your proposal and the House passed a bip... More

Hurricane Isaac Threatens Gulf Communities, U.S. Energy Production and Gas Prices
Resourceful Information
Aug 28, 2012 - While Gulf Coast communities brace for Hurricane Isaac, the storm has already had a significant impact on oil and natural gas production. According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), over 93 percent of the current daily oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in and over 64 percent... More

Hastings: Americans Need Governor Romney's Vision for American Energy Production, Can't Afford More Failed Obama Policies
Press Release
Aug 23, 2012 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today released the following statement regarding Governor Mitt Romney’s comprehensive, true all-of-the-above energy plan to create millions of new jobs with American energy resources. “For the last three and half years out-of-work Americans have been ignor... More

Chairman Hastings Follow-up Letter to Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall on the Department of the Interior's Renewable Energy Programs
Letters
Aug 22, 2012 - Dear Ms. Kendall: For several months, the Committee on Natural Resources has been looking into questions about possible political interference, lack of independence, and conflict of interest involving an investigation by the Office of Inspector General (“IG”) into the editing of a Department of the Interior offshore dr... More

Gasoline Prices Set Record High as U.S. Becomes More Dependent on Foreign Oil
Resourceful Information
Aug 20, 2012 - AAA announced today that the national average price of gasoline reached $3.72 per gallon– the highest price on record for August 20th and a 12 percent increase since July 1st. Unfortunately, gasoline prices aren’t the only thing increasing, so is our Nation’s dependence on foreign oil. The New York Times recently repor... More

Hastings' Hydro Bill Will Protect and Promote Hydropower Dams
Press Release
Aug 15, 2012 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative field hearing in Pasco, WA on H.R. 6247, the Saving Our Dams and Hydropower Development and Jobs Act of 2012. Introduced by Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), the bill would protect America’s dams and promote new clean, low-cost hydropower to help create jobs ... More

Gas Prices Rise as Obama Administration Continues to Block New Offshore Energy Projects
Blog
Aug 14, 2012 - Americans continue to face rising prices at the pump that are expected to climb even higher this year, according to the AAA report released Monday. Gasoline prices increased 18 cents this month and eight cents this past week alone. As of August 9, gasoline prices have exceeded prices on the same day last year and conti... More

Chairman Hastings and Rep. David Rivera Letter to Secretary Salazar on Record-Keeping of Foreign-Owned Companies That Have U.S. Leases
Letters
Aug 13, 2012 - Dear Secretary Salazar: We write to draw your attention to two national security issues that have been raised in oversight hearings before the House Committee on Natural Resources in recent months. Foreign-multinational energy companies currently hold development leases and operate in the American Outer Continental She... More

Democrat Controlled Senate: Where New American Jobs and Energy Bills Go To Collect Dust
Resourceful Information
Aug 8, 2012 - Just before the August District Work Period, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6082, a bill to replace President Obama’s no-new-jobs, no-new-drilling plan with a robust plan that offers lease sales in specific areas known to contain the most oil and natural gas resources, to create tens of thousands of new Ameri... More

Hastings Statement on July Unemployment Numbers
Press Release
Aug 3, 2012 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced unemployment rose to 8.3% after disappointing July job growth. “Today’s jobs numbers are yet another disappointment for the millions of Americans who have been struggling to fi... More

Committee Approves Motion Authorizing Chairman to Issue Subpoenas to Compel Obama Administration Witnesses to Appear to Answer Questions on Gulf Drilling Moratorium Report
Press Release
Aug 1, 2012 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved a motion with a 26-17 vote to provide the Chairman with authority to issue subpoenas to five Obama Administration officials and potentially others who have direct knowledge or involvement in the drafting, editing or review of the Department of the Interior Drilling ... More

Chairman Hastings Announces Full Committee Meeting to Consider Motion to Authorize Issuance of Subpoenas
Committee Action
Jul 27, 2012 - On Wednesday, August 1st the Natural Resources Committee will meet to consider a motion to authorize Chairman Hastings to issue subpoenas for five Interior Department officials, and others as may be necessary, to appear before the Committee to give testimony and answer questions. The agenda will also include the markup... More

DOI Acting Inspector General Called to Testify Before Full House Natural Resources Committee
Committee Action
Jul 26, 2012 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today invited the Department of the Interior’s Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall to testify at a Full Committee hearing on Thursday, August 2nd titled “Oversight of the Actions, Independence and Accountability of the Acting Inspector General of the Dep... More

Bipartisan House of Reps. Approves Virginia Offshore Lease Sale that President Obama Canceled Indefinitely
Press Release
Jul 25, 2012 - Today, in a bipartisan vote of 253-170, the House approved H.R. 6082, to replace President Obama’s no-new-jobs, no-new-drilling plan with a responsible, robust plan that offers 29 offshore lease sales, including Virginia Lease Sale 220 that was scheduled to take place in 2011 and has since been delayed and canceled by ... More

House Rejects President Obama's Offshore Plan, Embraces Bipartisan Replacement to Create American Jobs with New American Energy
Press Release
Jul 25, 2012 - Today, the House of Representatives, by a bipartisan vote of 164-261 rejected H.R. 6168, a bill to implement President Obama’s offshore drilling plan that places 85 percent of America’s offshore energy resources under lock-and-key. In a separate bipartisan vote of 253-170, the House approved H.R. 6082, to replace Presi... More

Hastings: President's Offshore Drilling Plan is a Giant Step Backwards for American Energy Production and Job Creation
Floor Statements
Jul 25, 2012 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following opening statement on the House floor today on H.R. 6018, President Obama’s Job-Limiting, Energy-Restricting Offshore Plan. “The bill we are now considering, HR 6168, is a very simple bill. It would implement President Obama’s propos... More

Chairman Hastings' Floor Statement on the Congressional Replacement of President Obama's No-New-Drilling, No-New-Jobs Offshore Plan
Floor Statements
Jul 24, 2012 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following opening statement on the House floor today in support of H.R. 6082, the Congressional Replacement of President Obama’s Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan. “Under the shadow of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Ob... More

Decision Time: House to Take Direct Votes on Both President Obama's Proposed Offshore Leasing Plan and Bipartisan Replacement Plan to Boost American Energy and Jobs
Press Release
Jul 24, 2012 - Tomorrow, the House of Representatives will vote on two distinct visions for America’s energy future: 1) H.R. 6168, “President Obama’s Proposed 2012-2017 Offshore Drilling Lease Sale Plan Act”, which locks-away 85 percent of America’s offshore from energy production and reimposes the pre-2008 offshore moratoria, or 2) ... More

Interior Department Defies Subpoena for Documents and Now Refuses to Commit Witnesses to Attend Hearing to Answer Questions on Gulf Drilling Moratorium
Press Release
Jul 24, 2012 - The Department of the Interior has refused to confirm that it will make available five Department officials invited to testify and answer questions at a Full Committee hearing on Wednesday regarding the May 2010 Interior Department action to impose a six-month drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico and the Departmen... More

Chairman Hastings' Op-Ed in The Hill: President Obama's offshore drilling plan must be replaced
Op-Eds and Speeches
Jul 23, 2012 - President Obama’s offshore drilling plan must be replaced By: House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings The Hill July 23, 2012 While the American people and news media were distracted by the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare, the Obama Administration quietly released its final proposed offshore drill... More

Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall Response to Chairman Hastings' Request for Information on the Department of the Interior's Renewable Energy Programs
Letters
Jul 20, 2012 - Dear Mr. Chairman: This responds to your letter of May 30, 2012, in which you requested the following information... The lists you requested are enclosed. We also enclose lists of other energy-related IG reviews that are not specifically focused on renewable energy, as these reflect a significant body of our work. You ... More

Committee Approves Bipartisan Job-Creating Energy Bill to Replace President Obama's No-New-Jobs, No-New-Energy Offshore Plan
Press Release
Jul 18, 2012 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved by a bipartisan 24-17 vote, H.R. 6082, the Congressional Replacement of President Obama’s Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan. The bill would replace the Obama Administration’s final offshore drilling plan, which keeps 85 percent of America’s ... More

Interior Department Officials Called to Publicly Answer Questions on Gulf Drilling Moratorium at Full Committee Hearing
Committee Action
Jul 18, 2012 - On Wednesday, July 25th the Committee on Natural Resources will hold an oversight hearing on “Investigation of President Obama’s Gulf Drilling Moratorium: Questioning of Key Department of the Interior Officials.” Due to the Department of the Interior’s failure to comply with an official Congressional subpoena issued in... More

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