Press Releases

House Approves Measure Establishing Manhattan Project National Historic Park
Press Release
Jun 14, 2013 - The House of Representatives today approved the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014, which included an amendment to establish a Manhattan Project National Historic Park. The bipartisan amendment, offered by Congressman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), and Congressman Ben Luján (NM-03)... More

Witnesses Agree on the Importance of Mineral Mining Reforms in America
Press Release
Jun 13, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on “Mining in America: The Administration’s Use of Claim Maintenance Fees and Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Lands.” This hearing examined mining claim maintenance fees and what can be done to make sure there is a strong “... More

Committee Approves Legislation to Expand American Energy Production on Federal Lands and Waters, Create New American Jobs
Press Release
Jun 12, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved three bills to expand American offshore and onshore energy production in order to help create new American jobs, lower energy prices, generate new revenue, and make America more energy secure. H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, was approved by the Committe... More

Chairman Hastings Welcomes Rep. Smith to the Committee on Natural Resources
Press Release
Jun 12, 2013 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement on newly-elected Representative Jason Smith (MO-08) joining the Natural Resources Committee: “I’m pleased to welcome the newest Member of Congress, Rep. Jason Smith, to the Committee on Natural Resources. Having grown up on... More

Committee Approves Legislation Addressing Concerns with the Troubled Eisenhower Memorial
Press Release
Jun 12, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 1126, the Dwight. D. Eisenhower Memorial Completion Act, by voice vote. This legislation, sponsored by Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01), seeks to build consensus around a new Eisenhower Memorial by implementi... More

Chairman Hastings’ Statement on Gray Wolf Endangered Species Delisting
Press Release
Jun 7, 2013 - Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings released the following statement on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to delist the Gray Wolf from the endangered species list. “The Service’s decision today to delist gray wolves only makes sense, and is long overdue. This untangles the ridiculous situation... More

Witnesses: America Needs to Develop Its Offshore Energy Resources NOW
Press Release
Jun 6, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on H.R. 2231, the “Offshore Energy and Jobs Act.” This legislation would expand U.S. offshore energy production to create American jobs, lower energy prices, generate new federal revenue, and strengthen America’s ... More

All Witnesses in Agreement that ESA Needs Improvement
Press Release
Jun 4, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing entitled “Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State, and Local Stewardship Vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices.” At the hearing, Members and witnesses compared the effective conservation efforts happening on state, ... More

Chairman Hastings Releases Draft Legislation to Expand Safe, Responsible Production of U.S. Offshore Energy Resources
Press Release
May 30, 2013 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today released draft legislation to expand U.S. offshore energy production in order to create new American jobs, lower energy prices, grow our economy, and strengthen national security. The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would remove government barriers that... More

Committee to Hold Endangered Species Act Hearing
Committee Action
May 28, 2013 - The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a Full Committee oversight hearing entitled “Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State and Local Stewardship vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices” on Tuesday, June 4th. The hearing, the first of a series expected this Congress, will showca... More

Chairman Hastings: 30 Days to Review Final Hydro-Fracking Rule is Unacceptable
Press Release
May 24, 2013 - Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today calling on the Obama Administration to allow more time to review and comment on its final rule on hydraulic fracturing. “Since the Obama Administration has now released its final proposed rule on hydraulic fracturing, the c... More

Witnesses Stress Importance of Hydropower Development for Job Creation & Economic Growth
Press Release
May 23, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a legislative hearing on H.R. 1963, The Bureau of Reclamation Conduit Hydropower Development Equity and Jobs Act. Sponsored by Rep. Steve Daines (MT-At Large), this bill would create new American jobs and expand production of clean, renewable hydro... More

ICYMI: Chairman Hastings talks Keystone on Fox Business News
In Case You Missed It
May 22, 2013 - Today, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings spoke with Melissa Francis on Fox Business to discuss the Keystone XL Pipeline - a project that is vital to America's energy future. ### Printable PDF of this document More

Hastings: Keystone XL Pipeline Vital to America’s Energy Future
Press Release
May 22, 2013 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings delivered the following statement on the House floor in support of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. “I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. This important legislation would remove roadblocks to allow for the approval and... More

Witnesses Highlight the Importance of Onshore Energy Development for Jobs, Economic Growth, & Energy Security
Press Release
May 22, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on four bills that would streamline government red tape and expand development of America’s onshore oil, natural gas, and renewable energy resources as part of a true all-of-the-above approach to energy production... More

Utah Governor Herbert Emphasizes Success of Western States in Land Management
Press Release
May 21, 2013 - Today, the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation held an oversight hearing featuring testimony by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Chairman of the Western Governors’ Association. The hearing highlighted the challenges of western states regarding federal and state land management. At the hearing, Members ... More

Documents Sought on High Costs Associated with Eisenhower Memorial Gehry Design
Press Release
May 17, 2013 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) sent letters to the National Park Service, General Services Administration, and Eisenhower Memorial Commission seeking information about the activities and costs asso... More

Witnesses: 2008 Lacey Amendments’ Unintended Consequences are Raising Costs, Threatening Jobs and Small Business
Press Release
May 16, 2013 - Today, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled “The 2008 Lacey Act Amendments.” The hearing focused on the significant May 2008 expansion of the Lacey Act to include all plants and plant products. “The full House was never given the opportunity to debate or... More

Chairman Hastings: Obama Administration’s Proposed Hydraulic Fracturing Rule Imposes New Layers of Red-Tape, Duplicates States’ Efforts
Press Release
May 16, 2013 - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement on the proposed regulations of hydraulic fracturing on federal lands announced today by the Department of the Interior: “The Obama Administration is once again choosing costly red tape at the expense of American jobs and Am... More

House Committee Approves Legislation to Approve Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement with Mexico
Press Release
May 15, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 1613, the “Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act” with a bipartisan vote of 25-16. This important legislation would approve and implement the terms of the U.S. - Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement that governs t... More

Natural Resources Committee Approves Three Bills to Help Develop Rare Earth and Critical Materials in the United States
Press Release
May 15, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved three bills with bipartisan support that will create jobs, streamline government red-tape, and make America less dependent on foreign critical and strategic minerals. Critical and strategic minerals are vital to our everyday lives and are essential components of ren... More

Legislation Introduced to Protect and Expand Energy Production on Federal Lands
Press Release
May 15, 2013 - Members of the House Natural Resources Committee introduced two bills to protect and expand U.S. onshore energy production on federal lands. The bills would remove government roadblocks and hurdles that delay American energy production, promote production of our oil shale resources, and ensure that oil and natural gas ... More

Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013 (H.R. 687)
Committee Votes
May 15, 2013 - Reporting H.R. 687 Out of Committee (Passed 23-19. View Roll Call Vote) The bill would authorize a land exchange to open up the largest copper mine in North America and protect environmentally sensitive land. This bipartisan legislation would create nearly 3,700 jobs, provide billions in tax revenue, generate over $60 ... More

“Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act” (H.R. 1613)
Committee Votes
May 15, 2013 - Reporting H.R. 1613 Out of Committee (Passed 25-16. View Roll Call Vote) This bill would approve the terms of the U.S. – Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement that would allow the production of shared energy reserves along the shared maritime U.S. – Mexico border. This important legislation also provides a framew... More

"National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013" (H.R. 761)
Committee Votes
May 15, 2013 - Reporting H.R. 1613 Out of Committee (Passed 25-16. View Roll Call Vote) This bill would approve the terms of the U.S. – Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement that would allow the production of shared energy reserves along the shared maritime U.S. – Mexico border. This important legislation also provides a framew... More

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Press Releases