Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a markup on a number of bills, including H.R. 538, the “Native American Energy Act” sponsored by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaskan Native Affairs.  The legislation passed Committee by a vote of  23 to 12.  Following passage, Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) commented:  

“The current regulatory system obstructs historically impoverished tribes from realizing the full potential of developing the natural resources on their land.  The ‘Native American Energy Act’ breaks tribes free of these regulatory shackles.  It streamlines permitting and gives them flexibility throughout the process, empowering tribes to experience the great economic gains that energy development brings. In particular, H.R. 538 exempts tribes from the onerous and duplicative Bureau of Land Management hydraulic fracturing rule which is designed for federal lands and would surely discourage industry investment in tribal lands.”

Please click here to read the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled “Poor Management by BIA Has Hindered Energy Development on Indian Lands.”

This legislation is supported by the National Congress of American Indians, member tribes, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Please click here for more information regarding the markup.