Today, House and Senate conferees met for opening statements on S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) released the following statement:

“We need more Americans to share in the low prices afforded by American energy abundance. That includes improving the permitting process to allow rights-of-way across federal lands and getting affordable energy from where it's produced to where communities live with greater ease. 

“Solutions on drought should be acted upon. Solutions on forest health and the increasing threat of catastrophic wildfire demand action. Solutions on tribal energy should move forward. Solutions for overcoming regulatory barriers for sportsmen and recreational activities are long past due. We have an opportunity to solve these pressing issues through this process.”

Click here to read Chairman Bishop’s full opening statement as prepared for delivery.

H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act, which passed the House in December 2015, included two bipartisan energy infrastructure bills from the Committee on Natural Resources:

• H.R. 2358, the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act, Reps. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR).
• H.R. 2295, the National Energy Security Corridors Act, introduced by Reps. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) and Cedric Richmond (D-LA).

The House Amendment to S. 2012, also includes numerous additional House-passed bills within the Committee’s jurisdiction. Click here for the full list.