NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) sent a letter to Ken Berg, Manager at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Washington state Fish and Wildlife Office, seeking answers to specific questions about whether or not the Service’s recent decision to list the White Bluffs bladderpod as threatened and to designate more than 2,000 acres as “critical habitat” was motivated by arbitrary settlement deadlines or by quality data and science. "The White Bluffs bladderpod wa...... read more

The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in Fresno, California on Wednesday, March 19th entitled “California Water Crisis and Its Impacts: The Need for Immediate and Long-Term Solutions.” The San Joaquin Valley is once again suffering from drought conditions exacerbated by unworkable federal regulations that put the needs of a 3-inch fish over people. The House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 3964) to help resolve this situation. That bill, along with another bill (...... read more

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled "National Fish Hatchery System: Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report." This hearing examined the importance of the National Fish Hatchery System and the negative effects that the recommendations, in the Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report, would have on American jobs and the economy. “From its high in 1940, the number of federal hatcheries...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2015: "The President’s budget once again taxes too much and spends too much, while not doing enough to create jobs and grow our economy. The budget also fundamentally fails to recognize that responsibly harnessing and maintaining our natural resources can actually save taxpayer dollars and bring in new funds to the federal treasury. “Instead...... read more

On Thursday, February 27th, 2014 the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on “Obama Administration Oversight: GAO Report – Interior Hiring and Retention Challenges.” In a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), key positions within the Department of the Interior that manage and oversee oil and natural gas activities still face high rates of attrition, extended vacancies, and delays in hiring. The Department of the Interior is not using all a...... read more

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) sent a letter to Ken Berg, Manager at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Washington state Fish and Wildlife Office, seeking answers to specific questions about whether or not the Service’s recent decision to list the White Bluffs bladderpod as threatened and to designate more than 2,000 acres as “critical habitat” was motivat...... read more

The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in Fresno, California on Wednesday, March 19th entitled “California Water Crisis and Its Impacts: The Need for Immediate and Long-Term Solutions.” The San Joaquin Valley is once again suffering from drought conditions exacerbated by unworkable federal regulations that put the needs of a 3-inch fish over people. The House of Representa...... read more

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled "National Fish Hatchery System: Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report." This hearing examined the importance of the National Fish Hatchery System and the negative effects that the recommendations, in the Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report, w...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2015: "The President’s budget once again taxes too much and spends too much, while not doing enough to create jobs and grow our economy. The budget also fundamentally fails to recognize that responsibly harnessing and maintaining our natural r...... read more

On Thursday, February 27th, 2014 the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on “Obama Administration Oversight: GAO Report – Interior Hiring and Retention Challenges.” In a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), key positions within the Department of the Interior that manage and oversee oil and natural gas activities still face high rates of at...... read more

This week the House will consider H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, introduced by the Republican California delegation, addresses the emergency drought in California by restoring some water supplies San Joaquin Valley Farmers. The lack of rainfall has exacerbated the man-made drought caused by federal regulations and environmental lawsuits. On January 17, 2...... read more

America can count on reliable and affordable electricity from coal for the foreseeable future. This will only happen if the Obama Administration stops its constant attacks on this abundant resource. In 2013, coal provided America with 40% of America’s electricity while providing countless direct and indirect jobs. Many communities around the country rely upon coal for their livelihoods. Needless t...... read more

A new study released today shows that increasing America’s offshore energy production in the mid and south Atlantic will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and drastically grow America’s economy. “Today’s study further confirms that increased offshore energy production will create American jobs, spur economic growth, lower energy prices, and bring in much-needed tax revenue to local and sta...... read more

Shale oil and natural gas activity contributed over 1.7 million jobs in 2012 and will increase by over 45% to almost 2.5 million jobs in 2015. 500,000 non-oil and natural gas manufacturing jobs are supported by shale oil and natural gas. The Obama Administration's proposed federal regulations on hydraulic fracturing would cost American jobs, decrease American energy production, increase energy pr...... read more

Today, Chairman Hastings addressed coal miners from across the country at the “Rally for American Energy Jobs” in Washington D.C. to send a message to the Obama Administration to STOP the war on coal, coal jobs, and reliable and affordable electricity. Since taking office, President Obama has made his contempt for coal clear with a regulatory assault on this abundant natural energy resource that p...... read more

On Wednesday, February 26th, 2014 Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings delivered the following statement on the House floor supporting H.R. 2804.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3964, the Sacramento - San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, with a bipartisan vote of 229-191. This legislation, sponsored by the entire Republican California delegation, addresses the emergency drought in California by helping to restore some water supplies.

Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) addressed the House in support of H.R. 2954, the Public Access and Lands Improvement Act.

H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, introduced by the Republican California delegation, addresses the emergency drought in California by restoring some water supplies to provide job certainty to farmers and communities.

Legislative Hearing on:

• Discussion Draft, To authorize a demonstration program that allows for State-Federal-Tribal co-management of wildlife throughout the traditional hunting territory of the Ahtna people and for other purposes. “H.R. ____ The Alaska Native Subsistence Co-Management Demonstration Act of 2014”

Witnesses and Testimony:

A witness list will be posted here once it has been confirmed.

Related Documents:

• Subcommittee Hearing Notice - March 4, 2014
• Discussion Draft - “H.R. ____ The Alaska Native Subsistence Co-Management Demonstration Act of 2014”
• Map of Ahtna's Traditional Territory

... read more

Full Committee Markup on:

• H.R. 1192 (McClintock), To redesignate Mammoth Peak in Yosemite National Park as `Mount Jessie Benton Fremont'
• H.R. 1501 (Jeffries), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument in Fort Greene Park, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, as a unit of the National Park System; “Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument Preservation Act”
• H.R. 3222 (Meng), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the 1657 signing of the Flushing Remonstrance in Queens, New York, and for other purposes; “Flushing Remonstrance Study Act”
• H.R. 3366 (Walden), To provide for the release of the property interests retained by the United States in certain land conveyed in 1954 by the United States, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, to the State of Oregon for the establishment of the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center of Oregon State University in Hermiston, Oregon
• H.R. 4032 (Hall), To exempt from Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 certain water transfers by the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority, and for other purposes; “North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014”

Member Statements

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

Committee Action Summary:

• A summary of Committee action will be posted here following the conclusion of the Markup.

Related Documents:

• Full Committee Markup Notice - March 7, 2014
• Updated: Full Committee Markup Notice - March 10, 2014

... read more

• Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast

Legislative Hearing on:

• H.R. 414 (Young of AK), To provide for the continued lease or eventual conveyance of certain Federal land within the boundaries of Fort Wainwright Military Reservation in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• H.R 1839 (Tipton), To designate certain Federal land in the San Juan National Forest in the State of Colorado as wilderness, and for other purposes. “Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act of 2013”
• H.R. 2430 (Pascrell), To adjust the boundaries of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park to include Hinchliffe Stadium, and for other purposes. “Hinchliffe Stadium Heritage Act of 2013”
• H.R. 3606 (McClintock), To permit certain activities to be conducted on Federal land within the Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest in the State of California at the level at which such activities were conducted on such land before the wilderness designation, and for other purposes. “Emigrant Wilderness Historical Use Preservation Act of 2013”

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

The Honorable Bill Pascrell
Member of Congress

PANEL II

Jim Pena (H.R. 1839 and H.R. 3606)
Associate Deputy Chief
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Scott Jones (H.R. 1839)
Vice President
Colorado Snowmobile Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Matt Bloom (H.R. 3606)
National Forest Recreation Association
Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station
(Truth in Testimony Form)

PANEL III

Stephanie Toothman (H.R. 2430)
Associate Director
Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Honorable Katherine Hammack (H.R. 414)
Assistant Secretary of the Army
Installations Energy and the Environment

Richard Heieren (H.R. 414)
Lands and Minerals Surveys
RCH Surveys
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Renee Staley (H.R. 414)
Site Manager
Northstar Alaska Housing Corps, Birchwood Homes
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Related Documents:

• Subcommittee Hearing Notice - February 27, 2014
• Subcommittee Hearing Witness List - March 5, 2014

... read more

• Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast

Oversight Hearing on:

• "National Fish Hatchery System: Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report"

Member Statements:

The Honorable John Fleming
Subcommittee Chairman

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

The Honorable David P. Roe
Member of Congress from the State of Tennessee

The Honorable Eric A. “Rick” Crawford
Member of Congress from the State of Arkansas

The Honorable Doug Collins
Member of Congress from the State of Georgia

PANEL II

David Hoskins
Assistant Director
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Diane Parks
Acting Deputy Chief of Operations and Regulations
Headquarters
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Ed Carter
Executive Director
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Testifying on behalf of Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Background:

The National Fish Hatchery System was established in 1871 to address seriously declining fish populations by building a network of federal hatcheries to propagate fishery resources for future generations of Americans. These facilities, which average more than 70 years old, produce and distribute 140 million fish and 120 million fish eggs with a value over $5 billion each year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued a “Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report” which accelerates the ongoing transition from stocking efforts to the recovery and restoration of federally listed species. The report now ranks the priorities of the hatchery system as: recovery, restoration, tribal treaty programs, native species mitigation propagation and non-native species mitigation propagation. This hearing will examine this report and the negative effects that the recommendations in this report would have on American jobs and the economy.

Related Documents:

• Subcommittee Hearing Notice - February 24, 2014
• Updated: Subcommittee Hearing Notice - March 3, 2014
• Subcommittee Hearing Witness List - March 4, 2014

... read more

Oversight Hearing on:

• “Obama Administration Oversight: GAO Report - Interior Hiring and Retention Challenges”

Archived Video Webcast:

Member Statements:

The Honorable Doug Lamborn
Subcommittee Chairman

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

Frank Rusco
Director, Natural Resources and Environment
Government Accountability Office

Ned Farquhar
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management
Department of the Interior

Background:

This hearing will examine the findings and recommendations outlined in GAO’s report, titled “Oil and Gas – Interior has Begun to Address Hiring and Retention Challenges but Needs to Do More” released in January 2014. In March 2010, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that Interior faced many human capital challenges, including hiring and retaining staff, resulting in difficulties carrying out oversight activities. In July of 2010, the GAO reported continued challenges in hiring and retaining staff and that there was not a strategic workforce plan in place. As technological advances have made it possible to develop more American oil and natural gas resources it is imperative that the Department of Interior be able to hire and retain staff with the skills and expertise needed to manage the growing American energy sector.

By July 2011, the GAO added the Department of Interior’s management of federal oil and natural gas resources to the list of U.S. Government programs at high risk of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Production of oil and natural gas is one of the largest sources of non-tax revenue for the federal government, and the Department of Interior collects billions in royalties and other payments from oil and gas companies.

The GAO began their audit of the Department of Interior’s hiring and retention relating to oil and natural gas professionals in May 2012 and continued through January 2014.

To view the full report, click here.

Related Documents:

• Subcommittee Hearing Notice - February 19, 2014
• Subcommittee Hearing Witness List - February 26, 2014

... read more

After more than five years, the Department of the Interior has finally reached an important milestone that paves the way to allow for new seismic surveying in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. Take a look... http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=371162... read more

ICYMI: Article from Fox News on yesterday's Subcommittee Hearing on Energy and Mineral Resources. Execs from booming domestic energy industry ask Congress for help in hiring vets, including...www.foxnews.comU.S. energy executives asked Congress on Wednesday to consider reworking the GI Bill and take other steps to better connect the legions of job-seeking military veterans with tens of thousands o...... read more

This AM, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup on multiple bills. If you missed it, watch the hearing online this afternoon. http://naturalresources.house.gov/live... read more

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Congressman Doug Lamborn and Ranking Member Rush Holt listen to testimony at the hearing on Veteran opportunities in the growing American energy sector. Watch the hearing and read testimony online" http://naturalresources.house.gov/live... read more

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources is holding two hearings. Watch the hearings live online. http://naturalresources.house.gov/live... read more