U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) today announced the roster of Republican members who will serve on the committee and five subcommittees in the 114th Congress, and the creation of a new subcommittee that will have jurisdiction over all committee oversight matters. “Over the next two years, the House Natural Resources Committee will pursue an active… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee majority staff released a report today that questions  the independence and accountability of  the peer review process in recent Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing decisions.  The report entitled, “Under the Microscope: An examination of the questionable science and lack of independent peer review in Endangered Species Act listing… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today praised the Senate for its bipartisan approval of the Carl Levin & Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which included a bipartisan agreement (Title 30) on provisions under the jurisdiction of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy & Natural… Read more »

The U.S. Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, which included a provision authored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) to establish a fair, predictable fee-setting system for families who own cabins in our National Forests.  The bill will now be sent to the President to be signed into law. "After years of hard work to fix… Read more »

The Senate today approved the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which included several long-term priorities important to Washington state, and particularly Central Washington.  These provisions were included as part of bipartisan agreement between the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  The House… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014, by a bipartisan vote of 230 to 182. This bill, sponsored by Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-21), Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Tom McClintock (CA-04),… Read more »

EDITORIAL: Facts Support Passage of Drought Relief Legislation The Bee Editorial Board The Fresno Bee December 6, 2014 One of the oldest rules in politics is, when the facts are on your side, you cite the facts; when the facts aren’t on your side, you pound the table. Over the last few days, opponents of The California Emergency Drought Relief Act, which was introduced in the House… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following statement on the House floor today in support of H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014, introduced by our colleague, Mr. Valadao. Today, the House meets to once… Read more »

House passes NDAA with major parks, development package Phil Taylor E&E News December 4, 2014 The House today voted 300-119 to pass the fiscal 2015 defense authorization bill, including what would be the biggest package of public lands, wilderness, parks and energy bills in nearly six years. The defense bill would designate nearly 250,000 acres of wilderness in five Western… Read more »

Federal land exchanges in the National Defense Authorization Act Daniel McGroarty, President of American Resources Policy Network The Hill, Congress Blog December 4, 2014 In the December dash to act on must-pass legislation in the waning days of the 113th Congress, there are real risks that ill-advised initiatives will make their way into… Read more »