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Border Patrol Agent Union Strongly Supports Bill to Improve Border Security on Public Lands

| Posted in Press Release

The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), a professional union representing more than 17,000 Border Patrol Agents and support staff, sent a letter yesterday in support of H.R. 5016, a bill to prevent the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture from implementing policies that restrict or impede Border Patrol from carrying out their mission to secure the U.S.…

House Republican Warnings Ignored as Arizona Sheriff Deputy Shot by Drug Smugglers on Federal Wilderness Lands

| Posted in Press Release

Only weeks after Republican Committee Ranking Members introduced legislation to ensure Border Patrol agents’ operational control of the border isn’t compromised by Department of Interior environmental policies, a shooting occurred on public lands near the border. On Friday, April 30, Pinal County Sheriff Deputy Louie Puroll was ambushed and shot by five drug smugglers in the Table Top…

Hastings Statement on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statements regarding the oil spill and cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico: “First and foremost, the focus must be on addressing this emergency situation, stopping the leaks and thoroughly investigating the cause of the explosion. This is a tragic event that has cost lives, caused…

Dept. of Interior More Interested in Working with Mexico and Canada than U.S. Border Patrol to Secure Our Borders?

| Posted in Press Release

As the Obama Administration and the Congressional Democrats scramble to cobble together a response to growing concerns on the U.S.-Mexico border - particularly on federal lands, where Border Patrol is unable to effectively monitor and patrol - a recent comment from Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar has shed some light on DOI’s inability to address the…

VIDEO RELEASE: Facts on Puerto Rico Statehood Needed Before, not After Vote on H.R. 2499

| Posted in Resourceful Information

In anticipation of today’s vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released a video and accompanying fact sheets outlining concerns and questions about the proposed legislation.  H.R. 2499 would provide for a two-step vote process in Puerto Rico on their future political status, including the option of…

What Would Statehood for Puerto Rico Mean – the Need For Facts

| Posted in Resourceful Information

The House of Representatives is expected to soon vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. This bill would provide for a two-step vote process in Puerto Rico on their future political status, including the option of becoming the nation’s 51st state. Puerto Rico is able to conduct its own local plebiscite or referendum, as they have done three times in the past, yet this bill…

Hastings Praises Administration’s Decision to Move Ahead with Cape Wind After Nine Years

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after today’s announcement that the Administration will allow the private investment and development of the Cape Wind Energy Project in the Federal waters off the Massachusetts coast: “For an Administration that has constantly dragged its feet on American energy development, today’s…

Get the Facts on the Puerto Rico Democracy Act

| Posted in Resourceful Information

The Puerto Rico Democracy Act would authorize a federally-sanctioned plebiscite (vote) of the people of Puerto Rico regarding their political future. Currently, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with Commonwealth status. Puerto Rico residents are U.S. citizens, but do not pay federal incomes taxes and are represented in Congress by a non-voting Resident Delegate. H.R. 2499…

House to Consider “Puerto Rico Democracy Act” Next Week, Bill would Set up Vote on Potential 51st State

| Posted in Resourceful Information

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act.  This bill would authorize a federally sanctioned plebiscite (vote) of the Puerto Rican people regarding their political future. The bill mandates a two-step voting process.  The first vote would allow the people of Puerto Rico to choose between selecting a “different political…

Natural Resources Committee Republican Website Receives Gold Mouse Award

| Posted in Press Release

The House Natural Resources Committee’s Republican website has been recognized by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) for having one of the best websites in Congress.  CMF analyzed all 620 congressional websites, including those of all Senate and House Members, committees (both majority and minority sites), and official leadership sites.  The Republican’s House…