Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act, sponsored by Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-03), which protects privately held water rights, prohibits federal water grabs and upholds state water laws. This bipartisan legislation will end further attempts by the Obama Administration to take privately… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing entitled “EPA vs. American Mining Jobs: The Obama Administration’s Regulatory Assault on the Economy.” This hearing examined the onerous federal regulations and abusive actions by the Obama Administration, particularly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that have cost… Read more »

This week the Obama Administration began erecting metal barricades to keep families, veterans, school groups and visitors out of popular open-air monuments in Washington D.C. such as the Lincoln Memorial, which did not happen during the last government shutdown, and the World War II Memorial. The U.S. Park Service has also closed small businesses and non-profit operations that happen to… Read more »

This week the Obama Administration began erecting steel barricades to keep veterans, families and visitors out of popular open-air monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial. Despite the fact that these are open-air sites that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and are only staffed by Park Rangers during certain hours of the day, the Obama… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) today sent a letter to National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis regarding the Obama Administration’s actions to restrict public access to the World War II Memorial and other open-air monuments, memorials and parks in Washington,… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to immediately sign into law H.R. 527, the Helium Stewardship Act. The House and Senate unanimously approved this legislation last week to reform the Federal helium program and prevent an impending helium shortage. Full text of letter: Dear Mr. President, I urge you… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings delivered the following statement (as prepared) on the House floor today in support of H.J.Res. __, Open Our National Parks and Museums Act: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation to fund National Parks. No one wanted a government shut down and one of the unfortunate consequences is that millions of… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of H.R. 527, the Helium Stewardship Act: “This final bill reflects true bipartisan and bicameral work for the greater good of our Nation and economy. I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for their work and dedication to passing a bill that will not only… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s proposal to designate over 26 million acres of habitat in six states for the Canada Lynx, which has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): “The Obama Administration’s proposed designation of more than 26 million acres of… Read more »

The House of Representatives today approved, by a unanimous vote of 367-0, H. Res 354, to amend the Senate’s amendment to H.R. 527, the Helium Stewardship Act. The Helium Stewardship Act, as amended by the House, is a bipartisan, common sense action plan to preserve our Nation’s helium supply, close the helium reserve once and for all - getting the federal government out of the helium… Read more »