Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing on “The Power Marketing Administrations: A Ratepayer Perspective.” For years, millions of electricity consumers have received low-cost hydropower generated at federal dams and reservoirs, but despite this longstanding policy and partnership, recent Administration directives could raise… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today on President Obama’s plan to unilaterally impose a national energy tax and wage a war on coal:  “Years after a Democrat-controlled Congress rejected the President’s plan to impose a new national energy tax, President Obama is now trying to go at it alone and take unilateral… Read more »

The House of Representatives today approved the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014, which included an amendment to establish a Manhattan Project National Historic Park.  The bipartisan amendment, offered by Congressman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), and Congressman Ben Luján (NM-03), is nearly identical to H.R. 1208 and would protect and provide… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on “Mining in America: The Administration’s Use of Claim Maintenance Fees and Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Lands.”  This hearing examined mining claim maintenance fees and what can be done to make sure there is a strong “Good Samaritan” program in place to clean up… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved three bills to expand American offshore and onshore energy production in order to help create new American jobs, lower energy prices, generate new revenue, and make America more energy secure.  H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, was approved by the Committee by a vote of 23-18.  This bill, by House Natural… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement on newly-elected Representative Jason Smith (MO-08) joining the Natural Resources Committee: “I’m pleased to welcome the newest Member of Congress, Rep. Jason Smith, to the Committee on Natural Resources.  Having grown up on a family farm, Jason understands the importance of responsibly… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 1126, the Dwight. D. Eisenhower Memorial Completion Act, by voice vote. This legislation, sponsored by Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01), seeks to build consensus around a new Eisenhower Memorial by implementing a new design competition and providing a three year extension of the… Read more »

Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings released the following statement on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to delist the Gray Wolf from the endangered species list. “The Service’s decision today to delist gray wolves only makes sense, and is long overdue.  This untangles the ridiculous situation in Washington, Oregon, and Utah, where wolves had been listed… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on H.R. 2231, the “Offshore Energy and Jobs Act.”  This legislation would expand U.S. offshore energy production to create American jobs, lower energy prices, generate new federal revenue, and strengthen America’s national security.  To learn more about H.R. 2231, click… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing entitled “Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State, and Local Stewardship Vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices.”  At the hearing, Members and witnesses compared the effective conservation efforts happening on state, local, and tribal levels with the seemingly never-ending… Read more »