House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding reports that the Obama Administration will today announce plans for seismic studies for possible future drilling lease sales off Virginia and the Atlantic Coast. President Obama is responsible for delaying and then outright canceling the Virginia lease sale that was scheduled to take… Read more »

With gasoline prices reaching record highs and the economy still recovering, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings today called on the Obama Administration to uphold their promises of transparency and turn over documents related to two issues that directly impact American jobs and energy production. The Committee today is holding a business meeting to consider a motion… Read more »

Today the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing to examine the impact high gasoline prices have on job creation and economic growth in America’s tourism and travel industry, which last year supported 14 million U.S. jobs. “According to the Wall St Journal, every dollar increase in gas prices means $2.6 billion a week must be diverted toward the gas pump and away… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today released the following statement after a federal judge ruled that President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency’s unprecedented move last year to retroactively revoke an Army Corps of Engineers permit for a coal mine in West Virginia “exceeded its authority under section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act.” The court… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today announced a Full Committee meeting for Wednesday, March 28th at 10:00 a.m. to consider a motion to authorize the Chairman to issue subpoenas for the production of documents relating to two long-running oversight investigations. The investigations relate to the Obama Administration’s rewrite of a coal production… Read more »

Today, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on “Empty Hooks: The National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational and Commercial Fishermen.” Representatives from the charter, commercial and recreational fishing industries testified on the implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy. Established by… Read more »

Today, President Obama will visit Maljamar, New Mexico as part of a political PR tour to convince voters that this month's record gasoline prices aren't his fault. What you won’t hear from President Obama today is that any increase in federal oil and gas production in New Mexico is thanks to the pro-energy policies of previous administrations and in spite of his job-destroying energy… Read more »

Earlier this week, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Ignacia Moreno asking for detailed information on how much taxpayer money is being spent on Endangered Species Act (ESA) related litigation and settlements involving the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources… Read more »

At a hearing today on the impacts of rising gasoline prices, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings took the opportunity to address President Obama’s political multi-state energy tour that kicks off today. Feeling pressure from gasoline prices that are the highest ever recorded in the month of March, President Obama will undoubtedly try to claim credit for supporting oil… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2087, a no-cost jobs bill that would remove government restrictions that are blocking job creation and economic development on a small parcel of land in Virginia. Sponsored by Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-02), the bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 240-164. H.R. 2087 would allow Accomack County in Virginia to move forward with plans to… Read more »