House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today announced the subcommittee assignments for the Republican Members of the Natural Resources Committee for the 112th Congress. “The Natural Resources Committee has broad jurisdiction that allows our Members to use their individual talents and expertise to work on policies and issues that will help create jobs, grow the… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced that it will not appeal a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that would block states and tribal entities from lethally removing California sea lions that feast on endangered salmon. “I am disappointed in the federal… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the further division of the former MMS into the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: “There was bipartisan recognition of the need to improve the operations of MMS in order to ensure that U.S. offshore drilling is the safest in… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the final report and recommendations from the President’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing, with testimony from Commission Co-Chairs William Reilly and Bob Graham, on… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Department of Labor released the December unemployment report: “It is always encouraging to see more Americans back at work, but with unemployment at 9.4 percent much still needs to be done to help the millions of jobless individuals around the country. The new Republican majority… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the National Oil Spill Commission released one chapter of its final report on the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and subsequent oil spill: “This chapter of the National Oil Spill Commission’s final report provides initial insight into a very complicated and terrible tragedy. However, I’m… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman-elect Doc Hastings (WA-04) today named subcommittee chairmen for the 112th Congress. He also announced the establishment a new Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution delegates to Congress the power to regulate trade with Indian tribes, and in the House of Representatives the Natural… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman-elect Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s Secretarial Order to allow the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to designate areas as “Wild Lands” – essentially giving the Administration the ability establish de facto Wilderness areas without Congressional approval: “The Administration… Read more »

Natural Resources Committee Chairman-elect Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced intentions to pass a public lands and waterways omnibus bill crafted by himself and Senator Barbara Boxer during the final days of the lame-duck Democrat Congress: Read more »

Natural Resources Committee Chairman-elect Doc Hastings (WA-04) today announced the Republican Members of the Natural Resources Committee for the 112th Congress. “This is a very knowledgeable and talented team of Members, and includes 15 newly-elected Republicans,” said Chairman-elect Hastings. “Each of our Members will play key roles as the Natural Resources Committee begins its work in… Read more »