Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Solicitor of Water Resources Daniel Cordalis and DOI's designated agency ethics official Heather Gottry, requesting information to evaluate Cordalis's… Read more »

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a proposed rule to withdraw a 2021 Trump administration rule that would have excluded 3.4 million acres of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl. "Yet again, this administration is backing an anti-science proposal that will only make the problem worse. The Fish and Wildlife Service has already proven that declining… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a markup, reporting a total of 14 bills out of committee. Twelve of these bills were bipartisan - including U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' (R-Iowa) recently-introduced Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act - and passed by unanimous consent.  However, committee Democrats also advanced legislation that would be detrimental to… Read more »

This week, 135 members introduced the bipartisan Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act with the backing of nearly 60 groups and organizations. Member Statements of Support "We owe our American freedoms to our brave servicemen and servicewomen, and the families who have served right alongside these heroes. President Trump did a great job starting this initiative with the America the Beautiful… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) joined House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) in introducing the American Energy First Act, a bill that empowers states to manage energy development within their borders and encourages efficient onshore and offshore production of both conventional and renewable energy resources. "Every American… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) joined Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and 129 other members in introducing the bipartisan Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act,… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) led a forum on skyrocketing lumber costs and potential solutions to the issues. "While the lumber price crisis has been years in the making, like our forum title suggests, it is being exacerbated today by the ongoing failure to properly… Read more »

Today, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced Randy Moore as the new USFS chief. Former Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen will retire at the end of July after more than 40 years as a professional forester, wildland firefighter and land manager. House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response: "As a… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau and DOI's designated agency ethics official Heather Gottry, requesting information to evaluate Beaudreau's compliance with… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) joined House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and 34 other members in sending a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Debra Haaland regarding the administration's pause on both onshore and offshore energy… Read more »