Today, the House Republican Steering Committee appointed Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) to the House Committee on Natural Resources. Rep. Gianforte will serve on the Subcommittee on Federal Lands and the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:
“I’m excited to welcome Rep. Gianforte to our team. Greg brings western values and… Read more »
Today, the House passed H.R. 1967, the “Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act.” Introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), the bipartisan bill authorizes expanded pumped storage hydropower at select Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) facilities.
“For an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy we need ‘all-of-the-above’ energy infrastructure. This bill bolsters a diverse and… Read more »
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to rescind the Obama Administration’s Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS). Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:
“This rule aggrandized federal bureaucrats at the expense of farmers’ water and private property rights. EPA’s decision to stay and now rescind WOTUS is another welcome act from… Read more »
Today, the Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing with Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke to examine the Trump Administration’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 and new policy priorities of DOI and its subagencies.
“The shared priorities of balancing our budget, improving land management and expanding access can’t be fully achieved… Read more »
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will be delisted from the endangered species list. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:
“I commend this Administration and the Department of the Interior for delisting the grizzly bear even though it should have been done years ago. States are far more… Read more »
Today, the House passed H.R. 1654, the “Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act,” by a bipartisan vote of 233-180. Introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), the bill creates a “one-stop-shop” permitting process through the Bureau of Reclamation for new or expanded surface storage facilities. It streamlines agency permit requirements that sometimes impose unnecessary costs and burdens on… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on a discussion draft of the “Helium Extraction Act of 2017.” The bill authorizes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to lease federal land for the purpose of helium production under the same lease terms as oil and gas.
“[M]ajor concerns remain regarding the future of the domestic helium market,”… Read more »
Yesterday, Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced H.R. 2937, the “Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.” This bill authorizes partnerships between states and non-governmental entities for the purposes of expanding abandoned mine reclamation projects.
“I commend Rep. LaHood for his leadership to build bipartisan consensus on legislation that will help solve a pressing national challenge.… Read more »
Today, the House passed H.R. 1873, the “Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act,” by a bipartisan vote of 300-118. Introduced by Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR), the bipartisan bill provides streamlined processes for the removal of hazardous vegetative overgrowth within or adjacent to electricity infrastructure on federal lands.
“This bill streamlines another… Read more »
