In the latest version of the CLEAR Act unveiled Monday night, House Democrats have deleted a provision offered by Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-06) to establish a bipartisan, independent, National Commission on Outer Continental Shelf Oil Spill Prevention, comprised of technical experts to study the events leading up to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. This Amendment passed out of Natural… Read more »

Today, during Full Committee markup of H.R. 5388, a bill to expand boundaries of the Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Ranking Member Rob Bishop (UT-01) offered an amendment to allow hunters the use of wheeled, muscle-powered carts for the removal of game.  Shockingly, Resources Democrats unanimously voted… Read more »

In response to a letter from Natural Resources Committee Republicans, Department of Interior (DOI) Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall today confirmed she is conducting an open investigation into allegations that the Department altered the 30-day safety report to the President on Outer Continental Shelf drilling to include recommendation of a deepwater drilling moratorium after it was… Read more »

Today, during Full Committee markup of H.R. 4416, a bill to increase the authorization of the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 from $5 million to $7.5 million a year, Republicans offered a fiscally responsible amendment to freeze the authorization at the current level of $5 million.  The amendment to keep funds level for Great Ape conservation failed by a 14-21 vote.  Click… Read more »

To expand the boundaries of the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico (H.R. 5388) July 22, 2010 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 5388 out of Committee (Passed by Voice Vote) H.R. 5388 transfers two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) parcels of land around the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico.  The two parcels, the Manzano area and the Crest of Montezuma, are 896 acres and 917… Read more »

The Great Ape Conservation Act (H.R. 4416) July 22, 2010 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 4416 out of Committee (Passed by Voice Vote) This legislation extends the Great Ape Conservation Fund to finance projects to help conserve Great Apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, baboons, orangutans and gibbons) and would increase the authorization for the program from $5 million to $7.5 million a… Read more »

Madam Speaker, included in this legislation are a great many important anti-crime, anti-violence provisions that will assist and support Indian tribes across this country. There is considerable bipartisan support for what this bill aims to do, and yet it is being brought before the House using a process and procedure that elicits opposition. Let me be clear: the objections that I will… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04), Energy and Minerals Subcommittee Ranking Member Doug Lamborn (CO-05), and Reps. John Duncan (TN-02), Bill Cassidy (LA-06), Paul Broun (GA-10), Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) and John Fleming (LA-04) sent a letter to Department of the Interior (DOI) Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall requesting an investigation into… Read more »

A Rancher’s Personal Battle July 19, 2010 KSAZ Fox 10 News John Hook Click here to watch DOUGLAS, Ariz. - This Arizona rancher is on the front lines of the border battle, living not far from a nearly non-existent border fence east of Douglas in the southeastern part of the state. This Arizona rancher is on the front lines of the border battle, living not far from a nearly… Read more »

Offshore drilling moratorium affects everyone Study outlines how the Obama administration’s offshore moratorium will negatively impact industries nationwide. 7/19/10 E&P Magazine By Rebecca Torrellas The presidential offshore drilling moratorium will cost approximately US $2.1 billion in economic loss to the states along the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in first six months, according to… Read more »