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Energy and Mineral Resources

Hastings: Administration’s Budget Will Increase Energy Costs for All Americans

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings released the following statement today regarding the Administration’s fiscal year 2010 budget proposal: “Under this budget proposal, Americans will be paying more to fill up their gas tanks, families will be paying more to heat their homes, businesses will be paying more to keep the lights on and farmers will be paying more to…

Updates to Mining Law Must be Reasonable, Responsible and Protect American Jobs

| Posted in Press Release

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing today on H.R. 699, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009. While updates do need to be made to the Mining Law, the royalty structure in H.R. 699 could seriously impede domestic mineral production and harm our nation’s economy. “We must be honest that the jobs of American workers are at risk…

Statement from Congressman Hastings on US Energy Production and President Obama’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings released the following statement regarding President Obama’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress: “I share President Obama’s belief that our nation will overcome today’s challenges, and come out of this recession with a stronger economy and a brighter future. President Obama noted that we import more oil than ever…

Hastings: Interior’s Delay on OCS Leasing is really a Moratorium

| Posted in Press Release

At the House Natural Resources Committee’s third oversight hearing on development of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Ranking Member Doc Hastings criticized the Secretary of the Interior’s decision to “delay” OCS leasing, noting that it’s really a continuation of the moratorium. “Although Congress acted last year to lift the moratoria on OCS development, it will require action by…

Secretary Salazar Announces Delays in Oil Shale Research and Development, Driving Investment Overseas and Costing U.S. Jobs

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings released the following statement today regarding plans by the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to cancel a proposed plan for expanded oil shale RD&D leases: “This is the third announcement this month from the Department of Interior regarding delays in American energy development.  From withdrawing land leases in…

Natural Resources Committee Holds Second Hearing on Offshore Drilling

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The House Natural Resources Committee today held its second full committee oversight hearing in a three-part series on development of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), specifically looking at states’ perspectives on offshore drilling. Below is a copy of Ranking Member Doc Hastings’s opening statement from today’s hearing: Mr. Chairman, today we are to hear from various states on…

New Report Highlights Extensive Economic Benefits from Offshore Drilling

| Posted in Press Release

The American Energy Alliance (AEA) released a report today detailing how permanently lifting the moratoria on energy development in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) would create over a million jobs and contribute more than $8 trillion to our economy. Specifically, the report states that over the life of production drilling in the OCS would generate: $8 trillion in economic…

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Coal Ash Impoundments

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The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held its first subcommittee hearing today on H.R. 493 the “Coal Ash Reclamation, Environment and Safety Act of 2009,” which would give expanded regulatory authority to the Department of Interior over coal-fired power plants and redefine them as “mine sites.” This legislation is in response to two spills of coal fly…

First OCS Hearing Stacked with Opponents of Offshore Drilling

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The House Natural Resources Committee today held its first hearing in a series regarding development of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).  Unfortunately, this hearing was not a chance to hear from experts advocating for achievable solutions to our energy needs, but instead featured all five Democrat witnesses calling for the reinstatement of the ban on offshore drilling. Ranking…

Hastings: Americans Cannot Afford to Delay New Oil and Gas Development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf

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House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Republican Doc Hastings issued the following statement today responding to Interior Secretary Salazar’s announcement to delay the 5-year plan for oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: “It’s disappointing that Interior Department is choosing to delay new exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf when we must be focused on…