H. Rept. 112-580 Read more »

Dear Administrator Lubchenco: I am writing to follow up on my April 2, 2012 request for information about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ("NOAA") response to the mismanagement of the Asset Forfeiture Fund that was recently identified by the Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General's ("IG"). The response, dated May 7, 2012 but not received by the… Read more »

The Center for Biological Diversity today sent a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings claiming their organization had only received $553,000 in taxpayer funds resulting from Endangered Species Act (ESA) related attorney fees and court cases. This claim conflicts with data obtained from the Department of Justice (DOJ), which shows over $2 million in taxpayer… Read more »

Obama's national ocean policy threatens jobs and economic activities onshore and off By House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings Foxnews.com June 19, 2012 In the famous poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” Revere instructs his fellow patriots to use lanterns to signal whether there’s an attack coming by land or sea. While we may no longer have to fear the British, Americans… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources continued its series of full committee oversight hearings on how to improve and update the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Today’s hearing focused on ESA litigation and how attorneys’ fees are being used by certain organizations to continue endless lawsuits. Witnesses at the hearing detailed specific cases throughout the country where ESA… Read more »

According to data recently obtained from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to document requests, the federal government has defended more than 570 Endangered Species Act (ESA)-related lawsuits costing U.S. taxpayers more than $15 million in attorney fees – in just the past four years. This data provides further evidence that the ESA has become litigation driven, where money and… Read more »

H. Rept. 112-529, Part 1 Read more »

Reporting H.R. 3210 Out of Committee (Passed 25-19. View Roll Call Vote) This bill would strengthen the Lacey Act by addressing certain unintended consequences of the 2008 Amendments Fleming Amendment #001 – Increases Transparency on Lacey Act Provisions (Agreed to by Voice Vote.) This amendment would establish an effective date; create a database on foreign laws; stipulate that the… Read more »

The House of Representatives last night passed, in a bipartisan vote of 230-186, National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop’s (UT-01) Border Patrol Operations Enhancement Amendment to the FY 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The amendment eliminates mitigation payments from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for purported “environmental… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) sent a series of letters to the Obama Administration requesting further information on how much the federal government spends on Endangered Species Act (ESA)-related litigation and settlement costs. The ESA has become increasingly driven by litigation and is used by special interest groups as a way to bring hundreds… Read more »