Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) led a forum on the southern border crisis and the risks illegal immigration poses to the environment. "Despite President Biden’s purported commitment to protecting our environment, his immigration policies will lead to… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a markup, reporting a total of eight bills out of committee. Several of these bills were bipartisan, and passed by unanimous consent: H.R. 438, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), amends the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) sent a letter to Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) requesting that the committee conduct a fair and transparent budgetary process. In part, Westerman wrote: "To ensure that we are good stewards of taxpayer resources, it is incumbent upon us as legislators to engage in vigorous discussions when… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) sent a follow-up letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Debra Haaland regarding the boundaries and designations of three national monuments. In part, Westerman wrote: "Despite repeated requests for a briefing about the national monuments review prescribed by Executive Order 13990, the Department… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led committee Republicans in a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, asking the department to hear from those most impacted by the administration's domestic energy orders. In part, the members wrote:  "We write in response to the forum held by the Department of the Interior on… Read more »

We are facing a crisis at our southern border. In fact, we’ve been facing a crisis there for years. We should be using every available resource to improve our immigration process, but in the meantime, we absolutely must equip our agencies with enforcement tools. If we don’t, our environment will suffer as a result. The environmental impact isn’t usually the first issue that comes to… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting information on the long-term environmental impacts stemming from the southern border crisis. In part, the members wrote: "The environmental consequences of illegal immigration are… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to redefine the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule.  “Thanks to the great leadership of Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler at EPA, a new definition of WOTUS will bring much needed clarity and certainty for America’s… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) sent a letter to World Resources Institute (WRI) President Andrew Steer, renewing their request for information regarding the WRI’s relationship with the Chinese government. This letter follows up on the Committee’s Sept. 5 letter as part of… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) sent a letter to Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen, requesting information regarding Earthjustice’s relationship with the Japanese government. “Foreign members of the anti-base coalition represented by Earthjustice appear to have already… Read more »