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Oversight and Investigations

Chairman Hastings’ Statement on Secretary Salazar’s Wilderness Proposal

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement in response to Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar’s letter to Congress concerning wilderness area designations: “Based on the Obama Administration’s track record in this area, I’m taking a ‘trust but verify’ approach to their actions. The Administration only set aside its…

Obama Administration is No Friend of Rural America

| Posted in Blog

Today, the Obama Administration announced the formation of the White House Rural Council. The Council, to be chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, aims to “strengthen rural communities and promote economic growth.” However, the goals of the Council are at direct odds with the Obama Administration’s previous actions and job-killing agenda. Below is a breakdown of just a few of…

End the Lockout of Border Patrol to Federal Lands - Vote "Aye" on the Lummis Amendment

| Posted in Dear Colleagues

Dear Colleague, The Lummis Amendment to the 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill is focused on the serious problem of our Nation’s border security taking a back seat to environmental laws and the regulatory whims of Department of the Interior land managers. An October 2010 GAO report revealed that critical access by the Border Patrol to federal land is routinely blocked and…

Bloomberg: House Republicans Press for Faster Action on Renewable Energy

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

House Republicans Press for Faster Action on Renewable Energy June 1, 2011 Bloomberg Jim Snyder U.S. House Republicans, who have sought to expedite offshore oil- and gas-drilling permits, pressed the Obama administration to act faster on renewable energy projects. Federal hurdles are slowing growth of solar and wind companies, industry executives said today at a House Natural…

Chairman Hastings’ Statement on Sec. Salazar ‘Wild Lands’ Memo to Bureau of Land Management Director Abbey

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar issued a memorandum to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Directory Bob Abbey on his decision to not implement DOI’s Wild Lands policy: “It’s welcome news that the Interior Department will follow the law. After this positive initial…

59 Representatives Letter to Secretary Vilsack Expressing Concern Over the Proposed National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule

| Posted in Letters

Dear Secretary Vilsack: We write to express our concern over the Proposed National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule published in the Federal Register on February 14,2011 (proposed rule) that would affect the management plans of the nation's 155 national forests and 20 grasslands. With a keen interest in the active management of our nation's federal forest resources and the…

National Wildlife Refuge System Understaffed, Poorly Maintained Due to Unsustainable Backlogs, Continual Federal Land Acquisition

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing titled “Buying More Land When We Can’t Maintain What We Already Own: The National Wildlife Refuge System’s Operations and Maintenance Backlog Story.” Members heard from the Administration and associated parties on the current state of the System, the affects of the maintenance and operations…

Regulatory Uncertainty, Permitting Delays Stifle Renewable Energy Development

| Posted in Press Release

As part of House Republicans’ American Energy Initiative, the House Natural Resources Committee today held the first in a series of oversight hearings on “Identifying Roadblocks to Wind and Solar Energy on Public Lands and Waters.” House Republicans are committed to advancing an all-of-the-above energy approach, which includes renewable energy, in order to create jobs, lower energy costs…

President Obama Disregards Dangers on Federal Lands Along U.S. Border

| Posted in Press Release

Today, President Obama gave a speech at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas touting the Administration’s improvements in border security and commitment to immigration reform. However, during the speech Obama failed to mention the continued security and safety issues on federal lands along the U.S. border. Despite the President’s claims of increased security, environmental restrictions on…

Witnesses Stress Need for Increased Border Security, Improved Access on Federal Lands

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and the Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations Subcommittee held a joint oversight hearing on the impacts of environmental laws and federal regulations on border security and the environment. Members heard from former Border Patrol Officers and affected citizens who discussed how these regulations are impeding…