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Oversight and Investigations

Administration Admits it Doesn’t Have Statutory Authority to Prioritize Wild Lands over other Uses

| Posted in Press Release

Yesterday, during a Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Administration’s “Wild Lands” order, Chairman Doc Hastings questioned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Bob Abbey on the Administration’s legal authority to prioritize “Wild Lands” above other multiple-uses of BLM lands. Under the Secretarial Order No. 3310, Secretary Salazar directed BLM to re-review its land…

Republicans Highlight Job Loss, Economic Impacts of Administration’s Wild Lands Order

| Posted in Press Release

Today at a Natural Resources Committee hearing, Republican Members soundly rejected the Obama Administration’s new “Wild Lands” order. This Secretarial Order, issued without public consultation, attempts to designate Wilderness areas without Congressional approval. Numerous state and local officials testified at today’s hearing that this order could lock-up public lands, destroy American…

State and Local Officials Decry Administration’s Wild Lands Order

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing on the impact of the Administration’s “Wild Lands” order. The Committee heard from Western governors and elected local officials who expressed their concern over the proposed Wild Lands order and its negative impact on jobs, economic growth and American energy production. What They Are Saying about the Wild Lands…

Committee to Hold Oversight Hearing on Interior Department’s “Wild Lands” Policy

| Posted in Committee Action

On Tuesday, March 1st the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a Full Committee oversight hearing on “The Impact of the Administration’s Wild Lands Order on Jobs and Economic Growth.” The Wild Lands policy, established by Secretarial Order, is an attempt by the Interior Department to establish de facto Wilderness areas without Congressional approval. “This is a prime example of why…

Chairman Hastings Statement on President’s Great Outdoors Initiative

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding today’s White House event on America’s Great Outdoors: “America has a responsibility to care for our treasured public lands and ensure that they are there for future generations to enjoy. Proper conservation requires a balanced approach. This means protecting and maintaining the…

Chairman Hastings' Op-Ed in The Hill: Regulations stifle drilling, push gas prices up at pump

| Posted in Op-Eds and Speeches

Regulations stifle drilling, push gas prices up at pump February 15, 2011 The Hill Rep. Doc Hastings, Chairman House Natural Resources Committee Americans across the country are facing rising gasoline prices that are squeezing families’ monthly budgets and businesses’ ability to prosper and create jobs. There’s a growing anxiety that, like the summer of 2008, prices will once again…

Hastings: Obama Administration Regulations are Costing American Jobs, Blocking American Energy Production

| Posted in Floor Statements

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in support of H. Res. 72, a resolution directing certain committees, including the Natural Resources Committee, to review existing, pending and proposed federal regulations and their effect on jobs and economic growth. “Gasoline prices are rising and we have near…

In Case You Missed It - E&E News: GOP lawmakers demand repeal of wilderness policy

| Posted in Blog

GOP lawmakers demand repeal of wilderness policy January 31, 2011 E&E News Phil Taylor Nearly 60 Republican lawmakers, mostly from the West, on Friday asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to rescind a new policy that directs field managers to inventory and protect wilderness-quality lands, arguing that it would significantly affect rural economies. In a letter from the Western…

18 Republicans Send Letter to Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley on Job-Costing Regulations

| Posted in Letters

Dear Chairwoman Sutley, We write to express our concerns and request your immediate attention regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) flawed consultation process resulting in biological opinions (bi-ops) and regulations that will significantly restrict the use of critical crop…

Chairman Hastings Announces Natural Resources Subcommittee Assignments

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today announced the subcommittee assignments for the Republican Members of the Natural Resources Committee for the 112th Congress. “The Natural Resources Committee has broad jurisdiction that allows our Members to use their individual talents and expertise to work on policies and issues that will help create jobs, grow the…