Secretary Salazar: As you may know, last November a number of Northwest Members of Congress wrote you to express strong concerns about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) Northern Spotted Owl Draft Revised Recovery Plan (Draft Plan) and to request that the public be given additional time and infonnation to comment on the Draft Plan. Many of those concerns remain unaddressed by the… Read more »

Hastings to Lead the Way on Gas-Price Debate by Amy Harder National Journal Sunday, March 6, 2011 Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images Hastings: Likely to push for more drilling. The higher oil prices get, the more prominent Rep. Doc Hastings becomes. The Republican chairs the House Natural Resources Committee and represents a conservative district in eastern Washington state. From that… Read more »

Today, at a House Natural Resources Committee Hearing on the Department of the Interior’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget proposal, Interior Secretary Salazar said: “The 2012 budget reflects many difficult budget choices, cutting worthy programs and advancing efforts to shrink Federal spending...by eliminating and reducing lower priority programs...” There might be something wrong with the… Read more »

Yesterday, during a Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Administration’s “Wild Lands” order, Chairman Doc Hastings asked Idaho Governor Butch Otter and Utah Governor Gary Herbert if families have better job opportunities in areas subject to Wilderness restrictions. Not surprising, the answer is no. See what the Governors had to say about the impacts of this “Wild Lands” order on… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »