Today, during Full Committee markup of H.R. 5388, a bill to expand boundaries of the Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Ranking Member Rob Bishop (UT-01) offered an amendment to allow hunters the use of wheeled, muscle-powered carts for the removal of game.  Shockingly, Resources Democrats unanimously voted… Read more »

To expand the boundaries of the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico (H.R. 5388) July 22, 2010 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 5388 out of Committee (Passed by Voice Vote) H.R. 5388 transfers two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) parcels of land around the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico.  The two parcels, the Manzano area and the Crest of Montezuma, are 896 acres and 917… Read more »

A Rancher’s Personal Battle July 19, 2010 KSAZ Fox 10 News John Hook Click here to watch DOUGLAS, Ariz. - This Arizona rancher is on the front lines of the border battle, living not far from a nearly non-existent border fence east of Douglas in the southeastern part of the state. This Arizona rancher is on the front lines of the border battle, living not far from a nearly… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives will vote on the FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill that contains a provision allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to transfer an unlimited amount of funds to the Department of the Interior (DOI) in the form of environmental mitigation payments demanded in return for allowing the U.S. Border Patrol to simply do its job to secure the… Read more »

VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT #2 to SUPPLEMENTAL Amendment #2 Allows Interior Dept. to Divert Money Away from Border Patrol to Buy Up Private Land Democrats attach “extortion” provision to Troop Funding Bill Dear Colleague, Amendment #2 of the FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill contains a provision allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to transfer funds to the Department of… Read more »

After multiple reports in recent months of violence, drug running and murders on federal lands near our Southern Border, it seems the Obama Administration has a distorted view of the reality facing Border Patrol agents, law enforcement officers and everyday citizens. Interior Department spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said in a statement this week that Secretary Salazar is trying to "meet… Read more »

Republican Views on H.Res. 4438, "directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to the House of Representatives certain information relating to the potential designation of National Monuments" Read more »

Drug Cartel Activity Threatens Texas Water Supplies, Lawmaker Says June 21, 2010 FOXNews.com Joshua Rhett Miller Drug cartel activity along the Mexican border presents serious security threats to the area's water supply system, particularly on federally-owned lands in southern Texas, a U.S. lawmaker says. Members of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a… Read more »

Border Patrol Charged Millions for Habitat Damage, Republicans Say Enough 'Extortion' June 21, 2010 FOXNews.com Judson Berger Republican lawmakers are calling on the Interior Department to stop charging what they describe as "extortion" money from the Border Patrol -- millions of under-the-radar dollars meant to cover environmental damage stemming from their everyday duties along the… Read more »

Border Patrol Navigating Reams of Regulation to Secure Federal Land June 18, 2010 FOXNews.com Border Patrol agents must navigate a patchwork of environmental regulations dating back decades in order to police for drug cartels, smugglers and illegal immigrants -- often on foot-and-horseback in some of the most vulnerable areas of the southwest border. Border Patrol agents must… Read more »