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Oversight and Investigations

Interior Dept. Policies Contribute to Environmental Damage on Public Lands Along the Border

| Posted in Press Release

Yesterday, President Obama met with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to discuss a variety of issues including border security and protecting public lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to a joint statement: “The Presidents underscored their commitment to manage the region in a way that enhances security and protects these areas for wildlife preservation, ecosystem restoration,…

Cast your vote on YouCut

| Posted in Blog

Be sure to vote for one of the 5 new YouCut programs this week.  After voting, you can also share other spending cut ideas you have.  What program would YouCut this week?  One of the 5 options is to suspend federal land purchases, saving $2.66 billion over 10 years. Cast your vote here.  Over 280,000 votes were cast last week! YouCut – a first-of-its-kind project – is designed to defeat…

Vote Check: Republican Amendments Defeated to Prevent Interest Groups from Targeting Wind, Solar and Coal Plants Near National Parks

| Posted in Press Release

Yesterday, during a Full Committee markup, Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee voted against two amendments offered by National Parks, Forest and Public Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Rob Bishop (UT-01) to ensure that National Park designations are not used to block or oppose the construction of wind, solar or coal power projects. Bishop Amendment to H.R. 2899,…

Ranking Member Hastings Urges Democrat Majority to Embrace Transparency, Bring Resolution of Inquiry on National Monument Documents for Vote in Full House

| Posted in Press Release

The House Natural Resources Committee today voted down (by a margin of 20-22) a motion offered by Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) to favorably report H. Res. 1245, a Resolution of Inquiry aimed at requiring the Secretary of the Interior to turn over specific information related to potential National Monument designations (i.e.“Treasured Landscapes” initiative.) Chairman Nick Rahall…

DOI Continues to Withhold Missing Documents Regarding National Monument Designations

| Posted in Press Release

Over two months after Republicans requested missing pages and information regarding the Obama Administration’s “Treasured Landscape” document that details plans to designate new national monuments, the Department of Interior (DOI) last night released just 383 pages of emails. The emails simply raise more questions about these potential designations, while failing to provide any…

Resolution of Inquiry Requesting Additional Documents on the Secretary of Interior’s Proposed Treasured Landscape Initiative (H.Res. 1254)

| Posted in Committee Votes

Resolution of Inquiry Requesting Additional Documents on the Secretary of Interior’s Proposed Treasured Landscape Initiative (H.Res. 1254) May 5, 2010 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.Res. 1254 out of Committee (View Roll Call Vote) This Resolution of Inquiry directs the Secretary of the Interior to turn over to the House of Representatives specific information relating to Department…

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Leasing and Boundary Expansion Act of 2010 (H.R. 4438)

| Posted in Committee Votes

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Leasing and Boundary Expansion Act of 2010 (H.R. 4438) May 5, 2010 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 4438 out of Committee (Voted favorably by voice vote) The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Leasing and Boundary Expansion Act of 2010 would expand the boundary of the Park to include an additional 151 acres, only a small…

Oregon Caves National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2009 (H.R. 2889)

| Posted in Committee Votes

Oregon Caves National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2009 (H.R. 2889) May 5, 2010 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 2889 out of Committee (Voted favorably by voice vote) The Oregon Caves National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2009 would modify the boundary of the Oregon Caves National Monument to include approximately 4,070 acres of land currently managed by the Forest…

Border Patrol Agent Union Strongly Supports Bill to Improve Border Security on Public Lands

| Posted in Press Release

The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), a professional union representing more than 17,000 Border Patrol Agents and support staff, sent a letter yesterday in support of H.R. 5016, a bill to prevent the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture from implementing policies that restrict or impede Border Patrol from carrying out their mission to secure the U.S.…