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Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

Westerman Blasts ESA Rules That Reverse Critical Reforms

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) finalized three rules reversing Endangered Species Act (ESA) reforms made during the previous administrations. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response: "The Biden administration continues to…

Supporting Solutions for Marine Life and Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on four bills to create partnerships across levels of government and the private sector, update the mapping of the five Great Lakes lakebeds and enhance marine life and habitat. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) issued the following statement in response: "The four bills considered…

Committee Holds Hearing on Landmark Habitat Bill, Continues Work to Support America's Wildlife

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman's (R-Ark.) bill, the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act. This legislation would provide states and tribes with the necessary resources to implement habitat restoration projects vital to preventing the listing of species and to…

What They Are Saying: The America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Last week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a group of 20 members in introducing H.R. 7408, the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act. "The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies appreciates Chairman Westerman’s commitment to providing funding to state fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife habitat restoration in the America’s…

Landmark Wildlife Habitat Bill Implements Long-Term Conservation Solutions

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) rolled out the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (AWHCA). Westerman issued the following statement in response: “The America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act will empower states and local communities to use proven practices to restore and maintain habitat, which will…

Committee Considers Legislation to Improve Access to Public Waters, Support Long-Term Infrastructure

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on four bills improving access to public waters, addressing maintenance needs of our aging irrigation infrastructure, reauthorizing important groundwater monitoring programs and ensuring federal power agencies will be able to uphold their statutory obligations. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.)…

Committee Considers Legislation to Improve the ESA, Streamline Regulatory Hurdles

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on seven bills covering a wide variety of issues, including Endangered Species Act (ESA) reforms, species management improvements, water resource support and the elimination of regulatory delays. Subcommittee Chairman U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) issued the following statement in…

Field Hearing Highlights Importance of Snake River Dams, Exposes Environmentalists' Dangerous Agenda

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) hosted a field hearing with House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) titled, "The Northwest at Risk: the Environmentalist’s Effort to Destroy Navigation, Transportation, and…

Committee Investigates Negative Impacts of Proposed Speed Reduction Rule

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight hearing on the impacts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) proposed changes to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) released the following statement in response: “Unfortunately, NOAA is promulgating policies that do…

Committee Republicans Conduct Oversight of Increased Budget Requests, Lack of Results

| Posted in Press Release
WOW Subcommittee

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight hearing on the president's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget request for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs). Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) released the…