Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing on “The Implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy.”
President Obama established the National Ocean Council (Council) in 2010, composed of 24 federal officials. The Council is required to develop a framework for coastal and marine spatial planning—an initiative viewed as “zoning” oceans for… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing to examine the limited growth of hydropower and barriers to expansion.
Hydropower is clean, renewable and emissions-free yet still faces large hurdles in the federal regulatory process. Washington state witness Jessica Matlock, Director of Government Relations for Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1,… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on three bills: H.R. 1869, “Environmental Compliance Cost Transparency Act of 2015,” H.R. 2993, “Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015,” and H.R. 4582, “Save Our Salmon (SOS) Act."
H.R. 1869 (Rep. Paul Gosar, R-AZ) provides more transparency and reporting related to environmental costs incurred by the… Read more »
OP-ED: Bold Thinking Needed on Title Transfers
By Congressman Rob Bishop
Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources
Throughout much of the last century, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects have played a significant role in western settlement and development. These projects have provided those in Utah—and elsewhere in the West— critical… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a budget oversight hearing to review irresponsible spending and harmful regulation under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Reclamation and the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs).
Members criticized the Administration for continuing to curtail… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a markup on 13 bills including H.R. 3070, “EEZ Transit Zone Clarification and Access Act,” introduced by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY).
“The senseless boundaries between state and federal waters around the Block Island Sound have created confusion for local fishermen,“ Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) said. “I thank Congressman Zeldin for his… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans held a hearing to review federal regulations exacerbating California’s drought crisis even while El Niño is providing significant precipitation for the region.
“I’ve watched what’s happening in Flint, Michigan and the outrage with the government action that put the population of Flint at risk,” stated Tom Birmingham, General… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing titled, “The Costly Impacts of Predation and Conflicting Federal Statues on Nature and Endangered Fish Species.”
The panel outlined how conflicting federal laws encourage predation of fish species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“The status quo may be working for sea lions and… Read more »
Today, the House passed S.J. Res. 22, Congressional Disapproval of the “Waters of the United States” Rule. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) released the following statement:
“When 27 states object to an action of the President we know something is wrong. Waters of the United States is the President’s latest unilateral act to extend the power of his Administration beyond constitutional limits.… Read more »
The Obama administration is now facing pressure from Democrats to be more open about a possible marine monument off New England.
Massachusetts Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Obama yesterday asking for more public input into the possible monument. The Conservation Law Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pew Charitable Trusts and other groups launched a… Read more »
