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Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Improve Electricity Reliability and Vegetation Management

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House passed H.R. 1873, the “Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act,” by a bipartisan vote of 300-118. Introduced by Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR), the bipartisan bill provides streamlined processes for the removal of hazardous vegetative overgrowth within or adjacent to electricity infrastructure on federal lands. “This bill streamlines another…

Hearing Focuses on Bills to Protect Endangered Salmon, Empower Local Management on Federal Water Projects

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on two bills to lessen the costs of federal water and power infrastructure to American ratepayers. H.R. 2083 (Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-WA), the bipartisan supported “Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act,” allows states and tribes to lethally take non-native sea lions under certain…

Hearing Focuses on Bills to Protect Property Rights, Increase Federal Transparency

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on two bills to increase federal transparency, safeguard private and state water rights, and provide certainty to water and power users.       The “Water Rights Protection Act” discussion draft (Rep. Scott Tipton, R-CO) protects state water law and private property rights from future federal…

Panel: Hydropower Reforms Needed to Streamline Relicensing and Incentivize New Development

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the costly and lengthy process to relicense hydropower and to explore opportunities for new development. “Navigating through the federal bureaucracy necessary to obtain the proper licensing to get these new hydropower projects running is extremely complex and cumbersome. The time and costs associated with…

Committee Passes Bipartisan Bill to Safeguard Electric Transmission, Enhance Grid Reliability

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 1873, the “Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act,” bipartisan vote of 24-14. Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced the bipartisan bill to improve the safety and reliability of the electric grid on federal lands. “I am very pleased that this bill passed through committee with strong…

Chairman Letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary Zinke on Indian Water Rights

| Posted in Letters

TO: The Honorable Jeff Sessions and The Honorable Ryan Zinke FROM: Chairman Rob Bishop Dear Sirs: The Natural Resources Committee (Committee) has primary authorizing jurisdiction over the legislative resolution of Indian water rights claims within the House of Representatives. Additionally, given the longstanding policy of the United States that disputes regarding Indian water rights…

Panel Calls for Congressional Action to Expand Hydropower Infrastructure

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans discussed two bills that would expand hydropower infrastructure and clean energy for communities in Alaska and across the West. “This hearing marks another step towards improving our nation’s infrastructure. Today’s main focus is on what we can do to empower regional, state and local leaders in developing hydropower at zero federal cost,”…

Reps. LaMalfa and Schrader Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Electricity Reliability

| Posted in Press Release

Today, Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced H.R. 1873, the “Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act.” The bipartisan bill, cosponsored by Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Jim Costa (D-CA), Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), improves the safety and reliability of the electric grid on federal lands, and reduces the threat of catastrophic…

Marine Monument Designations Sideline Communities and the Domestic Fishing Industry

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the creation and management of marine monuments and sanctuaries. The panel overwhelmingly objected to the lack of local input, transparency and scientific scrutiny in the marine monument designation process.   “Federal decision-making directly impacts local citizens, local economies and the environment.…

House Passes Bill to Increase Water Storage at the Fontenelle Reservoir in Wyoming

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House passed H.R. 648 (Rep. Liz Cheney, WY-at large) by an unanimous bipartisan vote of 408-0. H.R. 648 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with the State of Wyoming to modify the Fontenelle Dam and Reservoir as a way to increase storage capacity and mitigate erosion at no cost to the federal government. “After years of requests and…