Today, President Barack Obama expanded the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument off the coast of Hawaii by 442,781 square miles. Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Congresswoman Aumua Amata (American Samoa) issued the following statements:
“The sweeping size of this expansion is unjustified,” Bishop stated. “It will impose great harm to a critical local… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held an oversight hearing on conflicting ideas between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that could threaten portions of California’s water supply.
NMFS proposed holding back water behind Shasta Dam through the summer and fall to preserve cold water for the Winter-run Chinook… Read more »
TO: Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell
FROM: Rob Bishop, Chairman House Committee on Natural Resources
Dear Ms. Attorney General and Madame Secretary:
In a February 26, 2015 correspondence (Letter) to Secretary Sally Jewell and former Attorney General Eric Holder, I outlined a number of items that needed to be sent to Congress prior to… Read more »
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 »
