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Witnesses Agree on the Need for Tribal Involvement in Cobell Settlement’s Land Buy-Back Program

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled, “Implementing the Cobell Settlement: Missed Opportunities and Lessons Learned.” This hearing examined the delays and uncertainty in the land buyback program authorized as part of the Cobell Settlement. The Cobell Settlement provided for the resolution of individual…

California’s Growing Dependence on Foreign Oil

| Posted in Resourceful Information

Tomorrow, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on California energy and the drastic increase in foreign oil imports. The state has significant opportunities for energy production, including California’s Monterey Shale that the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that contains over 15 billion barrels of oil. However, as the infographic below…

Natural Resources Committee Bills Passed by House Would Create Over a Million Jobs and Billions in Revenue

| Posted in Resourceful Information

Today at a Full Committee hearing, Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell testified that the Department’s programs and activities support millions of jobs and generate billions in revenue.  While this is true, the Secretary failed to acknowledge the millions of jobs and billions in revenue that could be created if the Administration didn’t impose burdensome red-tape and…

Hastings: Court Misses the Mark on ESA Settlement Ruling

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) issued the following statement regarding the federal court ruling upholding the Obama Administration’s closed-door Endangered Species Act (ESA) settlement agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians: “I’m disappointed with today’s court ruling that upholds the Administration’s mega-settlement…

Hastings: Republican Budget Prioritizes American Energy to Create New Jobs and Increase Revenues

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement praising the Republican budget released today by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan: “The Republican budget is a responsible plan to cut spending, lower the debt, and ensure long-term job and economic growth. It prioritizes expanded American energy production and recognizes that new…

Members Introduce Four Common Sense Bills to Update the Endangered Species Act

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Rep. Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming-at large), Rep. Randy Neugebauer (TX-19), and Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-02) today introduced four limited bills to improve and update the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The bills are supported by all of the Members of the ESA Congressional Working Group, representing districts across the nation, and…

Chairman Hastings Prepares to Issue Subpoena on White Bluffs Bladderpod Listing Decision

| Posted in Press Release

Today, at a House Natural Resources Full Committee oversight hearing, Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) pressed U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) Service Director Dan Ashe on the Department’s non-compliance with the Committee’s request for documents regarding the process and science surrounding the FWS’ decision to list the White Bluffs bladderpod as a threatened species. A letter was sent to the…

House Approves Measure to Ensure Public Participation in National Monument Designations

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House of Representatives passed HR 1459, the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act by a bipartisan vote of 222 - 201. This bill, introduced by Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01), would require public participation before a presidentially-declared National Monument is made official under the…

Chairman Hastings: Major Land-Use Decisions Should Not Be Made Behind Closed Doors

| Posted in Floor Statements

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following statement on the House floor today in support of H.R. 1459, the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act. “Mr. Chairman, President Obama has not been shy about his willingness or desire to circumvent Congress and take unilateral action on a variety of issues; this…

Obama Administration’s Budget Falls Short for Water Storage, Hydropower and Long-Term Drought Relief

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing examining the spending priorities outlined in the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Water program. The hearing highlighted the importance of charting a roadmap to…