Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled “Oil and Gas Activities within Our Nation’s National Wildlife Refuge System.” This hearing highlighted the importance of oil and natural gas production occurring in America’s National Wildlife Refuge System and examined the potential effects of increased… Read more »
Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on “American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for American Manufacturing.” This hearing examined the growing job opportunities in the manufacturing sector made possible by America’s energy renaissance that’s being fueled by increased energy production.
American manufacturing is… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight field hearing in Batesville, Arkansas on “Protecting the Rights of Property Owners: Proposed Federal Critical Habitat Designations Gone Wild.” The hearing examined the comprehensive impacts of critical habitat designations, flaws in the current critical habitat proposals for the Neosho mucket and Rabbitsfoot mussel,… Read more »
Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held a legislative hearing on H.R. 4350, the Northern Cheyenne Lands Act, and H.R. 409, the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act. These two bills would allow for increased tribal control of trust assets and fulfill a long-standing federal promise to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana.
“Unemployment rates on… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing on “Keeping the Lights On and Reducing Catastrophic Forest Fire Risk: Proper Management of Electricity Rights of Way on Federal Lands.” The hearing examined the need for improved management and better communication with electric utilities on electricity rights of way on federal lands so that falling, dead,… Read more »
Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved four targeted bills that would improve and modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The primary focus of these four bills is to promote data and cost transparency and species recovery.
These bills have been endorsed by over 25 organizations including, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Family Farm Alliance, National Rural Electric… Read more »
Yesterday, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing on “American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for Skilled Trades Workers.” The hearing examined the well-paying jobs opportunities for technical and skilled workers that have been created by the recent American energy boom. Mike Rowe, former host of Discovery’s “Dirty Jobs” and CEO of mikeroweWorks testified at this… Read more »
Reporting H.R. 4318 Out of Committee (Passed 27-15. View Roll Call Vote)
This bill would prioritize resources towards species protection by placing a reasonable cap on the hourly rate of attorneys fees that may be awarded to prevailing parties and making the ESA consistent with current federal law.
* For complete legislative action for the April 30, 2014 Full Committee Markup, click here. Read more »
Reporting H.R. 4317 Out of Committee (Passed 26-16. View Roll Call Vote)
This bill would require the federal government to disclose to affected states all data used prior to any ESA listing decisions and require that the “best available scientific and commercial data” used by the federal government include data provided by affected states, tribes, and local governments.
Huffman 001… Read more »
