Dear Secretary Chu: The Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) is conducting oversight on issues surrounding your March 16, 2012 Memorandum to the Power Marketing Administrations (“PMAs”). After two full Committee hearings and a number of congressional letters of concern, it is abundantly clear that there are many unanswered questions on the reasoning and implementation of this… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement to use presidential powers granted under the 1906 Antiquities Act to acquire new property to establish the César E. Chávez National Monument: “Additions to the National Park System should result from careful public review and a vote by… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement on the September jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “When there are 23 million unemployed or underemployed Americans, it’s always welcome news to see people getting back to work. Unfortunately, staggeringly high unemployment rates have become all too common and there are still… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives, by a bipartisan vote of 233-175 approved H.R. 3409, the Stop the War on Coal Act, a package of five bills that will help end the Obama Administration’s war on coal that threatens thousands of American jobs and could increase the price of energy on millions of American families and small businesses. The legislation prevents the Obama Administration from… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement to use presidential powers granted under the 1906 Antiquities Act to designate Chimney Rock as a National Monument: “This is truly a face-saving action borne out of President Obama’s failure to provide leadership to get the… Read more »

Organizations representing various interests including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, homebuilding and contracting are joining conservative organizations to call for passage of H.R. 3409, the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012, a package of five bills that will help end the Obama Administration’s war on coal that threatens thousands of American jobs and could increase the price of… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following opening statement on the House floor today in support of H.R. 3409, the Stop the War on Coal Act: “Mr. Chairman, In his 2008 campaign, President Obama plainly declared the policies he supports would bankrupt American coal production. Since taking office, the Obama Administration has waged a… Read more »

H.R. 5987, a bill to establish the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, was brought to the House floor today under “suspension of House rules.” This “suspension” process allows for an expedited and abbreviated process for considering and voting on bills. However, in order for a bill to pass under suspension, it has to receive two-thirds support rather than a simple majority. While… Read more »

The House Natural Resources Committee today released a report detailing information uncovered in its more than 18-month ongoing investigation into the Obama Administration’s rewrite of a coal production regulation, the 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule. The report, entitled “President Obama's Covert and Unorthodox Efforts to Impose New Regulation on Coal Mining and Destroy American Jobs,”… Read more »

Dear Colleague, I urge your support for a bipartisan bill, H.R. 5987, to designate the Manhattan Project Historical Park. I’m honored to sponsor this bill with the support of Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Norm Dicks. The National Park Service and Interior Secretary Salazar have endorsed the establishment of such a park to tell this important piece of our nation’s… Read more »