Tomorrow, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hold a hearing regarding the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA, H.R. 980) which would lock up American land, specifically moving approximately 24 million acres of lands in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Utah from public access lands to off-limits wilderness… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA -04) joined other House Republicans today in announcing a new group tasked with developing solutions to address the issues facing Rural America.  The Rural America Solutions Group will focus on solutions that create jobs and economic opportunities as well as address the unique challenges rural communities face.  Hastings… Read more »

Obama Stands in the Way of Our Energy Future By Congressman Doc Hastings Townhall April 29, 2009 In case you haven’t noticed, today marks President Obama’s 100th day in office. One thing that hasn’t changed over the past three months is the President’s ongoing practice of using empty rhetoric and straw-man arguments. Americans only had to hear the President’s recent Earth Day speech… Read more »

Restore Our American Mustangs Act (H.R. 1018) April 29, 2009 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 1018 out of Committee (Passed 21-14. View Roll Call Vote) The Restore Our American Mustangs Act would expand the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wild horse and burro program by $700 million.  H.R. 1018 repeals a provision of current law, which states that wild horses and burros… Read more »

In advance of President Obama’s 100th day in office, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings released the following statement and timeline regarding the new Administration’s actions on issues related to the Committee: “If past is prologue, President Obama’s first 100 days in office do not bode well for the future of American energy production, public use of public… Read more »

Selling The Green Economy By Robert J. Samuelson Washington Post April 27, 2009 Few things are more appealing in politics than something for nothing. As Congress begins considering anti-global-warming legislation, environmentalists hold out precisely that tantalizing prospect: We can conquer global warming at virtually no cost. Here's a typical claim, from the Environmental Defense… Read more »

In response to a unanimous request by Republicans on the Water and Power Subcommittee, the Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing tomorrow to examine how the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey will spend more than $1 billion in stimulus funds. “The supposed purpose of the stimulus bill was to create jobs and immediately revive our economy. So one has to wonder why… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) issued the following statement in advance of President Obama’s speech regarding his energy plan: “Today, President Obama will deliver remarks regarding his ‘comprehensive energy plan.’  In light of the recent federal court ruling that vacated the existing five-year offshore drilling plan, it is more important… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) called upon Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to defend the Department of the Interior’s rule that protects Americans’ Second Amendment rights on public lands and wildlife refuges: “This is a real test of the Administration’s commitment to honoring Americans’ Second Amendment rights and the clock is… Read more »

In Areas Fueled by Coal, Climate Bill Sends Chill By Felicity Barringer New York Times April 9, 2009 ST. LOUIS — Chatting with a visitor about energy issues in the back of the Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church here, a group of women exploded in laughter at the idea that their electric rates were among the lowest in the nation. “We can barely afford what we have now,” said Renee… Read more »