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Press Release

Committee Advances Legislation to Modernize Endangered Species Act, Increase Water Storage and Promote Federal Land Access

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28, 2023 | Committee Press Office (202-225-2761)
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Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources completed a full committee markup and favorably reported a total of nine bills out of committee. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) released the following statement in response:

"The Republican majority is hard at work delivering on our Commitment to America, and the bills we passed today are the perfect example of commonsense policy that will improve lives and livelihoods across the country. By bringing the Endangered Species Act into the 21st Century to help people and wildlife, improving western water infrastructure and increasing access to public lands, we are ensuring every American is able to enjoy our abundant resources both now and in years to come. I look forward to moving these bills through the House and on to the Senate."

Background

The House Committee on Natural Resources favorably reported a total of nine bills out of committee today.

  • H.J. Res. 29, introduced by U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), which would provide for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) relating to the status of the lesser prairie chicken on the endangered species list.
  • H.J. Res. 46, introduced by U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), which provides for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service relating to designating critical habitat for plants and wildlife on the endangered species list.
  • H.J. Res. 49, introduced by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), which would provide for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the USFWS relating to the status of the northern long-eared bat on the endangered species list. 
  • H.R. 215, introduced by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), which would extend a Bureau of Reclamation water storage feasibility study and construction provisions contained in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act and remove regulatory roadblocks for raising the height of Shasta Dam.
  • H.R. 764, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), which would remove the recovered grey wolf from the endangered species list. 
  • H.R. 1245, introduced by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), which would remove the recovered Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the endangered species list. 
  • H.R. 1419, introduced by U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), which would remove the recovered Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the endangered species list.
  • H.R. 1567, introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), which would provide much needed transparency to the way federal land managers report hazardous fuels treatments.
H.R. 1319, introduced by U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), which would direct the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to take initial steps to increase the number of long-distance biking trails available for public use.