This week, eight bills from the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the U.S. House of Representatives with significant bipartisan support. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"House Republicans are committed to delivering conservative wins for America, and this bipartisan group of bills is the product of hard work from members who saw issues in their local communities and introduced legislation to solve them. These issues ranged from Indian land ownership and drought preparedness to education programs and wildlife management. I'd like to thank my colleagues for their dedicated work on these bills and I encourage the Senate to act quickly so these bipartisan measures can be signed into law."

Background

H.R. 1240, Winnebago Land Transfer Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), would transfer administrative jurisdiction of approximately 1,600 acres of land from the Army Corps of Engineers in the state of Iowa to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be held in trust for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. This federal land was seized by Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s for the Snyder-Winnebago Oxbow Lake Recreation Complex project.

H.R. 2882, Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), would reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation through 2028. The foundation has several programs that provide Native American students with internships and fellowships, as well as research and policy guidance related to natural resources and public lands.

H.R. 2997, Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields (CONVEY) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), conveys 31.1 acres from the Bureau of Land Management to Mesa County, Colo., for economic development.

H.R. 3415, the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), provides greater flexibility and autonomy to the Midvale Irrigation District by conveying the Pilot Butte Power Plant to the district.

H.R. 4051, Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force to address shark depredation, which occurs when a shark eats or damages a hooked fish before an angler can reel in their catch.

H.R. 5009, the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), would reauthorize the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the programs that make up the Multinational Species Conservation Fund through fiscal year 2028.

H.R. 1727, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission Extension Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), would amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend the authorization of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission for seven years.

H.R. 4385, the Drought Preparedness Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), extends authorizations for emergency authorities that allow the Bureau of Reclamation to mitigate the impacts of severe drought in western states.