Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup and favorably reported nine bills. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"Today, we’re delivering proven solutions for wildlife habitat across the country. The House Committee on Natural Resources just passed the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, a landmark piece of species conservation legislation I introduced earlier this year. We’re putting the power of species management back in the hands of those who know it best, the states and tribes who steward the areas where critical species live. This historic investment in America’s wildlife habitat supports proven solutions to recover species populations and improve the habitat that is critical to their survival.

“At the same markup, House Republicans are also keeping our promise to lower energy costs and increase domestic energy development by advancing several other critical pieces of legislation. I'd like to thank my colleagues on the House Committee on Natural Resources for their support, and I look forward to supporting these critical pieces of legislation as they move through the House, Senate and ultimately into law."

Background

H.R. 6482, the Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), would streamline the permitting process for geothermal energy exploration on federal lands. Additionally, the bill would direct the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI) to designate geothermal leasing priority areas on federal lands that are economically viable for geothermal energy production.

H.R. 7370, the Geothermal Energy Opportunity (GEO) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), would require DOI to continue processing drilling permits for projects that have completed federal review. This would prevent DOI from unnecessarily delaying permits and authorizations when there is no legal wrongdoing.

H.R. 7375, introduced by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), would amend the Mineral Leasing Act to direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to improve the assessment of expression of interest fees and help ensure the Biden administration is following the law related to onshore oil and gas leasing.

H.R. 7377, the Royalty Resiliency Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), will ease the unfair burden of royalties placed on operators while they wait for various approvals from BLM. These approvals often take years and result in unnecessary overpayments by operators and more work for agency employees. 

H.R. 7408, the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), would make historic investments of $320 million in grant funding and give states the opportunity and support to enact their congressionally mandated wildlife action plans. Other provisions will give congressional backing to private, voluntary conservation efforts and provide a solution to the detrimental Cottonwood vs. U.S. Forest Service 9th Circuit Court decision. The bill also authorizes Good Neighbor Authority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, allowing the agency to partner with states, tribes and counties to better manage their lands, placing it on par with other federal land management agencies. For more information click here.

H.R. 7409, the Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEAT) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), would expedite the development of geothermal energy projects on non-federal lands that involve minimal federal minerals. It would help ease unnecessary regulatory burdens for geothermal developments on non-federal lands.

H.R. 5015, the Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.), would allow seedling nurseries at state forestry agencies, private or nonprofit entities and higher-education institutions to be eligible for existing funding to help support investments in reforestation. 

H.R. 7003, the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, introduced by U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), reauthorizes the National Landslide Preparedness Act for Fiscal Years 2024-2028.

H.R. 7422, the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2024, introduced by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), would provide DOI with explicit authority to charge geothermal lease holders fees to recover costs for geothermal lease applications, geothermal permits to drill, utilization plans, site licenses, facility construction permits, commercial use permits, other approvals associated with a geothermal lease and monitoring of exploration activities, drilling and plugging of wells, and construction, operation and reclamation of well sites.