Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on four bills. One bill, H.R. 3179, codifies an Executive Order (EO) 14229 signed by President Trump honoring a victim of senseless violence perpetrated by two Venezuelan nationals who had entered our nation illegally across the Southern border. Additional bills on the hearing support local control over land-use decisions, get the most up-to-date scientific data into the hands of local decision makers, and more. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement in response:

"Local control and reduced federal regulation are hallmarks of good governance. Today's bills are in direct response to requests from each members’ respective constituencies and take strides to meet these ends. We also took time to honor the life of Jocelyn Nungaray. Her mother has been courageous in telling the story of her daughter whose life was stolen away too soon at the hands of illegal aliens, and we were pleased to have her testify during today's hearing. Jocelyn's memory will live on in our hearts, her name will be memorialized on one of our beautiful wildlife refuges, and her family will remain constantly in our thoughts and prayers."

Background

H.R. 1885, the Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), will exclude areas of North Topsail Beach, N.C., which the town has fought for decades to exclude from the Coastal Barrier Resources Act.

H.R. 2294, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 and NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System. This program helps get the most up-to-date science and data into the hands of local decision makers in coastal communities, ensuring that they are protected and supporting the many industries that operate in our marine waters.

H.R. 3179, to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge located in the State of Texas as the “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), will honor the life of Jocelyn Nungaray by codifying President Trump's EO 14229  and to change the name of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge." Jocelyn Nungaray's life was cut short on June 16, 2024, when she was brutally murdered by two Venezuelan nationals who entered the U.S. illegally. 

H.R. 2860, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), will reauthorize the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. This commission works with local, state, and federal entities to design projects and offer recommendations to improve the Northwest Straits.

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