Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on bills that will ensure Alaska Natives have the right to sell ivory artwork and articles of handicraft, maintain critical water infrastructure for Montana’s rural communities and support water resources research. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement in response:

“The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries is driving a robust agenda on tribal autonomy and the proactive development of our resources. Congress is rolling back the administrative state to eliminate barriers for prosperity and deliver overdue investments in rural infrastructure.”  

Background

H.R. 5694, the Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to secure the right of Alaska Natives to sell native artwork and handicrafts made with ivory from marine mammals.

H.R. 7250, introduced by U.S. Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), supports the development and maintenance of critical rural water infrastructure in northeastern Montana by reauthorizing the Fort Peck Rural Water System Act of 2000.

H.R. 7889, the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration (AWRC) Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), bolsters research and education initiatives designed to improve the scientific understanding, management and sustainability of the nation’s water resources. It reauthorizes the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, which implements and helps fund these initiatives at universities.

H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training. Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office.