Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources favorably reported six bills that will increase prosperity and well-being in rural communities across the country. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

“Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced legislation that will bolster rural America by unleashing American energy, enhancing water supply and supporting tribal communities. These bills are wins for rural America and I look forward to seeing them on the House floor soon.”

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 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. 7831, the License to Drill Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah), reauthorizes the Permit Processing Improvement Fund (PPIF), which allows BLM to collect a fee from operators, submitting an Application for a Permit to Drill (APD). This will help ensure the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has adequate resources to process permits in a timely fashion.

H.R. 7487, the Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the development of hydropower using all Reclamation facilities and encourages non-federal hydropower development.

H.R. 741, the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), will redesignate the Director of the Indian Health Service as Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the Department of Health and Human Services.

H.R. 3924, the Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (R-Colo.), requires the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive review of the U.S. wildfire landscape every four years to strengthen our nation’s understanding of, and response to, the growing wildfire and forest health crisis.

For more information on the markup, click here.