Happy Wednesday and welcome back to The Conservative Resource!

We’ve been enjoying seeing our members out and about in their districts, but recess is winding down and pollen is taking over Capitol Hill as the Natural Resources Committee prepares for the next few weeks of session. In honor of Earth Day coming up later this month, we are about to introduce bills covering a broad spectrum of natural resources issues. We’re looking forward to having folks back in town and getting down to legislative business!

Remember to stay plugged into the action by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To catch hearings, markups, and forums, be sure to tune in on YouTube!

What is your favorite outdoor memory growing up?

Camping and boating at Bear Lake. 

Where is the best outdoor spot in your district?

In the winter, it’s skiing at one of our world class resorts in the Wasatch Back (Park City, Snowbasin, etc). In the summer, it’s camping, hiking, boating, or river rafting anywhere from Pineview to Flaming Gorge. 

Why did you want to be a member of House Natural Resources Committee?

Utah faces unique challenges given its high percentage of federally owned land, but with these challenges comes the opportunity for bipartisan cooperation and productivity. Utahns in the outdoor recreation, transportation, telecommunications, real estate, and defense communities (and more!) want better and more efficient land management, and I look forward to being the voice of northern Utah on the Natural Resources Committee.

We’re seeing a shift away from the idea of multiple use, and that’s a real concern. For decades, our guiding principle has been that our resources are available to all for purposes of outdoor recreation, conservation, and development. We need to reinforce that. Our lands policies can't be crafted around one industry or interest group. We must work to strike that important balance between conservation and development.

What does conservation mean to you?

Conservation means recognizing the inherent value of the incredible resources around us and utilizing them in a sustainable and balanced manner.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge our committee will face in the 117th Congress?

I’m most concerned about our committee putting partisanship over productivity. Republicans and Democrats on Natural Resources actually share a lot of desired outcomes, and we cannot spend precious time focusing on our disagreements. We have a great deal of work ahead of us, but I am hopeful that we can work together to find bipartisan solutions.