NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

During last night’s State of the Union, President Obama claimed his Administration has been actively working to speed up Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs) for energy producers on federal lands: “That’s why my Administration will keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits.” But facts are stubborn things and that statement simply is not true. Under President Obama’s leadership, it has taken on average 30 percent longer, compared to the previous four years, to approve new ...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) tonight released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address: “During tonight’s State of the Union address, the President once again spoke about job creation and economic growth, but continued to ignore the economic opportunities that exist through energy production on federal lands and the responsible management of our Nation’s natural resources. Tonight’s speech was further indication...... read more

Gasoline Costs Hit Families' Finances February 5, 2013 Wall Street Journal By Tennille Tracy Gasoline prices took a big bite out of Americans' pocketbooks in 2012. The average U.S. household paid an estimated $2,912 for gasoline last year, sucking up nearly 4% of the average household income before taxes, according to government data out Monday. That is the highest percentage in three decades, with the exception of 2008, when the rate was nearly identical. Many people are trying to cut down on f...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (OK-03), Rep. Randy Neubebauer (TX-19), and six other members of Congress in sending a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) Director Dan Ashe calling on him to promptly approve state and local plans to protect the Lesser Prairie Chicken and requesting reasonable extensions of both the public comment period and the September 2013 final listing deadline under the Enda...... read more

House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01), along with Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (MI-06), Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon (CA-25), and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-09), today sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro requesting a compre...... read more

During last night’s State of the Union, President Obama claimed his Administration has been actively working to speed up Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs) for energy producers on federal lands: “That’s why my Administration will keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits.” But facts are stubborn things and that statement simply is not true. Under President Obama’s leaders...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) tonight released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address: “During tonight’s State of the Union address, the President once again spoke about job creation and economic growth, but continued to ignore the economic opportunities that exist through energy production on federal lands and t...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (OK-03), Rep. Randy Neubebauer (TX-19), and six other members of Congress in sending a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) Director Dan Ashe calling on him to promptly approve state and local plans to protect the Lesser Prairie Chicken and requesting reasonable exten...... read more

House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01), along with Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (MI-06), Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon (CA-25), and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-09), today sent a letter ...... read more

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), along with Ranking Member Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), today introduced H.R. 527, The Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act. This bipartisan legislation would prevent the closure of the Federal Helium Reserve, which by law is scheduled to close later this year resulting in a 30 p...... read more

Gasoline Costs Hit Families' Finances February 5, 2013 Wall Street Journal By Tennille Tracy Gasoline prices took a big bite out of Americans' pocketbooks in 2012. The average U.S. household paid an estimated $2,912 for gasoline last year, sucking up nearly 4% of the average household income before taxes, according to government data out Monday. That is the highest percentage in three decades, wit...... read more

Manufacturers of computer chips, fiber-optic cables, semi-conductors, life-saving medical imaging devices, and other advanced technologies are already calling for passage of H.R. 527, The Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act. This bipartisan legislation, introduced this week by Chairman Doc Hastings, would prevent the closure of the Federal Helium Reserve, which by law is schedule...... read more

House Resources Chair Doc Hastings and Interior Sec Ken Salazar, who said he'd be sticking around a few more months. twitter.com/susanferrechio… — Susan Ferrechio (@susanferrechio) January 21, 2013 ... read more

Wildfire prevention is 1st priority in new Congress Glenwood Springs Post Independent Rep. Scott Tipton January 14, 2013 As we begin the 113th Congress, I'm incredibly honored to have earned the trust of the people of the 3rd Congressional District and to serve as their representative for a second term. During my first term, I focused on advancing the issues that most directly impact Coloradans. ...... read more

Great CNN Money article today on the potential for an energy boom in California that would create jobs, boost the economy and bring much needed revenue to the state. "California is sitting on a massive amount of shale oil and could become the next oil boom state…Running from Los Angeles to San Francisco, California's Monterey Shale is thought to contain more oil than North Dakota's Bakken and Texa...... read more

This segment from Fox News discusses the shortage of workers in the Oil and Gas industry and how states in high-demand are working to fill these jobs and get people back to work.

On Friday, September 21, 2012 a group of House leaders held a press conference to urge support for HR 3409, the "Stop the War on Coal Act," which the House will vote on later that day. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), the Stop the War on Coal Act is comprised of a series of bills advanced by the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Natural Resources Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that aim to stop EPA's regulatory assault on jobs and affordable electricity. The House Members were joined by a group of West Virginia coal miners who have experienced firsthand the destructive consequences of the administration's war on coal.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following opening statement on the House floor today in support of HR 3409, the "Stop the War on Coal Act."

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following opening statement on the House floor today in support of HR 6082, the Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan. Learn more here: naturalresources.house.gov

Oversight Hearing on:

• "The Past, Present and Future of the Federal Helium Program"

Legislative Hearing on:

• H.R. 527 (Hastings, R-WA, Markey, D-MA, Flores R-TX and Holt D-NJ), To complete the privatization of the Federal helium reserve in a competitive market fashion that ensures stability in the helium markets while protecting the interests of the American taxpayer, and for other purposes. "Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act"

Members Statements:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

Tim Spisak
Deputy Assistant Director
Minerals and Realty Management
Bureau of Land Management
Department of the Interior

Daniel Garcia-Diaz
Director
National Resources and Environment
U.S. Government Accountability Office

Kimberly Elmore
Assistant Inspector General for Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations
U.S. Department of the Interior

PANEL II

Related Documents:

• Committee Hearing Notice - February 7, 2013

... read more

Organizational Meeting to:

• Adopt the Committee Rules, the Committee Oversight Plan for the 113th Congress, and appoint Committee staff.

Archived Video Webcast:

Member Statements:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

Related Documents:

• Committee Hearing Notice - January 17, 2013
• Adopted Committee Rules - January 23, 2013
• Adopted Committee Oversight Plan - January 23, 2013

... read more

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
10:00 a.m.

• Watch the Archived Markup Webcast

FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON:

• H.R. 6364 (Poe), To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, to designate memorials to the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, including a National World War I Memorial on the National Mall in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes."Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act"
• H.R. 752 (Schrader), To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Molalla River in the State of Oregon, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes."Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act"
• S. 3193 (Feinstein), To make technical corrections to the legal description of certain land to be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. "Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012"

COMMITTEE ACTION:

The Committee on Natural Resources met in open session on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, to consider the following bills:

H.R. 6364 (Poe), To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, to designate memorials to the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, including a National World War I Memorial on the National Mall in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. “Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act”

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6364.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop of Utah.084 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.
• The long title was amended by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

H.R. 752 (Schrader), To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Molalla River in the State of Oregon, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. “Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act”

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 752.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop of Utah.086 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.

S. 3193 (Feinstein), To make technical corrections to the legal description of certain land to be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. “Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012”

The Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 3193.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

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SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AFFAIRS
1334 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
11:00 a.m.

• Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

• S. 3193 (Feinstein), To make technical corrections to the legal description of certain land to be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. "Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012’"

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

The Honorable Duncan Hunter, CA-52
Member of Congress

Panel II

Michael Black
Director
Bureau of Indian Affairs
U.S. Department of the Interior

The Honorable Edwin Romero
Chairman
Barona Band of Mission Indians

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SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
1334 Longworth House Office Building
Thursday, November 29, 2012
10:30 a.m.

• Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

• H.R. 511 (Rooney), To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation of various injurious species of constrictor snakes.

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable John Fleming
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Dr. Brady Barr
Dangerous Encounters
National Geographic Channel
(Truth in Testimony Form)

John Kostyack
Vice President
National Wildlife Federation
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Shawn K. Heflick
The Python Hunters
National Geographic Channel
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Colette Sutherland
“The Snake Keeper”
Spanish Fork, UT
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Peter Jenkins
Executive Director
National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Andrew Wyatt
President
United States Association of Reptile Keepers
(Truth in Testimony Form)

... read more

Congressman Tipton, a member of our Committte, reintroduced "The Hydropower and Rural Jobs Act" with bipartisan support today. This legislation would increase production of clean, renewable hydropower while also creating rural jobs. http://tipton.house.gov/press-release/tipton-reintroduces-pro-jobs-hydropower-bill-senate-companionTipton Reintroduces Pro-Jobs Hydropower Bill with Senate Companion |...... read more

Great read in the Alaska Dispatch on energy development in Alaska creating thousands of jobs. Read the story here:Study: Open ANWR, create 61,000 jobswww.alaskadispatch.comAn oil and gas policy group has issued a new report saying that opening ANWR could create 61,000 jobs for Alaska.... read more

Stay updated with the House Natural Resources Committee by signing up for our weekly e-mail newsletter! http://go.usa.gov/Yk2http://go.usa.gov/Yk2go.usa.gov... read more

Today, the Committee met for the first time for the 113th Congress. Check out the new and returning faces to the House Committee on Natural Resources this Congress. Be sure to Like them on Facebook, too!... read more

Exciting news! Chairman Hastings announced subcommittee assignments today. http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=317348News Itemnaturalresources.house.gov... read more