House Natural Resources Committee
U.S. Government: Elected Officials | U.S. Legislative Bodies
Recent News About House Natural Resources Committee
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House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) criticized President Biden's expansion of national monuments without local input, stating, "President Biden is no stranger to bureaucratic overreaches and ignoring the will of the people. Each time his administration makes an announcement to lock up more of our federal lands it comes without local input or support. The communities affected by today's announcement were kept squarely in the dark. President Biden’s Antiquities Act abuses and radical 30x30 agenda must come to an end so management decisions...
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Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6285, a House Committee on Natural Resources bill that will support energy resource development in Alaska. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed his support for the bill by stating, "As President Biden continues to wage war on domestic energy production, House Republicans are fighting back with solutions to unleash our abundant natural resources. With this bipartisan bill, we’re reversing Biden's disastrous rule that would limit energy production in Alaska and putting Alaskan...
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U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland faced tough questioning today as she testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources on the Biden administration's Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed deep concern, stating, "America is in jeopardy, and we need to take immediate action. Congress holds the power of the purse, and we will not just rubber stamp an administration that completely disregards oversight authorities and the communities most impacted by their decisions."Westerman highlighted the...
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House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) criticized the White House Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rule, stating, "CEQ is taking an imperfect process and somehow making it worse...This new rule will only serve as another win for our adversaries as the Biden administration continues making it virtually impossible to develop our abundant domestic resources." Westerman expressed concerns that the rule will lead to increased litigation and project delays, hindering progress on crucial new...
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The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs convened a legislative hearing today to discuss two bills aimed at improving tribal health care services and addressing discrepancies in means-tested benefits for Alaska Natives. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) emphasized the significance of these bills, stating, "While both of today’s bills are technical and provide seemingly small fixes to longstanding programs, they will enable changes that will provide great value to individuals that utilize these programs. Often, Congress can be perceived as only focusing on...
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The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations convened today for an oversight hearing focusing on the growing influence of extreme activist groups within the Department of the Interior during the Biden administration. Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) expressed concerns, stating, “In Joe Biden’s Administration, extreme environmental activist groups have taken over the Department of the Interior. Their radical agendas, improperly developed in concert with Biden Administration officials, ignore the needs of local communities and put our national security at risk.”...
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Washington, D.C. - In response to the recent legislative developments in the U.S. House of Representatives concerning natural resource management, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed strong criticism towards the Biden administration's environmental policies. Westerman highlighted the detrimental impact of these policies on federal lands and communities that rely on them.Westerman emphasized the importance of the House's efforts in combating what he described as burdensome and misguided policies from the Biden administration. He...
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House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) passionately advocated for rural communities, domestic energy production, and public land access during his recent testimony before the House Committee on Rules. Westerman highlighted the importance of several bills aimed at advancing these causes, including H.R. 615, H.R. 764, H.R. 2925, H.R. 3195, H.R. 3397, and H.R. 6285.In his testimony, Westerman emphasized the need to reverse restrictions imposed by the Biden administration, such as lead bans affecting hunting and fishing opportunities in...
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Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a final rule to revise the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) oil and gas leasing regulations that will increase and create new regulatory fees and stifle energy development.House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) criticized the Biden administration's move, stating, "The Biden administration will stop at nothing to make American energy more expensive and more difficult to access in their tireless quest to chase unattainable campaign promises and undefined climate goals."...
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The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved 12 bipartisan bills focused on various aspects of outdoor recreation, conservation, and support for tribes and territories. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed his gratitude towards his colleagues for their efforts in crafting these bills, stating, "The bills passed in the House this week represent the product of extensive bipartisan work by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and deliver commonsense solutions for Americans across the country and around the globe."Among the bills passed, H.R. 524,...
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The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs recently convened to discuss the promotion of affordable and reliable energy sources for United States territories. During the oversight hearing, Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) emphasized the importance of allowing territories to choose energy resources that meet their specific needs. Hageman stated, "Congress must ensure that territories are able to utilize the energy resources that best suit their specific needs and desires."Highlighting the concerns over the current energy prioritization, Hageman criticized...
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The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries recently convened to discuss the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) expressed his concerns regarding the proposed rule, stating, "This rule is misguided, driven by ideological agendas rather than practical conservation principles, poorly designed, and impractical in its application." Bentz emphasized that the rule would hinder effective management tools crucial for wildlife and refuge systems and...
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The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations recently conducted a hearing focusing on the repercussions of the Biden administration's border policies, which have facilitated the infiltration of violent cartels into rural tribal communities well beyond the Southern border of the United States.Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) expressed deep concerns about the situation, stating, “Joe Biden’s open border policies have had detrimental effects on Indian country, with drugs and cartels infiltrating these communities at an alarming rate.” Gosar highlighted the...
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On April 9, 2024, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation aims to expand outdoor recreation opportunities across America, with a focus on improving access to public lands and waters.Chairman Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas and an avid outdoorsman, expressed his pride in championing the EXPLORE Act, highlighting its potential to modernize visitor experiences, increase accessibility for veterans and service members, create new...
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Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) strongly criticized the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for finalizing three rules that reverse Endangered Species Act (ESA) reforms made during previous administrations.In response to the finalized rules, Westerman stated, "The Biden administration continues to take two steps back without even taking one step forward. We know the Endangered Species Act is an outdated piece of legislation that has repeatedly failed its primary goal...
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The House Committee on Natural Resources has initiated an investigation into the methodology employed by the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) in calculating federal royalties from energy production on federal lands and waters. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of internal controls at ONRR, which may lead to conflicts of interest and uncertainty in the determination of federal royalties.In a letter addressed to ONRR Director Howard Cantor, Chairman Bruce Westerman, Chairman Paul Gosar, and Chairman Pete Stauber expressed their apprehensions. They...
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Today, the Biden administration has faced criticism for its implementation of burdensome forestry regulations. The administration announced a national old-growth amendment to all 128 forest plans across the nation, making it more challenging to responsibly manage America's forests. This move has been met with opposition from House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, who believes that the administration has failed to address the underlying threats to our federal forests.Chairman Westerman expressed his concerns, stating, "Instead of using proven active...
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The Department of Interior (DOI) has released its final five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan, and it is being heavily criticized for its devastating impact on American jobs and innovation. The plan, which is a year and a half late, contains the fewest lease sales in the history of the program, dealing a huge blow to American energy production and national security.In response to the plan, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed his dismay, stating, "The Biden administration’s plan to eliminate American energy production,...
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The U.S. House of Representatives has recently passed two bipartisan bills that aim to advance sportsmen's access and tribal sovereignty. The bills have received significant support from both sides of the aisle, highlighting the common ground between lawmakers.One of the bills, known as S. 788 or the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023, was introduced by U.S. Sen. John Boozman from Arkansas. This legislation seeks to modernize the Duck Stamp program, which is used by waterfowl hunters. The bill proposes to allow hunters the option to purchase an electronic Duck Stamp,...
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The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources recently conducted a legislative hearing to address the issue of energy poverty and the impact of President Biden's policies on domestic energy production. Three bills were discussed during the hearing, with the aim of reducing energy costs and expanding geothermal energy development in the United States.Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber expressed his concerns regarding the current state of energy prices in the country, stating, "Thanks to President Biden's all-out war on domestic energy production, Americans are facing...