The House Committee on Natural Resources advanced three bills during a full committee markup. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed the wide range of legislative priorities addressed by the bills and praised the bipartisan effort behind them.
"The three bills we're advancing today demonstrate the wide variety of legislative priorities we work on in this committee. From conserving and promoting access to an underwater forest to supporting self-determination for our insular areas, there is no limit to the willingness of our members to find solutions for the communities they represent across the country. I'd like to thank my colleagues for their hard work on these bipartisan pieces of legislation and I look forward to working with the sponsors as their bills advance through the legislative process."
The bills in question are:
- H.R. 897, the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), which aims to designate the underwater forest off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a National Marine Sanctuary while considering the other vital industries in the area.
- H.R. 6062, introduced by U.S. Rep. Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), seeks to repeal Section 12 of Public Law 98-213 (48 U.S.C. § 1662a). This bill would remove the requirement for congressional approval on amendments to the American Samoan Constitution, a process that currently sets American Samoa apart from other U.S. territories.
- H.R. 6852, the Holcombe Rucker Park Landmark Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), aims to designate Holcomb Rucker Park as a National Commemorative Site.
