[House Report 117-704]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 520
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 117-704
======================================================================
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
for the
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
JANUARY 3, 2021-JANUARY 3, 2022
SECOND SESSION
JANUARY 3, 2022-DECEMBER 18, 2022
together with
DISSENTING VIEWS
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
January 2, 2023.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Full Committee Membership
(Ratio: 26 Democrats, 22 Republicans)
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona, Chair
BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas, Republican Leader
GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California LOUIE GOHMERT, Texas
JIM COSTA, California DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, ROBERT J. WITTMAN, Virginia
Northern Mariana Islands, Vice TOM McCLINTOCK, California
Chair, Insular Affairs GARRET GRAVES, Louisiana
JARED HUFFMAN, California JODY B. HICE, Georgia
ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN,
RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona American Samoa
JOE NEGUSE, Colorado DANIEL WEBSTER, Florida
MIKE LEVIN, California JENNIFFER GONZALEZ COLON, Puerto
KATIE PORTER, California Rico
TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico RUSS FULCHER, Idaho
MELANIE A. STANSBURY, New Mexico PETE STAUBER, Minnesota
MARY SATTLER PELTOLA, Alaska THOMAS P. TIFFANY, Wisconsin
NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ, New York JERRY L. CARL, Arizona
DIANA DeGETTE, Colorado MATTHEW M. ROSENDALE, Sr., Montana
JULIA BROWNLEY, California BLAKE D. MOORE, Utah
DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan YVETTE HERRELL, New Mexico
DARREN SOTO, Florida LAUREN BOEBERT, Colorado
MICHAEL F. Q. SAN NICOLAS, Guam JAY OBERNOLTE, California
JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Illinois, CLIFF BENTZ, Oregon
Vice Chair CONNIE CONWAY, California
ED CASE, Hawaii Vacancy\12\
BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota
STEVE COHEN, Tennessee
PAUL TONKO, New York
RASHIDA TLAIB, Michigan
Vacancy\3\
----------
On January 4, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 9, Chair Raul M. Grijalva of
Arizona was elected to the Committee.
On January 4, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 10, Republican Leader Bruce
Westerman of Arkansas was elected to the Committee.
On January 28, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 62, Majority (Democratic)
Members were elected to the Committee.
On January 28, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 63, Minority (Republican)
Members were elected to the Committee.
On February 3, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 92, Representatives McCollum,
Cohen, Tonko, and Tlaib were elected to the Committee.
On February 11, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 111, Representatives Matsui
and Trahan were elected to the Committee.
On June 15, 2021, Representative Matsui resigned from the Committee.
Congressional Record Page H2801.
On June 15, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 475, Representative Stansbury was
elected to the Committee.
\1\On November 17, 2021, pursuant to H. Res. 789, Representative Gosar
was censured and removed from the Committee.
\2\Representative Don Young passed away on March 18, 2022.
On June 22, 2022, pursuant to H. Res. 1197, Representative Connie
Conway was elected to the Committee.
On September 14, 2022, Representative Trahan resigned from the
Committee. Congressional Record Page H7795.
On September 14, 2022, pursuant to H. Res. 1340, Representative Peltola
was elected to the Committee.
\3\Representative A. Donald McEachin passed away on November 28, 2022.
David Watkins, Staff Director
Luis Urbina, Chief Counsel
Nancy Locke, Chief Clerk
Carlyn LeGrant, Director of Legislative Operations
Vivian Moeglein, Republican Staff Director
Tara Hupman, Republican Counsel
STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
(Ratio: 8 Democrats, 6 Republicans)
ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California,
Chair
PETE STAUBER, Minnesota,
Republican Leader
YVETTE HERRELL, New Mexico MIKE LEVIN, California
DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado KATIE PORTER, California
GARRET GRAVES, Louisiana DIANA DeGETTE, Colorado
THOMAS P. TIFFANY, Wisconsin BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota
CONNIE CONWAY, California JARED HUFFMAN, California
BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas (Ex Officio)EBBIE DINGELL, Michigan
Vacancy
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona (Ex
Officio)
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States
(Ratio: 8 Democrats, 7 Republicans)
TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New
Mexico, Chair
JAY OBERNOLTE, California, Acting
Republican Leader
AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN, American SamoaLLEGO, Arizona
JERRY L. CARL, Alabama DARREN SOTO, Florida
MATTHEW M. ROSENDALE, Sr., Montana BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota
LAUREN BOEBERT, Colorado MICHAEL F. Q. SAN NICOLAS, Guam
CLIFF BENTZ, Oregon ED CASE, Hawaii
Vacancy JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Illinois
BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas (Ex Officio)ELANIE A. STANSBURY, New Mexico
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona (Ex
Officio)
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
(Ratio: 12 Democrats, 10 Republicans)
JOE NEGUSE, Colorado, Chair
RUSS FULCHER, Idaho, Republican
Leader
THOMAS P. TIFFANY, Wisconsin GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN,
LOUIE GOHMERT, Texas Northern Mariana Islands
DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado DIANA DeGETTE, Colorado
TOM McCLINTOCK, California PAUL TONKO, New York
JODY B. HICE, Georgia RASHIDA TLAIB, Michigan
MATTHEW M. ROSENDALE, Sr., Montana RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona
BLAKE D. MOORE, Utah TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico
YVETTE HERRELL, New Mexico DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan
JAY OBERNOLTE, California ED CASE, Hawaii
BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas (Ex Officio)ICHAEL F. Q. SAN NICOLAS, Guam
KATIE PORTER, California
MARY SATTLER PELTOLA, Alaska
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona (Ex
Officio)
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
(Ratio: 5 Democrats, 4 Republicans)
KATIE PORTER, California, Chair
BLAKE D. MOORE, Utah, Republican Leader
NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ, New York LOUIE GOHMERT, Texas
JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Illinois JODY B. HICE, Georgia
STEVE COHEN, Tennessee Vacancy
JARED HUFFMAN, California BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas (Ex
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona (Ex Officio)
Officio)
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
(Ratio: 13 Democrats, 11 Republicans)
JARED HUFFMAN, California, Chair
CLIFF BENTZ, Oregon, Republican Leader
GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California JERRY L. CARL, Alabama
JIM COSTA, California ROBERT J. WITTMAN, Virginia
MIKE LEVIN, California TOM McCLINTOCK, California
JULIA BROWNLEY, California GARRET GRAVES, Louisiana
DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN,
ED CASE, Hawaii American Samoa
ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California DANIEL WEBSTER, Florida
STEVE COHEN, Tennessee JENNIFFER GONZALEZ-COLON, Puerto
DARREN SOTO, Florida Rico
NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ, New York RUSS FULCHER, Idaho
MELANIE A. STANSBURY, New Mexico LAUREN BOEBERT, Colorado
MARY SATTLER PELTOLA, Alaska CONNIE CONWAY, California
BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas (Ex
Officio)
STAFF ROSTER
Full Committee Staff
Majority
David Watkins, Staff Director
Chris Kaumo, Deputy Staff Director
Lora Snyder, Deputy Staff Director
Matthew Muirragui, Deputy Staff Director
Luis Urbina, Chief Counsel
Nancy Locke, Chief Clerk
Carlyn LeGrant, Director of Legislative Operations
Carlos Martinez, Senior Executive Assistant
Christine Bergamini, Staff Assistant
Ilene Clauson, Director of Operations
David DeMarco, IT Director
Christopher Espinosa, Director, Outreach and Engagement
James Davis, Member Services Coordinator
Marilyn Zepeda, Outreach Associate
Lindsay Gressard, Communications Director
Katie Schafer, Deputy Communications Director
Jason Johnson, Communications Advisor
Brian Modeste, Staff Director, Office of Insular Affairs
Margarita Varela-Rosa, Deputy Staff Director, Office of Insular Affairs
Ivan Robles, Policy Aide, Office of Insular Affairs
Minority
Vivian Moeglein, Republican Staff Director
Chris Marklund, Deputy Staff Director for Operations
Will Layden, Deputy Staff Director for Outreach
Tara Hupman, Chief Counsel
Rebekah Hoshiko, Communications Director
Bailey Mailloux, Digital Director
Baylee Seeman, Clerk and Press Assistant
Madeline Bryant, Scheduler
Subcommittee Staff
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
1522 Longworth HOB, 202-225-6065
Becky Cairns, Staff Director
Peter Gallagher, Professional Staff
Sarina Weiss, Professional Staff
Charles Olsen, Policy Aide
Ashley Nichols, Republican Staff Director
Rebecca Konolige, Professional Staff
Rob MacGregor, Professional Staff
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States
1331 Longworth HOB, 202-225-6065
Naomi Miguel, Staff Director
Arianna Romeo, Professional Staff
Qay-Liwh Ammon, Policy Aide
Ken Degenfelder, Republican Staff Director
Jocelyn Broman, Professional Staff
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
1328 Longworth HOB, 202-225-6065
Brandon Bragato, Staff Director
Chris Rackens, Professional Staff
Henry Wykowski, Professional Staff
Ryan Linsey, Policy Aide
Aniela Butler, Republican Staff Director
Brandon Miller, Professional Staff
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
H2-186 Ford HOB, 202-225-6065
Vic Edgerton, Staff Director
Chris Martinez, Counsel
Kelsey Hartman, Professional Staff
Anna Martin, Policy Aide
Sang Yi, Republican Staff Director
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
1332 & 1333 Longworth HOB, 202-225-6065
Lora Snyder, Staff Director
Matthew Muirragui, Staff Director
Carlee Brown, Professional Staff
Rachel Gentile, Professional Staff
Marnie Kremer, Professional Staff
Heather Pacheco, Policy Aide
Kiel Weaver, Republican Staff Director
Annick Miller, Professional Staff
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, December 30, 2022.
Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mrs. Johnson: In accordance with rule XI 1(d)(1) of
the House of Representatives, I hereby submit the Report on the
Activities of the Committee on Natural Resources for the 117th
Congress.
This report summarizes the specific activities of the
Committee with respect to its legislative and oversight
responsibilities, and encompasses the period of January 3,
2021, through December 18, 2022.
Sincerely,
Raul M. Grijalva,
Chair.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Letter of Transmittal............................................ IX
Committee Organization........................................... 1
Staff Roster..................................................... VII
Jurisdiction of the Committee.................................... 1
Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources..................... 2
Statistical Overview of Legislative and Oversight Activities..... 19
Legislative, Oversight, Remote, and Virtual Forum and Roundtable
Activities:
Full Committee:
I. Business Meetings, Legislative Hearings, and Markups.. 20
II. Oversight Hearings................................... 33
III. Forums and Roundtables.............................. 33
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources:
I. Legislative Hearings.................................. 34
II. Oversight Hearings................................... 37
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States:
I. Legislative Hearings.................................. 37
II. Oversight Hearings................................... 40
III. Forums and Roundtables.............................. 40
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands:
I. Legislative Hearings.................................. 40
II. Oversight Hearings................................... 48
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations:
I. Oversight Hearings.................................... 48
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife:
I. Legislative Hearings.................................. 48
II. Oversight Hearings................................... 53
Appendices:
I. Summary of Activities and Accomplishments.......................55
II. Printed Hearings................................................91
III. Committee Bill Reports Filed....................................95
IV. Legislation Passed and Failed to Pass the House................105
V. Public Laws Enacted............................................115
VI. Committee Prints...............................................119
VII. Dissenting Views...............................................121
Union Calendar No. 520
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 117-704
======================================================================
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
117TH CONGRESS
_______
January 2, 2023.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Grijalva of Arizona, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
DISSENTING VIEWS
_______
Committee Organization
The Committee on Natural Resources met on February 18,
2021, for an organizational meeting of the 117th Congress under
the direction of Chair Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona. The
Committee membership was 48 Members with 26 Democrats and 22
Republicans.
The Committee established five subcommittees: Energy and
Mineral Resources (Alan S. Lowenthal of California, Chair);
Indigenous Peoples of the United States (Teresa Leger Fernandez
of New Mexico, Chair); National Parks, Forests, and Public
Lands (Joe Neguse of Colorado, Chair); Oversight and
Investigations (Katie Porter of California, Chair); and Water,
Oceans, and Wildlife (Jared Huffman of California, Chair).
Jurisdiction of the Committee
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources, as
prescribed by clause (m)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House
is as follows:
(1) Fisheries and wildlife, including research,
restoration, refuges, and conservation.
(2) Forest reserves and national parks created from the
public domain.
(3) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership,
including alien ownership of mineral lands.
(4) Geological Survey.
(5) International fishing agreements.
(6) Interstate compacts relating to apportionment of waters
for irrigation purposes.
(7) Irrigation and reclamation, including water supply for
reclamation projects and easements of public lands for
irrigation projects; and acquisition of private lands when
necessary to complete irrigation projects.
(8) Native Americans generally, including the care and
allotment of Native American lands and general and special
measures relating to claims that are paid out of Native
American funds.
(9) Insular areas of the United States generally (except
those affecting the revenue and appropriations).
(10) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks within the
District of Columbia, and the erection of monuments to the
memory of individuals.
(11) Mineral land laws and claims and entries thereunder.
(12) Mineral resources of public lands.
(13) Mining interests generally.
(14) Mining schools and experimental stations.
(15) Marine affairs, including coastal zone management
(except for measures relating to oil and other pollution of
navigable waters).
(16) Oceanography.
(17) Petroleum conservation on public lands and
conservation of the radium supply in the United States.
(18) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of
interest on the public domain.
(19) Public lands generally, including entry, easements,
and grazing thereon.
(20) Relations of the United States with Native Americans
and Native American tribes.
(21) Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline (except ratemaking).
Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
117TH CONGRESS
(Adopted February 18, 2021)
RULE 1. RULES OF THE HOUSE; VICE CHAIRS
(a) Applicability of House Rules.
(1) The Rules of the House of Representatives, so far
as they are applicable, are the rules of the Committee
on Natural Resources (hereinafter in these rules
referred to as the ``Committee'') and its
Subcommittees.
(2) Each Subcommittee is part of the Committee and is
subject to the authority, direction and rules of the
Committee. References in these rules to ``Committee''
and ``Chair'' shall apply to each Subcommittee and its
Chair wherever applicable.
(3) House rule XI is incorporated and made a part of
the rules of the Committee to the extent applicable.
(b) Vice Chair.--Unless inconsistent with other rules, the
Chair shall designate a Vice Chair of the Committee and appoint
Vice Chairs of the Subcommittees. If the Chair of the Committee
or Subcommittee is not present at any meeting of the Committee
or Subcommittee, as the case may be, the Vice Chair shall
preside. If the Vice Chair is not present, the Ranking Member
of the Majority party on the Committee or Subcommittee who is
present, or the Chair's designee, shall preside at that
meeting.
RULE 2. MEETINGS IN GENERAL
(a) Scheduled Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at 10
a.m. the first Wednesday of each month when the House is in
session if so noticed by the Chair under Committee rule 3(a).
The Committee shall also meet at the call of the Chair subject
to advance notice to all Members of the Committee. Special
meetings shall be called and convened by the Chair as provided
in clause 2(c)(1) of House rule XI. Any Committee meeting or
hearing that conflicts with a party caucus, conference, or
similar party meeting shall be rescheduled at the discretion of
the Chair, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member.
The Committee may not sit during a joint session of the House
and Senate or during a recess when a joint meeting of the House
and Senate is in progress.
(b) Open Meetings.--Each meeting for the transaction of
business, including the markup of legislation, and each hearing
of the Committee or a Subcommittee shall be open to the public,
except as provided by clause 2(g) and clause 2(k) of House rule
X.
(c) Broadcasting.--Whenever a meeting for the transaction
of business, including the markup of legislation, or a hearing
is open to the public, that meeting or hearing shall be open to
coverage by audio and visual recordings in accordance with
clauses 2(a)(1) and 4 of House rule XI. The provisions of
clause 4(f) of House rule XI are specifically made part of
these rules by reference. To the maximum extent practicable,
the Committee shall provide audio and visual coverage of each
hearing or meeting for the transaction of business in a manner
that allows the public to easily listen to and view the
proceedings, and maintain the recordings of such coverage in a
manner that is easily accessible to the public. Operation and
use of any Committee internet broadcast system shall be fair,
and nonpartisan, and in accordance with clause 4(b) of House
rule XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee and the
House.
(d) Oversight Plan.--No later than March 1 of the first
session of each Congress, the Committee shall prepare and
submit its oversight plan for that Congress in accordance with
clause 2(d) of House rule X.
RULE 3. MEETING AND HEARING PROCEDURES IN GENERAL
(a) Notice and Information for Members and the Public.
(1) The Chair shall publicly announce the date, place
and subject matter of a Committee hearing or meeting in
accordance with clause 2(g)(3) of House rule XI.
(2) A hearing or meeting may begin sooner if the
Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority
Member, determines that there is good cause to begin
the meeting or hearing sooner, or if the Committee so
determines by majority vote. In these cases, the Chair
shall publicly announce the meeting or hearing at the
earliest possible time. The Committee shall promptly
notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional
Record and shall promptly make publicly available in
electronic form the appropriate information as soon as
possible after the public announcement is made.
(3) To the extent practicable, a background
memorandum prepared by the Majority staff summarizing
the major provisions of any bill being considered by
the Committee, including the need for the bill and its
effect on current law, will be available for the
Members of the Committee and the public no later than
48 hours before the meeting.
(b) Public Availability of Markup Text.--At least 24 hours
prior to the markup of any legislation (or at the time of an
announcement under paragraph (a)(2) above made within 24 hours
before such meeting), the Chair shall cause the text of such
legislation to be made publicly available in electronic form.
(c) Meetings and Hearings to Begin Promptly.--Each meeting
or hearing of the Committee shall begin promptly at the time
stipulated in the public announcement of the meeting or
hearing.
(d) Addressing the Committee.--A Committee Member may
address the Committee or a Subcommittee on any bill, motion, or
other matter under consideration or may question a witness at a
hearing only when recognized by the Chair for that purpose. The
time a Member may address the Committee or Subcommittee for any
purpose or to question a witness shall be limited to five
minutes, except as provided in Committee rule 4(f), and except
that the Chair may extend this time period equally for the
majority and minority party for the purpose of Members
questioning a witness who requires an interpreter. In
recognizing Members to question witnesses, the Chair shall take
into consideration the ratio of the Majority to Minority
Members present and shall establish the order of recognition
for questioning in a manner so as not to disadvantage the
Members of the Majority or the Members of the Minority. Members
shall limit remarks to the subject matter under consideration.
(e) Quorums.
(1) A majority of the Members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum for the reporting of any measure or
recommendation, the authorizing of a subpoena under
Committee rule 4(d)(1); the closing of any meeting or
hearing to the public under clause 2(g)(1), clause
2(g)(2)(A) and clause 2(k)(5)(B) of House rule XI; and
the releasing of executive session materials under
clause 2(k)(7) of House rule XI. Testimony and evidence
may be received at any hearing at which there are at
least two Members of the Committee present. For the
purpose of transacting all other business of the
Committee, one-third of the Members shall constitute a
quorum.
(2) When a call of the roll is required to ascertain
the presence of a quorum, the offices of all Members
shall be notified, and the Members shall have not less
than 15 minutes to prove their attendance. The Chair
shall have the discretion to waive this requirement
when a quorum is actually present or whenever a quorum
is secured and may direct the relevant Committee staff
to note the names of all Members present within the 15-
minute period.
(f) Participation of Members in Committee and
Subcommittees.
(1) Any Member of the Committee may sit with any
Subcommittee during any meeting or hearing, and by
unanimous consent of the Members of the Subcommittee
may participate in such meeting or hearing. However, a
Member who is not a Member of the Subcommittee may not
vote on any matter before the Subcommittee, be counted
for purposes of establishing a quorum, or raise points
of order.
(2) Any Member of the House who is not a Member of
the Committee may sit with the full Committee or any
Subcommittee during any meeting or hearing, and by
unanimous consent of the Members of the Committee or
Subcommittee may participate in such meeting or
hearing. Unless otherwise provided by unanimous
consent, such participation includes but is not limited
to the right to seek recognition, to submit materials
for the record as described in Committee rule 3(o), and
to introduce a constituent witness as described in
Committee rule 4(f)(1). However, a Member of the House
who is not a Member of the Committee may not vote on
any matter, be counted for purposes of establishing a
quorum, raise points of order, or offer motions.
(g) Proxies.--No vote in the Committee or its Subcommittees
may be cast by proxy.
(h) Recorded Votes.--Recorded votes shall be ordered on the
demand of one-fifth of the Members present, or by any Member in
the apparent absence of a quorum.
(i) Postponed Recorded Votes.
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Chair may, after
consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, postpone
further proceedings when a recorded vote is ordered on
the question of approving any measure or matter or
adopting an amendment. The Chair shall resume
proceedings on a postponed request at any time after
reasonable notice, but no later than the next meeting
day.
(2) Notwithstanding any intervening order for the
previous question, when proceedings resume on a
postponed question under paragraph (1), an underlying
proposition shall remain subject to further debate or
amendment to the same extent as when the question was
postponed.
(3) This rule shall apply to Subcommittee
proceedings.
(j) Privileged Motions.--A motion to recess from day to
day, a motion to recess subject to the call of the Chair
(within 24 hours), and a motion to dispense with the first
reading (in full) of a bill or resolution if printed or
electronic copies are available and have been properly
circulated by the Chief Clerk or their designee, are
nondebatable motions of high privilege.
(k) Layover and Copy of Bill.--No measure or recommendation
reported by a Subcommittee shall be considered by the Committee
until two calendar days from the time of Subcommittee action.
No bill shall be considered by the Committee unless a copy has
been delivered to the office of each Member of the Committee
requesting a copy. These requirements may be waived by a
majority vote of the Committee at the time of consideration of
the measure or recommendation.
(l) Access to Dais and Conference Room.--Access to the
hearing rooms' daises (and to the conference rooms adjacent to
the Committee hearing rooms) shall be limited to Members of
Congress and employees of the Committee during a meeting or
hearing of the Committee, except that Committee Members'
personal staff may be present on the daises if their employing
Member is the author of a bill or amendment under consideration
by the Committee, but only during the time that the bill or
amendment is under active consideration by the Committee.
During any contagious public health emergency ``covered
period'' designated by the Speaker pursuant to H. Res. 965
(116th), as readopted by subsection 3(s) of H. Res. 8 (117th),
each individual physically present at an official Committee
hearing, meeting, or activity must properly wear a protective
face mask in the hearing rooms and conference rooms.
Carrying or having readily accessible any firearm,
dangerous weapon, explosive, or incendiary device is prohibited
within the hearing rooms and conference rooms, subject only to
the U.S. Capitol Police Board's narrow exceptions for (i)
unloaded and secured exhibits by invitation of the Full
Committee Chair, (ii) law enforcement and servicemembers while
engaged in the performance of their duties, and (iii)
construction or demolition work upon written approval of the
Capitol Police Board and certification by the Architect of the
Capitol.
(m) Cellular Telephones and other Electronic Devices.--
During a meeting or hearing of the Committee, ringing or
audible sounds or conversational use of cellular telephones or
other electronic devices is prohibited on the Committee dais or
in the Committee hearing rooms.
(n) Motion to go to Conference with the Senate.--The Chair
may offer a motion under clause 1 of House rule XXII whenever
the Chair considers it appropriate.
(o) Materials for Record.--Other than witness questions for
the hearing record, materials must be submitted within 10
business days following the last day of the hearing or meeting.
Witness questions for the hearing record must be submitted to
the relevant Full Committee staff or Subcommittee staff within
3 business days following the last day of the hearing. The
materials submitted must address the subject matter of the
hearing or meeting. Only a Member of the Committee (including a
Member participating as provided in Committee Rule 3(f)) or an
invited witness may submit materials for inclusion in the
hearing or meeting record.
(p) Remote Participation.--The Chair may authorize invited
witnesses to appear at Committee or Subcommittee proceedings
remotely. The Chair may authorize Members to participate in
Committee or Subcommittee proceedings remotely: (1) as
explicitly authorized by the House, or (2) in the absence of
such House-level provision, with the concurrence of the Ranking
Minority Member. Members and witnesses participating remotely
should appear before a nonpolitical, professionally appropriate
background that is minimally distracting to other Members and
witnesses, to the greatest extent possible.
RULE 4. HEARING PROCEDURES
(a) Written Statement; Oral Testimony.--Witnesses who are
to appear before the Committee or a Subcommittee shall file
with the relevant Full Committee staff or Subcommittee staff,
at least two business days before the day of their appearance,
a written statement of their proposed testimony, including to
the extent practicable English translations of any portions not
in English. Witnesses shall limit their oral presentation to a
five-minute summary of the written statement, unless the Chair,
in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, extends this
time period. The Chair may thereby extend this time period for
witnesses who require an interpreter. Subject to the approval
of the Committee, the Chair may waive oral testimony of any
witness who has submitted written testimony for the record.
In addition, a witness appearing in a nongovernmental
capacity shall file such disclosure materials required by
clause 2(g)(5) of House rule XI. Failure to comply with these
disclosure requirements may result in the exclusion of the
written testimony from the hearing record and/or the barring of
an oral presentation of the testimony. Disclosure materials may
be signed electronically.
(b) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by
the Committee or any Subcommittee upon any measure or matter,
the Minority party Members on the Committee or Subcommittee
shall be entitled, upon request to the Chair by a majority of
those Minority Members before the completion of the hearing, to
call witnesses selected by the Minority to testify with respect
to that measure or matter during at least one day of hearings
thereon.
(c) Information for Members.--After announcement of a
hearing, the Committee shall make available as soon as
practicable to all Members of the Committee a tentative witness
list and to the extent practicable the Majority staff shall
make publicly available a memorandum explaining the subject
matter of the hearing (including relevant legislative reports
and other necessary material). In addition, the Chair shall
make available to the Members of the Committee any official
reports from departments and agencies on the subject matter as
they are received.
(d) Subpoenas.
(1) The Committee or a Subcommittee may authorize and
issue a subpoena under clause 2(m) of House rule XI if
authorized by a majority of the Members voting.
(2) In addition, the Chair of the Full Committee may
authorize and issue a subpoena subject to the following
conditions:
(i) No subpoena shall issue under authority
of this Committee rule 4(d)(2) until seven
calendar days have elapsed after the Chair of
the Committee has consulted with the Ranking
Member regarding such subpoena. Such
consultation shall be in writing and shall
include a justification for the proposed
subpoena, a copy of the subpoena, and any
production schedules.
(ii) No subpoena shall issue under authority
of this Committee rule 4(d)(2) if a majority of
the Members of the Committee, within the seven-
day consultation period, request of the Chair
in writing a special meeting of the Committee
to consider the proposed subpoena under
Committee rule 4(d)(1).
(3) Subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chair of
the Committee or any Member of the Committee authorized
by the Committee. Subpoenas may be served by any person
designated by the Chair or the authorized signing
Member.
(e) Oaths.--The Chair of the Committee, the Chairs of the
Subcommittees, or any Member designated by the Chair may
administer oaths to any witness before the Committee. All
witnesses appearing in hearings may be administered the
following oath by the Chair or his designee prior to receiving
the testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm, under penalty
of law, that the testimony that you are about to give is the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?''
(f) Opening Statements; Questioning of Witnesses.
(1) Opening Statements may be made by the Chair and
the Ranking Member or their designee. If a witness
scheduled to testify at any hearing of the Committee is
a constituent of a Member of the Committee (including a
Member participating under Committee rule 3(f)), that
Member may be recognized for up to 30 seconds to
briefly introduce the witness at the hearing.
(2) The questioning of witnesses in Committee and
Subcommittee hearings may be initiated by the Chair,
followed by the Ranking Minority Member and all other
Members alternating between the Majority and Minority
parties. In recognizing Members to question witnesses,
the Chair shall take into consideration the ratio of
the Majority to Minority Members present and shall
establish the order of recognition for questioning in a
manner so as not to disadvantage the Members of the
Majority or the Members of the Minority. A motion is in
order to allow designated Majority and Minority party
Members to question a witness for a specified period to
be equally divided between the Majority and Minority
parties. This period shall not exceed one hour in the
aggregate.
(g) Claims of Privilege.--Claims of common-law privileges
made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees or deponents
in investigations or inquiries, are applicable only at the
discretion of the Chair, subject to appeal to the Committee.
RULE 5. FILING OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
(a) Duty of Chair.--Whenever the Committee authorizes the
favorable reporting of a measure from the Committee, the Chair
or the Chair's designee shall report the same to the House of
Representatives and shall take all steps necessary to secure
its passage without any additional authority needing to be set
forth in the motion to report each individual measure. In
appropriate cases, the authority set forth in this rule shall
extend to moving in accordance with the Rules of the House of
Representatives that the House be resolved into the Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the
consideration of the measure; and to moving in accordance with
the Rules of the House of Representatives for the disposition
of a Senate measure that is substantially the same as the House
measure as reported. Subject to the approval of the Chair and
the Ranking Minority Member, staff may make necessary technical
and conforming changes to measures that the Committee has
authorized to be reported favorably.
(b) Filing.--A report on a measure that has been approved
by the Committee shall be filed within seven calendar days
(exclusive of days on which the House of Representatives is not
in session) after the day on which there has been filed with
the relevant Full Committee staff a written request, signed by
a majority of the Members of the Committee, for the reporting
of that measure. Upon the filing with the relevant Full
Committee staff of this request, the staff shall transmit
immediately to the Chair notice of the filing of that request.
(c) Supplemental, Additional, Dissenting, or Minority
Views.--Any Member may, if notice is given by any Member at the
time a measure or matter is approved by the Committee, file
supplemental, additional, dissenting, or minority views. These
views must be in writing and signed by each Member joining
therein and be filed with the Committee Chief Counsel not less
than two additional calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and legal holidays except when the House is in session on those
days) of the time the bill or resolution is approved by the
Committee. This paragraph shall not preclude the filing of any
supplemental report on any measure or matter that may be
required for the correction of any technical error in a
previous report made by the Committee on that bill or
resolution.
(d) Review by Members.--Each Member of the Committee shall
be given an opportunity to review each proposed Committee
report before it is filed with the Clerk of the House of
Representatives. Nothing in this paragraph extends the time
allowed for filing supplemental, additional, dissenting, or
minority views under paragraph (c).
(e) Disclaimer.--All Committee or Subcommittee reports
printed and not approved by a majority vote of the Committee or
Subcommittee, as appropriate, shall contain the following
disclaimer on the cover of the report: ``This report has not
been officially adopted by the (Committee on Natural
Resources)(Subcommittee) and therefore may not necessarily
reflect the views of its Members.''
RULE 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES; FULL COMMITTEE JURISDICTION;
BILL REFERRALS
(a) Subcommittees.--There shall be five standing
Subcommittees of the Committee, with the following jurisdiction
and responsibilities:
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
(1) Measures and matters related to the National Park
System and its units, including Federal reserved water rights.
(2) The National Wilderness Preservation System.
(3) Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System,
national heritage areas and other national units established
for protection, conservation, preservation or recreational
development, other than coastal barriers.
(4) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks in and
within the vicinity of the District of Columbia and the
erection of monuments to the memory of individuals.
(5) Federal and non-Federal outdoor recreation plans,
programs and administration including the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965 and the Outdoor Recreation Act of
1963.
(6) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of
interest on the public domain and other historic preservation
programs and activities, including national monuments, historic
sites and programs for international cooperation in the field
of historic preservation.
(7) Matters concerning the following agencies and programs:
Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, Historic American
Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and
U.S. Holocaust Memorial.
(8) Public lands generally, including measures or matters
relating to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing, and Federal
reserved water rights.
(9) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership,
including alien ownership of mineral lands.
(10) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance, and improve
international programs for the protection of the environment
and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
(11) Forest reservations, including management thereof,
created from the public domain. Public forest lands generally,
including measures or matters related to entry, easements,
withdrawals, grazing, and Federal reserved water rights.
(12) Public forest lands generally, including measures or
matters related to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing, and
Federal reserved water rights.
(13) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies, and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
(1) All measures and matters concerning water resources
planning conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning
Act, water resource research and development programs, and
saline water research and development.
(2) Compacts relating to the use and apportionment of
interstate waters, water rights, and major interbasin water or
power movement programs.
(3) All measures and matters pertaining to irrigation and
reclamation projects and other water resources development and
recycling programs, including policies and procedures.
(4) Indian water rights and settlements.
(5) Activities and programs of the Water Resources Division
or its successor within the U.S. Geological Survey.
(6) The Endangered Species Act.
(7) Fisheries management and fisheries research generally,
including the management of all commercial and recreational
fisheries (including the reauthorization of the Magnuson
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act), inter-
jurisdictional fisheries, international fisheries agreements,
aquaculture, seafood safety, and fisheries promotion.
(8) All matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and
marine environments, estuarine protection, and coastal
barriers.
(9) Oceanography.
(10) Ocean engineering, including materials, technology,
and systems.
(11) Marine sanctuaries.
(12) U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
(13) All matters regarding Antarctica within the
Committee's jurisdiction.
(14) Sea Grant programs and marine extension services.
(15) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve
international programs for the protection of the environment
and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
(16) Coastal zone management.
(17) Wildlife resources, including research, restoration,
and conservation.
(18) Measures and matters related to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, including ecological services, fish and
aquatic conservation, international affairs, migratory birds,
national wildlife refuge system, wildlife and sport fish
restoration, and the Lacey Act.
(19) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies, and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
(1) Planning for and development of energy from solar and
wind resources on land belonging to the United States,
including the outer Continental Shelf.
(2) All matters and measures affecting geothermal
resources.
(3) Marine hydrokinetic energy development on the outer
Continental Shelf.
(4) All matters related to the leasing, development, and
conservation of fossil fuel resources belonging to the United
States, including on the outer Continental Shelf and land where
the surface is owned by entities other than the United States,
including decommissioning of relevant facilities and
reclamation of affected areas.
(5) Mitigation of energy and mining related impacts on
Federal lands and resources.
(6) Terrestrial and geological sequestration of carbon
dioxide, except for matters involving implementation of land or
forestry management strategies.
(7) All measures and matters concerning the Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
(8) All measures and matters concerning the U.S. Geological
Survey, except for the activities and programs of the Water
Resources Division or its successor.
(9) Collection and management of energy and mineral
revenues.
(10) Mining interests generally, including all matters
involving mining regulation and enforcement, including the
reclamation of mined lands, the environmental effects of
mining, mineral land laws and claims, long-range mineral
programs, and seabed mining.
(11) Conservation of United States uranium supply.
(12) Geospatial data collection and management, except for
nautical charts (or data collected by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration).
(13) Helium supply and management of the Federal helium
program.
(14) Rights-of-way over public lands for pipeline
transportation of oil, natural gas, carbon dioxide, and helium.
(15) Measures and matters concerning the transportation of
natural gas from or within Alaska and disposition of oil
transported by the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
(16) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve
international programs for the protection of the environment
and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
(17) Generation and marketing of electric power from
Federal water projects by Federally chartered or Federal
regional power marketing authorities.
(18) Rights-of-way over public lands for energy-related
transmission.
(19) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies, and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States
(1) All matters related to the Federal trust responsibility
to Native Americans and the sovereignty of Native Americans.
(2) Measures relating to the welfare of Native Americans,
including management of Indian lands in general and special
measures relating to claims that are paid out of Indian funds.
(3) All matters regarding Native Alaskans.
(4) All matters regarding the relations of the United
States with Native Americans and Native American tribes,
including special oversight functions under House Rule X.
(5) All matters regarding Native Hawaiians.
(6) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies, and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
(1) Primary and general oversight and investigative
authority on all activities, policies, and programs
within the jurisdiction of the Committee under House
Rule X.
(b) Full Committee.--The following measures and matters
shall be retained at the Full Committee:
(1) Environmental and habitat measures of general
applicability, including the National Environmental
Policy Act.
(2) All matters regarding insular areas of the United
States.
(3) All measures or matters regarding the Freely
Associated States.
(4) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance, and
improve international programs for the protection of
the environment and the conservation of natural
resources otherwise within the jurisdiction of the Full
Committee.
(5) All other measures and matters retained by the
Full Committee, including those retained under
Committee Rule 6(e).
(6) General and continuing oversight and
investigative authority over activities, policies, and
programs within the jurisdiction of the Full Committee.
(c) Ex-officio Members.--The Chair and Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of each
standing Subcommittee to which the Chair or the Ranking
Minority Member have not been assigned. Ex-officio Members
shall have the right to fully participate in Subcommittee
activities but may not vote and may not be counted in
establishing a quorum.
(d) Powers and Duties of Subcommittees.--Each Subcommittee
is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence and
report to the Committee on all matters within its jurisdiction.
Each Subcommittee shall review and study on a continuing basis
the application, administration, execution and effectiveness of
those statutes, or parts of statutes, the subject matter of
which is within that Subcommittee's jurisdiction; and the
organization, operation, and regulations of any Federal agency
or entity having responsibilities in or for the administration
of such statutes, to determine whether these statutes are being
implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of
Congress. Each Subcommittee shall review and study any
conditions or circumstances indicating the need for enacting
new or supplemental legislation within the jurisdiction of the
Subcommittee. Each Subcommittee shall have general and
continuing oversight and investigative authority over
activities, policies, and programs within the jurisdiction of
the Subcommittee.
(e) Referral to Subcommittees; Recall.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and for those
measures or matters retained at the Full Committee,
every legislative measure or other matter referred to
the Committee shall be referred to the maximum extent
possible to the Subcommittee of jurisdiction within two
weeks of the date of its referral to the Committee. If
any measure or matter is within or affects the
jurisdiction of one or more Subcommittees, the Chair
may refer that measure or matter simultaneously to two
or more Subcommittees for concurrent consideration or
for consideration in sequence subject to appropriate
time limits, or divide the matter into two or more
parts and refer each part to a Subcommittee.
(2) The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the
Majority Members of the Committee, may refer a
legislative measure or other matter to a select or
special Subcommittee. A legislative measure or other
matter referred by the Chair to a Subcommittee may be
recalled from the Subcommittee for direct consideration
by the Full Committee, or for referral to another
Subcommittee, provided Members of the Committee receive
one-week's written notice of the recall and a majority
of the Members of the Committee do not object. In
addition, a legislative measure or other matter
referred by the Chair to a Subcommittee may be recalled
from the Subcommittee at any time by majority vote of
the Committee for direct consideration by the Full
Committee or for referral to another Subcommittee.
(f) Consultation.--Each Subcommittee Chair shall consult
with the Chair of the Full Committee prior to setting dates for
Subcommittee meetings and hearings with a view toward avoiding
whenever possible conflicting Committee and Subcommittee
meetings and hearings.
(g) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the membership of a Subcommittee
shall not affect the power of the remaining Members to execute
the functions of the Subcommittee.
RULE 7. TASK FORCES, SPECIAL OR SELECT SUBCOMMITTEES
(a) Appointment.--The Chair of the Committee is authorized,
after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, to appoint
Task Forces, or special or select Subcommittees, to carry out
the duties and functions of the Committee.
(b) Ex-officio Members.--The Chair and Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of each
Task Force, or special or select Subcommittee if they are not
otherwise Members. Ex-officio Members shall have the right to
fully participate in activities but may not vote and may not be
counted in establishing a quorum.
(c) Party Ratios.--The ratio of Majority Members to
Minority Members, excluding ex-officio Members, on each Task
Force, special or select Subcommittee shall be as close as
practicable to the ratio on the Full Committee.
(d) Temporary Resignation.--Members can temporarily resign
their position on a Subcommittee to serve on a Task Force,
special or select Subcommittee without prejudice to the
Member's seniority on the Subcommittee.
(e) Chair and Ranking Minority Member.--The Chair of any
Task Force, or special or select Subcommittee shall be
appointed by the Chair of the Committee. The Ranking Minority
Member shall select a Ranking Minority Member for each Task
Force, or standing, special or select Subcommittee.
RULE 8. RECOMMENDATION OF CONFEREES
Whenever it becomes necessary to appoint conferees on a
particular measure, the Chair shall recommend to the Speaker as
conferees those Majority Members primarily responsible for the
measure. Similarly, the Ranking Member shall recommend to the
Minority Leader as conferees those Minority Members primarily
responsible for the measure. The ratio of Majority Members to
Minority Members recommended for conferences shall be no
greater than the ratio on the Committee.
RULE 9. COMMITTEE RECORDS
(a) Segregation of Records.--All Committee records shall be
kept separate and distinct from the office records of
individual Committee Members serving as Chairs or Ranking
Minority Members. These records shall be the property of the
House and all Members shall have access to them in accordance
with clause 2(e)(2) of House Rule XI.
(b) Availability.--The Committee shall make available to
the public for review at reasonable times in the Committee
office transcripts of public meetings and hearings, except
those that are unrevised or unedited and intended solely for
the use of the Committee.
(c) Archived Records.--Records of the Committee that are
deposited with the National Archives shall be made available
for public use pursuant to House Rule VII. The Chair shall
notify the Ranking Minority Member of any decision, pursuant to
clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4 of House Rule VII, to withhold, or
to provide a time, schedule or condition for availability of,
any record otherwise available. At the written request of any
Member of the Committee, the matter shall be presented to the
Committee for a determination and shall be subject to the same
notice and quorum requirements for the conduct of business
under Committee Rule 3.
(d) Records of Closed Meetings.--Notwithstanding the other
provisions of this rule, no records of Committee meetings or
hearings that were closed to the public pursuant to the Rules
of the House of Representatives shall be released to the public
unless the Committee votes to release those records in
accordance with the procedure used to close the Committee
meeting.
(e) Classified Materials.--All classified materials shall
be maintained in an appropriately secured location and shall be
released only to authorized persons for review, who shall not
remove the material from the Committee offices without the
written permission of the Chair.
(f) Committee Information Available for the Public.--As
required by the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Chair shall cause to be made available publicly in electronic
form the following:
(1) a record of the votes on any question on which a
recorded vote is taken.
(2) copies of all amendments adopted, voted down, or
withdrawn.
(3) the rules of the Committee, once adopted, and any
amendments thereto, in accordance with clause 2(a)(2)
of House Rule XI.
(4) the statements required under the second sentence
of clause 2(g)(5) of House Rule XI, with appropriate
redactions to protect the privacy of the witness.
RULE 10. COMMITTEE BUDGET AND EXPENSES
(a) Budget.--At the beginning of each Congress, after
consultation with the Chair of each Subcommittee and the
Ranking Minority Member, the Chair shall present to the
Committee for its approval a budget covering the funding
required for staff, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.
(b) Expense Resolution.--Upon approval by the Committee of
each budget, the Chair, acting pursuant to clause 6 of House
Rule X, shall prepare and introduce in the House a supporting
expense resolution, and take all action necessary to bring
about its approval by the Committee on House Administration and
by the House of Representatives.
(c) Amendments.--The Chair shall report to the Committee
any amendments to each expense resolution and any related
changes in the budget.
(d) Additional Expenses.--Authorization for the payment of
additional or unforeseen Committee expenses may be procured by
one or more additional expense resolutions processed in the
same manner as set out under this rule.
(e) Monthly Reports.--Copies of each monthly report
prepared by the Chair for the Committee on House Administration
that shows expenditures made during the reporting period and
cumulative for the year, anticipated expenditures for the
projected Committee program, and detailed information on
travel, shall be available to each Member.
RULE 11. COMMITTEE STAFF
(a) Rules and Policies.--Committee staff are subject to the
provisions of clause 9 of House Rule X, as well as any written
personnel policies the Committee may from time to time adopt.
(b) Majority and Nonpartisan Staff.--The Chair shall
appoint, determine the remuneration of, and may remove, the
legislative and administrative employees of the Committee not
assigned to the Minority. The legislative and administrative
staff of the Committee not assigned to the Minority shall be
under the general supervision and direction of the Chair, who
shall establish and assign the duties and responsibilities of
Committee staff and delegate any authority the Chair determines
appropriate.
(c) Minority Staff.--The Ranking Minority Member of the
Committee shall appoint, determine the remuneration of, and may
remove, the legislative and administrative staff assigned to
the Minority within the budget approved for those purposes. The
legislative and administrative staff assigned to the Minority
shall be under the general supervision and direction of the
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee who may delegate any
authority the Ranking Member determines appropriate.
(d) Availability.--The skills and services of all Committee
staff shall be available to all Members of the Committee.
RULE 12. COMMITTEE TRAVEL
In addition to any written travel policies the Committee
may from time to time adopt, all travel of Members and staff of
the Committee or its Subcommittees to hearings, meetings,
conferences, and investigations, including all foreign travel,
must be authorized by the Full Committee Chair prior to any
public notice of the travel and prior to the actual travel. In
the case of Minority staff, all travel shall first be approved
by the Ranking Minority Member. Funds authorized for the
Committee under clauses 6 and 7 of House Rule X are for
expenses incurred in the Committee's activities within the
United States.
RULE 13. CHANGES TO COMMITTEE RULES
The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or
repealed by a majority vote of the Committee provided that
written notice of the proposed change has been provided to each
Member of the Committee prior to the meeting date on which the
changes are to be discussed and voted on consistent with
Committee Rule 3(a). A change to the rules of the Committee
shall be published in the Congressional Record no later than 30
days after its approval and made publicly available in
electronic form.
RULE 14. OTHER PROCEDURES
The Chair may establish procedures and take actions as may
be necessary to carry out the rules of the Committee or to
facilitate the effective administration of the Committee, in
accordance with the rules of the Committee and the Rules of the
House of Representatives.
RULE 15. DEPOSITION AUTHORITY
(a) Generally.--The Chair of the Committee, upon
consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee,
may order the taking of depositions, under oath and pursuant to
notice or subpoena. Depositions taken under the authority
prescribed in this section shall not be inconsistent with House
Rules, resolutions, and orders, including any applicable
deposition regulations issued by the Chair of the House Rules
Committee and printed in the Congressional Record.
(b) Notices.--Notices for the taking of depositions shall
specify the date, time, and place of examination. All Members
shall also receive three calendar days' written notice
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, unless the
House is in session on such days) that a deposition has been
scheduled, except in exigent circumstances. Depositions may
continue from day to day.
(c) Oaths.--Depositions shall be taken under oath
administered by a Member or a person otherwise authorized to
administer oaths.
(d) Consultation.--Consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee shall include three calendar days'
notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays,
unless the House is in session on such days), and a copy of a
proposed deposition subpoena, if applicable, before any
deposition is taken. Any such subpoena must be authorized
pursuant to Committee Rule 4(d) to be issued.
(e) Attendance.--Witnesses may be accompanied at a
deposition by counsel to advise them of their rights. No one
may be present at depositions except Members, Committee staff
designated by the Chair of the Committee or the Ranking
Minority Member of the Committee, an official reporter, the
witness, and the witness's counsel. Observers or counsel for
other persons, or for agencies under investigation, may not
attend.
(f) Joint Depositions.--The Chair of the Committee may
designate a deposition as part of a joint investigation between
committees, and in that case, provide notice to Members of both
committees.
(g) Who May Question.--A deposition shall be conducted by
any Member or counsel designated by the Chair of the Committee
or Ranking Minority Member of the Committee. When depositions
are conducted by Committee counsel, there shall be no more than
two Committee counsel permitted to question a witness per
round. One of the Committee counsel shall be designated by the
Chair of the Committee and the other by the Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee. Other Committee staff members
designated by the Chair of the Committee or Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee may attend but may not pose questions
to the witness.
(h) Order of Questions.--Questions in the deposition shall
be propounded in rounds, alternating between the majority and
minority. A single round shall not exceed 60 minutes per side,
unless the Members or counsel conducting the deposition agree
to a different length of questioning. In each round, the
Member(s) or Committee counsel designated by the Chair of the
Committee shall ask questions first, and the Member(s) or
Committee counsel designated by the Ranking Minority Member of
the Committee shall ask questions second.
(i) Objections.--Any objection made during a deposition
must be stated concisely and in a non-argumentative and non-
suggestive manner. The witness may refuse to answer a question
only to preserve a privilege. When the witness has refused to
answer a question to preserve a privilege, Members or staff may
(i) proceed with the deposition, or (ii) either at that time or
at a subsequent time, seek a ruling from the Chair either by
telephone or otherwise. If the Chair of the Committee overrules
any such objection during the deposition, the witness shall be
ordered to answer. If following the deposition's recess, the
Chair of the Committee overrules any such objection and thereby
orders a witness to answer any question to which a privilege
objection was lodged, such ruling shall be filed with the clerk
of the Committee and shall be provided to the Members and the
witness no less than three days before the reconvened
deposition. If a Member of the Committee appeals in writing the
ruling of the Chair, the appeal shall be preserved for
Committee consideration. A deponent who refuses to answer a
question after being directed by the Chair in writing, or
orally during the proceeding as reflected in the record, may be
subject to sanction, except that no sanctions may be imposed if
the ruling of the Chair is reversed by the Committee on appeal.
(j) Record of Testimony.--Committee staff shall ensure that
the testimony is either transcribed or electronically recorded
or both. If a witness's testimony is transcribed, the witness
or the witness's counsel shall be afforded an opportunity to
review a copy. No later than five days after the witness has
been notified of the opportunity to review the transcript, the
witness may submit suggested changes to the Chair of the
Committee. Committee staff may make any typographical and
technical changes. Substantive changes, modifications,
clarifications, or amendments to the deposition transcript
submitted by the witness must be accompanied by a letter signed
by the witness requesting the changes and a statement of the
witness's reasons for each proposed change. Any substantive
changes, modifications, clarifications, or amendments shall be
included as an appendix to the transcript conditioned upon the
witness signing the transcript.
(k) Transcription Requirements.--The individual
administering the oath, if other than a Member, shall certify
on the transcript that the witness was duly sworn. The
transcriber shall certify that the transcript is a true record
of the testimony, and the transcript shall be filed, together
with any electronic recording, with the clerk of the Committee
in Washington, D.C. Depositions shall be considered to have
been taken in Washington, D.C., as well as the location
actually taken once filed there with the clerk of the Committee
for the Committee's use. The Chair of the Committee and the
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee shall be provided with
a copy of the transcripts of the deposition at the same time.
(l) Release.--The Chair of the Committee and Ranking
Minority Member of the Committee shall consult in advance
regarding the release of deposition testimony, transcripts, or
recordings, and portions thereof. If either objects in writing
to a proposed release of a deposition testimony, transcript or
recording, or a portion thereof, the matter shall be promptly
referred to the Committee for resolution.
(m) Provision of Rules to Witnesses.--A witness shall not
be required to testify unless the witness has been provided
with a copy of the Committee's rules.
RULE 16. FORUMS AND ROUNDTABLES
(a) Generally.--At the beginning of each forum or
roundtable hosted by the Committee, the Member convening the
forum or roundtable shall make the following statement: ``This
event is not an official hearing or meeting of the House
Committee on Natural Resources. Documents produced to support
this forum may not necessarily reflect the views of the
Committee or its Members.''
(b) Disclaimer.--All documents generated for the purpose of
a Committee forum or roundtable shall contain the following
disclaimer on the cover of the document: ``This document has
not been officially adopted by the (Committee on Natural
Resources) (Subcommittee) and therefore may not necessarily
reflect the views of its Members.''
RULE 17. MEMBER DAY HEARING REQUIREMENT
To the extent required by House Rules, the Committee or
each Subcommittee thereof (other than the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations) shall hold a hearing at which it
receives testimony from Members, Delegates, and the Resident
Commissioner on proposed legislation within its jurisdiction.
Statistical Overview of Legislative and Oversight Activities*
Legislative Bills and Resolutions Referred:
House Bills.................................................. 812
House Resolutions............................................ 61
House Concurrent Resolutions................................. 2
House Joint Resolutions...................................... 4
Senate Bills................................................. 4
Senate Concurrent Resolutions................................ 0
Total Number of Legislative Bills and Resolutions Referred... 883
Committee Meeting Days:
Full Committee............................................... 48
Oversight: 9 Legislative: 8 Markup: 21 Business: 2
Forum: 8
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources................. 23
Oversight: 11 Legislative: 12
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States..... 17
Oversight: 7 Legislative: 9 Forum: 1
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.... 21
Oversight: 4 Legislative: 17
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations................. 11
Oversight: 11
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.................. 21
Oversight: 10 Legislative: 11
Total Number of Committee Meetings Held...................... 141
Committee Legislative Activity:
Total Number of Bills Marked Up and Ordered Reported......... 142
Total Number of Bill Reports Filed........................... 120
Total Number of Bills and Resolutions that Passed the House.. 99
Total Number of Bills that Failed to Pass the House.......... 0
Total Number of Public Laws.................................. 26
Total Number of Enacted Bills................................ 49
Total Number of Printed Hearings............................. 28
Total Number of Committee Prints............................. 1
Legislative Documents Referred to the Committee:
Total Number of Executive Communications..................... 381
Total Number of Memorials.................................... 26
Total Number of Petitions.................................... 17
Total Number of Presidential Messages........................ 0
Total Number of Legislative Documents........................ 424
*As of December 18, 2022
Full Committee
I. BUSINESS MEETINGS, LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS, AND MARKUPS
February 18, 2021--Remote Meeting held to organize for the
117th Congress, consider and adopt the Rules of the Committee
on Natural Resources, and appoint Committee staff.
March 4, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
Discussion Draft H.R. __, Insular Area Climate Change.
(Legislation was later introduced as H.R. 2780). PRINTED
HEARING 117-1.
April 14, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1522, To provide for the admission of the State of
Puerto Rico into the Union. Puerto Rico Statehood Admission
Act; and H.R. 2070, To recognize the right of the People of
Puerto Rico to call a status convention through which the
people would exercise their natural right to self-
determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional
consideration of such decision, and for other purposes. Puerto
Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021. PRINTED HEARING 117-3.
April 28, 2021--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 1884, To repeal section 3003 of the Carl Levin and
Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2015, and for other purposes. Save Oak Flat
Act.
H.R. 1492, To prevent methane waste and pollution from oil
and gas operations, and for other purposes. Methane Waste
Prevention Act of 2021.
May 5, 2021--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 443, To convey land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and for other purposes.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act.
H.R. 1029, To waive the application fee for any special use
permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land
administered by the National Park Service in the District of
Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. Free
Veterans from Fees Act.
H.R. 1503, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
adjustments in leasing on Federal lands for oil and gas
drilling, and for other purposes. Restoring Community Input and
Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021.
H.R. 1505, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
adjustments to the regulation of surface-disturbing activities
and to protect taxpayers from unduly bearing the reclamation
costs of oil and gas development, and for other purposes.
Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021.
H.R. 1506, To provide for the accurate reporting of fossil
fuel extraction and emissions by entities with leases on public
land, and for other purposes. Transparency in Energy Production
Act of 2021.
H.R. 1517, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
adjustments to the fiscal terms for fossil fuel development and
to make other reforms to improve returns to taxpayers for the
development of Federal energy resources, and for other
purposes. Ending Taxpayer Welfare for Oil and Gas Companies Act
of 2021.
H.R. 2348, To maximize land management efficiencies,
promote land conservation, generate education funding, and for
other purposes. Advancing Conservation and Education Act.
May 6, 2021--Member Day Hearing held on specific Committee-
referred legislation or other priorities as they related to the
Committee's jurisdiction
May 12, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H. Res. 279, Acknowledging that the United States Supreme
Court's decisions in the Insular Cases and the ``territorial
incorporation doctrine'' are contrary to the text and history
of the United States Constitution, rest on racial views and
stereotypes from the era of Plessy v. Ferguson that have long
been rejected, are contrary to our Nation's most basic
constitutional and democratic principles, and should be
rejected as having no place in United States constitutional
law. Insular Cases Resolution. PRINTED HEARING 117-4.
May 26, 2021--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 164, To authorize the Seminole Tribe of Florida to
lease or transfer certain land, and for other purposes.
H.R. 438, To amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter
Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the
deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter
Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1146, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between
States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of
reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely
affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977, and
for other purposes. Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.
H.R. 1619, To clarify the status of gaming conducted by the
Catawba Indian Nation, and for other purposes. Catawba Indian
Nation Lands Act.
H.R. 1733, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide funds to States and Indian
tribes for the purpose of promoting economic revitalization,
diversification, and development in economically distressed
communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and
water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out
before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes. RECLAIM Act of
2021.
H.R. 1734, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to allow the Secretary of the Interior
to delegate certain emergency reclamation activities to the
States and Tribes, and for other purposes. Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2021.
H.R. 2415, To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to
require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to
permanently plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells and the
surrounding lands and to provide funds to States and Tribal
Governments to permanently plug, remediate, and reclaim
orphaned wells and the surrounding lands, and for other
purposes. Orphaned Well Clean-up and Jobs Act of 2021.
H.R. 2641, To amend the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to
authorize pumped storage hydropower development utilizing
multiple Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs. Pacific Northwest
Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021.
June 16, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 2070, To recognize the right of the People of Puerto
Rico to call a status convention through which the people would
exercise their natural right to self-determination, and to
establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such
decision, and for other purposes. Puerto Rico Self-
Determination Act of 2021.
H.R. 1522, To provide for the admission of the State of
Puerto Rico into the Union. Puerto Rico Statehood Admission
Act. PRINTED HEARING 117-5.
June 22, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 660, To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish
a grant program to benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and
the economy, and for other purposes. Shovel-Ready Restoration
Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021.
H.R. 1415, To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to further achievement of
Tribal coastal zone objectives, and for other purposes. Tribal
Coastal Resiliency Act.
H.R. 1689, To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
to apply to territories of the United States, to establish
offshore wind lease sale requirements, to provide dedicated
funding for coral reef conservation, and for other purposes.
Offshore Wind for Territories Act.
H.R. 2750, To establish an Interagency Working Group on
Coastal Blue Carbon, and for other purposes. Blue Carbon for
Our Planet Act.
H.R. 3160, To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
to establish a Working Waterfront Task Force and a working
waterfronts grant program, and for other purposes. Keep
America's Waterfronts Working Act.
H.R. 3228, To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting
through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to improve science, data, and
services that enable sound decision-making in response to
coastal flood risk, including impacts of sea-level rise, storm
events, changing Great Lakes water levels, and land subsidence.
National Coastal Resilience Data and Services Act.
H.R. 3692, To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a climate
impact management plan for the conservation of certain marine
mammal species, and for other purposes. Marine Mammal Climate
Change Protection Act.
H.R. 3748, To improve data collection and monitoring of the
Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, and for other
purposes. BLUE GLOBE ACT.
H.R. 3764, To direct the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide for ocean-
based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global
warming; to make coastal communities more resilient; and to
provide for the conservation and restoration of the ocean and
coastal habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish
populations; and for other purposes. Ocean-Based Climate
Solutions Act of 2021.
H.R. 3817, To allow coastal States to participate in
regional ocean partnerships with one or more other coastal
States that share a common ocean or coastal area with the
coastal State to conserve living resources, expand and protect
valuable habitats, enhance coastal resilience, and address such
other issues related to the shared ocean or coastal area as are
determined to be a shared, regional priority by those States.
Regional Ocean Partnership Act.
H.R. 3864, To express the sense of Congress that the
Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall be the primary representative of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the
Chesapeake Bay, to require the Secretary of the Commerce,
acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to provide grants supporting
research on the conservation, restoration, or management of
oysters in estuarine ecosystems, and for other purposes.
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research Act.
H.R. 3892, To improve the National Oceans and Coastal
Security Act, and for other purposes. National Oceans and
Coastal Security Improvements Act.
H.R. 3906, To establish a Blue Carbon program to conserve
and restore marine and coastal blue carbon ecosystems, and
other purposes. Blue Carbon Protection Act. PRINTED HEARING
117-6.
June 30, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1317, To provide compensation to certain residents of
the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, for the use of such island
for military readiness, and for other purposes. Vieques
Recovery and Redevelopment Act of 2021.
H.R. 1126, To provide compensation to certain residents of
the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, for the use of such island
for military readiness, and for other purposes. Vieques
Recovery and Redevelopment Act of 2021.
July 14, 2021--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 820, To establish the New Philadelphia National
Historical Park in the State of Illinois as a unit of the
National Park System, and for other purposes. New Philadelphia
National Historical Park Act.
H.R. 972, To provide for the establishment of the Western
Riverside County Wildlife Refuge. Wildlife Refuge Conservation
and Recreation for the Community Act.
H.R. 1154, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the Great Dismal Swamp National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Great Dismal Swamp
National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 1664, To authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum
Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of
Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1908, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the Ka'ena Point National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes. Ka`ena Point National Heritage
Area Act.
H.R. 2278, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
designate the September 11th National Memorial Trail, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 2444, To establish Fort San Geronimo del Boqueron in
Puerto Rico as an affiliated area of the National Park System,
and for other purposes. Fort San Geronimo Preservation Act.
H.R. 2497, To establish the Amache National Historic Site
in the State of Colorado as a unit of the National Park System,
and for other purposes. Amache National Historic Site Act.
H.R. 2780, To provide for climate change planning,
mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in the United States
Territories and Freely Associated States, and for other
purposes. Insular Area Climate Change Act.
H.R. 2899, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating areas within the island of Guam as a National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3113, To require the Secretary of the Interior, the
Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Civil Works to digitize and make publicly available
geographic information system mapping data relating to public
access to Federal land and waters for outdoor recreation, and
for other purposes. MAPLand Act.
H.R. 3616, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the Bear River National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes. Bear River National Heritage Area
Study Act.
H.R. 3764, To direct the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide for ocean-
based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global
warming; to make coastal communities more resilient; and to
provide for the conservation and restoration of ocean and
coastal habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish
populations; and for other purposes. Ocean-Based Climate
Solutions Act of 2021.
H.R. 4300, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to make
free National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes
available to members of the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes. Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act.
September 2, 2021--Remote Markup held to consider
legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation
directive included in section 2002 of the Concurrent Resolution
on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, S. Con. Res.14, Day 1.
September 9, 2021--Remote Markup held to consider
legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation
directive included in section 2002 of the Concurrent Resolution
on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, S. Con. Res.14, Day 2.
October 13, 2021--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 160, To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of
2000 and to establish the United States Coral Reef Task Force,
and for other purposes. Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021.
H.R. 442, To provide for the conveyance of certain property
to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in
Sitka, Alaska, and for other purposes. Southeast Alaska
Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act.
H.R. 570, To require operators of offshore oil and gas
facilities to report failures of critical systems to the
Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes. Offshore
Accountability Act of 2021.
H.R. 897, To take certain lands in California into trust
for the benefit of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians,
and for other purposes. Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to
Trust Confirmation Act.
H.R. 1286, To establish in the States of North Carolina and
South Carolina the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National
Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes. Southern Campaign of
the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act of 2021.
H.R. 1975, To take certain land located in San Diego
County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Pala Band
of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. Pala Band of
Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021.
H.R. 2024, To establish the Southern Maryland National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Southern Maryland
National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 2074, To assist Tribal governments in the management
of buffalo and buffalo habitat and for the reestablishment of
buffalo on Indian lands. Indian Buffalo Management Act.
H.R. 2088, To take certain Federal lands in Tennessee into
trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,
and for other purposes. Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands
Reacquisition Act.
H.R. 2107, To establish the Nation's Oldest Port National
Heritage Area in the State of Florida, and for other purposes.
Nation's Oldest Port National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 2643, To require the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement to further develop, finalize, and
implement updated regulations for offshore oil and gas
pipelines to address long-standing limitations regarding its
ability to ensure active pipeline integrity and address safety
and environmental risks associated with decommissioning, and
for other purposes. Offshore Pipeline Safety Act.
H.R. 2930, To enhance protections of Native American
tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes. Safeguard
Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021.
H.R. 3075, To address seafood slavery and combat illegal,
unreported, or unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.
Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act.
H.R. 3222, To establish the Alabama Black Belt National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Alabama Black Belt
National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 3670, To improve access for outdoor recreation through
the use of special recreation permits on Federal recreational
lands and waters, and for other purposes. Simplifying Outdoor
Access for Recreation Act.
H.R. 4881, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to take
into trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona certain land
in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes. Old Pascua
Community Land Acquisition Act.
H.R. 5221, To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
to establish an urban Indian organization confer policy for the
Department of Health and Human Services. Urban Indian Health
Confer Act.
November 17, 2021--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 404, To improve the management of driftnet fishing.
Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act of 2021.
H.R. 667, To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Director of the Indian Health
Service, to acquire private land to facilitate access to the
Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet, California, and for
other purposes. Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access
Improvement Act.
H.R. 1931, To provide competitive grants for the promotion
of Japanese American confinement education as a means to
understand the importance of democratic principles, use and
abuse of power, and to raise awareness about the importance of
cultural tolerance toward Japanese Americans, and for other
purposes. Japanese American Confinement Education Act.
H.R. 2026, To assist in the conservation of highly
endangered amphibian species in foreign countries, and for
other purposes. Global Amphibian Protection Act of 2021.
H.R. 3128, To establish the American Fisheries Advisory
Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries research and
development grants, and for other purposes. American Fisheries
Advisory Committee Act of 2021.
H.R. 3197, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey to the City of Eunice, Louisiana, certain Federal land
in Louisiana, and for other purposes. Save the Liberty Theatre
Act of 2021.
H.R. 3326, To promote the development of renewable energy
on public lands, and for other purposes. Public Land Renewable
Energy Development Act of 2021.
H.R. 3531, To authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home
Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act.
H.R. 3600, To amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail, and for other
purposes. Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act.
H.R. 4494, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire land in Frederick County, Maryland, for the Historic
Preservation Training Center of the National Park Service, and
for other purposes. Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation
Training Center Land Acquisition Act.
H.R. 4648, To modify the boundary of the Cane River Creole
National Historical Park in the State of Louisiana, and for
other purposes. Cane River Creole National Historical Park
Boundary Modification Act.
H.R. 4706, To establish the Blackwell School National
Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.
Blackwell School National Historic Site Act.
H.R. 5001, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
continue to implement endangered fish recovery programs for the
Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins, and for other
purposes. Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Recovery
Act.
H.R. 5345, To authorize the Director of the United States
Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess,
monitor, and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great
Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on
those habitats, and for other purposes. Saline Lake Ecosystems
in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021.
S. 2923, A bill to improve the Fishery Resource Disaster
Relief program of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and
for other purposes. Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act.
January 19, 2022--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 268, To provide for the boundary of the Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, to authorize
the donation of land to the United States for addition to that
historic park, and for other purposes.
H.R. 441, To provide for the conveyance of certain property
to the Tanana Tribal Council located in Tanana, Alaska, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 1415, To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to further achievement of
Tribal coastal zone objectives, and for other purposes. Tribal
Coastal Resiliency Act.
H.R. 2512, To amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western
National Historic Trail, and for other purposes. Chisholm
National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail
Designation Act.
H.R. 2551, To designate and adjust certain lands in the
State of Utah as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, and for other purposes. Bonneville
Shoreline Trail Advancement Act.
H.R. 2773, To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available for
management of fish and wildlife species of greatest
conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife
agencies, and for other purposes. Recovering America's Wildlife
Act of 2021.
H.R. 2793, To reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act,
to authorize States to use funds from that Act for
administrative purposes, and for other purposes. Highlands
Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021.
H.R. 2872, To establish an integrated national approach to
respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and
climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the
fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to
maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation
with State, local, and Tribal Governments and other entities,
and for other purposes. SAFE Act, or Safeguarding America's
Future and Environment Act.
H.R. 3228, To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting
through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to improve science, data, and
services that enable sound decision making in response to
coastal flood risk, including impacts of sea level rise, storm
events, changing Great Lakes water levels, and land subsidence.
National Coastal Resilience Data and Services Act.
H.R. 4009, To authorize the Georgetown African American
Historic Landmark Project and Tour to establish a commemorative
work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for
other purposes. Georgetown Waterfront Enslaved Voyages Memorial
Act.
H.R. 4358, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate segments of the Little Manatee River as a component
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
Little Manatee Wild and Scenic River Act.
H.R. 4380, To designate the El Paso Community Healing
Garden National Memorial, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4404, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate segments of the Kissimmee River in the State of
Florida as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System,
and for other purposes. Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River
Act.
H.R. 5118, To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to
prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National
Scenic Trail, and for other purposes. Continental Divide Trail
Completion Act.
February 15, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 2021, To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile
environmental justice and civil rights, and for other purposes.
Environmental Justice For All Act. PRINTED HEARING 117-14.
KFebruary 16, 2022--Remote Markup held on:
H.R. 1546, To amend the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt
Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 to direct the Presidential
Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking to develop recommendations
to address wildlife trafficking on the internet and on social
media, and to direct the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development to develop a strategy to address wildlife
trafficking on the internet and on social media, and for other
purposes. Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2021.
H.R. 3525, To establish the Commission to Study the
Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific
American History and Culture, and for other purposes.
Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum
of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act.
H.R. 3540, To reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Office of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other
purposes. Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem
Enhancement Act of 2021.
H.R. 4458, To establish a grant program within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to award grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of carrying out projects on
the conservation, restoration, or management of kelp forest
ecosystems. KELP Act.
H.R. 4677, To direct restoration and protection of the New
York-New Jersey watersheds and estuaries hydrologically
connected to New York-New Jersey Harbor, and for other
purposes. New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act.
H.R. 5973, To reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act of 1990, and for other purposes. Great Lakes
Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021.
H.R. 6023, To require the United States Postal Service to
continue selling the Multinational Species Conservation Funds
Semipostal Stamp until all remaining stamps are sold, and for
other purposes. Multinational Species Conservation Funds
Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2021.
H.R. 6142, To amend the National Trails System Act to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the
feasibility of designating the Buckeye Trail as a national
scenic trail, and for other purposes. Buckeye National Scenic
Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2021.
H.R. 6199, To revise the boundary of the Ste. Genevieve
National Historical Park in the State of Missouri, and for
other purposes. Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park
Boundary Revision Act.
H.R. 6201, To extend the authority for the establishment of
a commemorative work to honor enslaved and free Black persons
who served in the American Revolution, and for other purposes.
National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act.
H.R. 6434, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
establish, within the National Park Service, the Japanese
American World War II History Network, and for other purposes.
Japanese American World War II History Network Act.
H.R. 6435, To provide for the application of certain
provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 for fiscal year 2021.
H. Res. 641, Recognizing and celebrating the 75th
anniversary of the National Association of Conservation
Districts and their commitment to our lands.
February 17, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 6504, To require the Governor of Guam to establish a
database for verifying Native Chamoru ancestry, and for other
purposes. Native Pacific Islanders of America Equity Act.
April 6, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 920, To amend the Act entitled ``Act to provide for
the establishment of the Brown v. Board of Education National
Historic Site in the State of Kansas, and for other purposes''
to provide for inclusion of additional related sites in the
National Park System, and for other purposes. Brown v. Board of
Education National Historic Site Expansion Act.
H.R. 1638, To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to
transfer certain National Forest System land to the State of
South Dakota, and for other purposes. Gilt Edge Mine Conveyance
Act.
H.R. 2626, To redesignate the Pullman National Monument in
the State of Illinois as the Pullman National Historical Park,
and for other purposes. Pullman National Historical Park Act.
H.R. 5093, To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to
transfer certain National Forest System land in the State of
Washington to Skamania County, Washington. Wind River
Administrative Site Conveyance Act.
H.R. 6651, To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task
Force. Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act.
June 8, 2022.--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 263, To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to
clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act,
to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and
for other purposes. Big Cat Public Safety Act.
June 15, 2022.--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 263, To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to
clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act,
to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and
for other purposes. Big Cat Public Safety Act.
H.R. 5444, To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on
Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for
other purposes. Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding
School Policies Act.
H.R. 6063, To provide for the equitable settlement of
certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and
for other purposes.
H.R. 6181, To reaffirm that certain land has been taken
into trust for the benefit of the Samish Indian Nation, and for
other purposes. Samish Indian Nation Land Reaffirmation Act.
H.R. 6337, To require the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture to develop long-distance bike trails
on Federal land, and for other purposes. Biking on Long-
Distance Trails Act.
H.R. 6707, To amend the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act
of 1980 to advance equality for Wabanaki nations, and for other
purposes. Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act.
H.R. 6734, To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to
reauthorize the volunteer services, community partnership, and
refuge education programs of the National Wildlife Refuge
System, and for other purposes. Keep America's Refuges
Operational Act of 2022.
H.R. 7002, To authorize the Gateway Arch in St. Louis,
Missouri, to be illuminated by blue and yellow lights in
support of Ukraine. Gateway Solidarity Act.
H.R. 7025, To prohibit the Director of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service from funding entities that commit,
fund, or support gross violations of internationally recognized
human rights, and for other purposes. Advancing Human Rights-
Centered International Conservation Act of 2022.
H.R. 7075, To designate Ukrainian Independence Park in
Washington, District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Ukrainian Independence Park Act of 2022.
S. 789, To repeal certain obsolete laws relating to
Indians. Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging
Conciliation with Tribes Act or the RESPECT Act.
July 13, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 2794, To provide for the protection of the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and interconnected Federal lands
and waters, including Voyageurs National Park, within the Rainy
River Watershed in the State of Minnesota, and for other
purposes. Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution
Prevention Act.
H.R. 3686, To amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands
Management Act of 1996 to provide for the establishment of a
Ski Area Fee Retention Account, and for other purposes. SHRED
Act or the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act.
H.R. 5715, To reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart
L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6364, To amend the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the exception to the
closure of certain roads within the Recreation Area for local
businesses, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6442, To amend section 101703 of title 54, United
States Code, to include Tribal Governments and quasi-
governmental entities, and for other purposes. PACTS Act or
Partnership Agreements Creating Tangible Savings Act.
H.R. 6654, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
establish a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the
effects of extreme weather events and climate trends, and for
other purposes. CASC Act or Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Act.
H.R. 6936, To provide for the issuance of a semipostal to
benefit programs that combat invasive species. Stamp Out
Invasive Species Act.
H.R. 7283, To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act to make certain activities eligible for grants from the
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.
Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from
Abandoned Mines (STREAM) Act.
H.R. 7496, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the Virgin Islands
National Park on St. John, United States Virgin Islands, to
commemorate the slave rebellion that began on St. John in 1733.
H.R. 7693, To amend title 54, United States Code, to
reauthorize the National Park Foundation. National Park
Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022.
July 20, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 6353, To authorize the National Service Animals
Monument Corporation to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
National Service Animals Memorial Act.
H.R. 6438, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of the site known as
``Dearfield'' in the State of Colorado. Dearfield Study Act.
H.R. 6799, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability
and feasibility of establishing the John P. Parker House in
Ripley, Ohio, as a unit of the National Park System. John P.
Parker House Study Act.
H.R. 7618, To designate the Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust
Memorial in Bedford Heights, Ohio, as a national memorial.
H.R. 8393, To enable the people of Puerto Rico to choose a
permanent, nonterritorial, fully self-governing political
status for Puerto Rico and to provide for a transition to and
the implementation of that permanent, nonterritorial, fully
self-governing political status, and for other purposes. Puerto
Rico Status Act. PRINTED HEARING 117-24.
July 27, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 2021, To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile
environmental justice and civil rights, and for other purposes.
Environmental Justice For All Act.
September 15, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H. Res. 1247, Of inquiry directing the Secretary of the
Interior to transmit certain documents to the House of
Representatives relating to the 2023-2028 five-year program for
offshore oil and gas leasing.
H. Res. 1248, Of inquiry directing the Secretary of the
Interior to transmit certain documents to the House of
Representatives relating to the compliance with the obligations
of the Mineral Leasing Act.
H. Res. 1251, Of inquiry directing the Secretary of
Agriculture to transmit certain documents to the House of
Representatives relating to the mineral withdrawal within the
Superior National Forest.
H. Res. 1252, Of inquiry directing the Secretary of the
Interior to transmit certain documents to the House of
Representatives relating to the mineral withdrawal within the
Superior National Forest.
H. Res. 1253, Of inquiry directing the Secretary of the
Interior to transmit certain documents to the House of
Representatives relating to the actions of the Department of
the Interior's Departmental Ethics Office.
September 21, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 4690, To reauthorize and amend the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and for other
purposes. Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act of
2021.
September 29, 2022--Hybrid Markup continuation held on:
H.R. 4690, To reauthorize and amend the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and for other
purposes. Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act of
2021.
November 16, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H. Res. 1378, Of inquiry requesting the President and
directing the Secretary of Agriculture to transmit,
respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives
relating to Resolution Copper mine.
December 8, 2022--Hybrid Markup held on:
H.R. 3681, To direct the Director of the United States
Geological Survey to establish a program to map zones that are
at greater risk of sinkhole formation, and for other purposes.
Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2021.
H.R. 5522, To require the Secretary of the Interior to
develop and maintain a cadastre of Federal real property.
Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act of 2021.
H.R. 6032, To take certain Federal lands located in
Siskiyou County, California, and Humboldt County, California,
into trust for the benefit of the Karuk Tribe, and for other
purposes. Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam Sacred Lands Act.
H.R. 6427, To amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Act to modify the boundary of the Red River National Wildlife
Refuge, and for other purposes. Red River National Wildlife
Refuge Boundary Modification Act.
H.R. 6611, To authorize the Embassy of France in
Washington, DC, to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs to honor the
extraordinary contributions of Jean Monnet to restoring peace
between European nations and establishing the European Union,
and for other purposes.
H.R. 6720, To authorize the Thomas Paine Memorial
Association to establish a commemorative work in the District
of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6964, To authorize leases of up to 99 years for lands
held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
Reservation.
H.R. 7615, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
enter into partnerships to develop housing, and for other
purposes. LODGE Act or Lodging Options Developed for Government
Employees Act.
H.R. 7918, To require the Secretary of Commerce to
establish the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Sea
Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022.
H.R. 7952, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a natural gas
distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National Historical
Park, and for other purposes. Valley Forge Park Realignment
Permit and Promise Act.
H.R. 8115, To amend the Recreation and Public Purposes Act
to authorize sales and leases of certain Federal land to
federally recognized Indian Tribes, and for other purposes.
Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act.
S. 314, To repeal the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act.
Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act.
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
March 24, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``How the Biden
Administration's Build Back Better Plan Can Benefit the U.S.
Territories.''
June 23, 2021--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Examining the
Department of the Interior's Spending Priorities and the
President's Fiscal Year Budget 2022 Proposal.'' PRINTED HEARING
117-7.
July 28, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``The President's
FY22 Budget Priority for the Territories: Medicaid, SSI, and
SNAP Parity.''
October 6, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``PREPA Post
Implementation of the LUMA Transmission and Distribution
Contract.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-9.
February 8, 2022--Remote Hearing titled, ``Justice, Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Policy Making: The
Role of Environmental Organizations and Grantmaking
Foundations.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-13.
March 8, 2022--Remote Hearing titled, ``Examining the
History of Federal Lands and the Development of Tribal Co-
Management.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-15.
May 18, 2022--Hybrid Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget
Request of the Department of Interior's Office of Insular
Affairs.
September 22, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``PROMESA and
LUMA Energy's Contract.''
November 17, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Puerto Rico's
Post-Disaster Reconstruction & Power Grid Development.''
PRINTED HEARING 117-28.
III. FORUMS AND ROUNDTABLES
February 26, 2021--Remote Forum titled, ``Black Excellence
in Ocean Policy.''
March 11-12, 2022--Community Input Tour, ``Advancing
Environmental Justice in New York City, New York.''
May 6-8, 2022--Community Input Tour, ``Advancing
Environmental Justice in Detroit, Michigan.''
June 4, 2022--Public Input Forum on Puerto Rico Status Act
Discussion Draft.
June 17-19, 2022--Community Input Tour, ``Advancing
Environmental Justice in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana.''
July 9-10, 2022--Community Input Tour, ``Environmental
Justice Public Input Forum in Southern California.''
July 14, 2022--Community Input Tour, ``Virtual Tribal
Leaders Roundtable on Environmental Justice.''
July 16, 2022--Community Input Tour, ``Environmental
Justice in Richmond, Virginia.''
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
I. LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS
March 9, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Modernizing Energy
Development Laws for the Benefit of Taxpayers, Communities, and
the Environment,'' including the following bills and other
related measures:
H.R. 1492, To prevent methane waste and pollution from oil
and gas operations, and for other purposes. Methane Waste
Prevention Act.
H.R. 1503, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
adjustments in leasing on Federal lands for oil and gas
drilling, and for other purposes. Restoring Community Input and
Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act.
H.R. 1505, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
adjustments to the regulation of surface-disturbing activities
and to protect taxpayers from unduly bearing the reclamation
costs of oil and gas development, and for other purposes.
Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act.
H.R. 1506, To provide for the accurate reporting of fossil
fuel extraction and emissions by entities with leases on public
land, and for other purposes. Transparency in Energy Production
Act.
H.R. 1517, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
adjustments to the fiscal terms for fossil fuel development and
to make other reforms to improve returns to taxpayers for the
development of Federal energy resources, and for other
purposes. Ending Taxpayer Welfare for Oil and Gas Companies
Act.
March 18, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Restoring
Abandoned Mine Lands, Local Economies, and the Environment,''
including the following bills and other related measures:
H.R. 1146, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between
States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of
reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely
affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977, and
for other purposes, Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.
H.R. 1733, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide funds to States and Indian
tribes for the purpose of promoting economic revitalization,
diversification, and development in economically distressed
communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and
water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out
before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes, Revitalizing the
Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and
Investing More Act of 2021 or the RECLAIM Act of 2021.
H.R. 1734, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to allow the Secretary of the Interior
to delegate certain emergency reclamation activities to the
States and Tribes, and for other purposes, Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2021.
April 15, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Building Back
Better: Creating Jobs and Reducing Pollution by Plugging and
Reclaiming Orphaned Wells,'' on the following bill and other
related measures:
H.R. 2415, To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to
require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to
permanently plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells and the
surrounding lands and to provide funds States and Tribal
Governments to permanently plug, remediate, and reclaim
orphaned wells and the surrounding lands, and for other
purposes. Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act.
April 20, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Building Back
Better: Reducing Pollution and Creating Jobs Through Offshore
Wind,'' including the following bills and other related
measures:
H.R. 998, To establish an offshore wind career training
grant program, and for other purposes. Offshore Wind Jobs and
Opportunity Act.
H.R. 2635, To reauthorize certain leasing on the Outer
Continental Shelf, and for other purposes. Restoring Offshore
Wind Opportunities Act.
H.R. 1689, To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
to apply to territories of the United States, to establish
offshore wind lease sale requirements, to provide dedicated
funding for coral reef conservation, and for other purposes.
Offshore Wind for Territories Act.
May 13, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Protecting Coastal
Communities and Ocean Resources from Offshore Drilling,''
including the following bills and other related measures:
H.R. 570, To require operators of offshore oil and gas
facilities to report failures of critical systems to the
Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes. Offshore
Accountability Act.
H.R. 2643, To require the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement to further develop, finalize, and
implement updated regulations for offshore oil and gas
pipelines to address long-standing limitations regarding its
ability to ensure active pipeline integrity and address safety
and environmental risks associated with decommissioning, and
for other purposes. Offshore Pipeline Safety Act.
H.R. 2836, To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related
activities in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off
the coast of Florida, and for other purposes. Florida Coastal
Protection Act.
H.R. 3048, To amend the Other Continental Shelf Lands Act
to prohibit oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Outer
Continental Shelf. North Pacific Ocean Protection Act.
H.R. 3053, To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Land Act to
prohibit oil and gas leasing in the Southern California
planning area. American Coasts and Oceans Protection Act.
H.R. 3116, To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the
Outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic,
North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. COAST
Anti-Drilling Act.
May 24, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Expanding Clean
Energy on Public Lands,'' including the following bill and
other related measures:
H.R. 3326, To promote the development of renewable energy
on public lands, and for other purposes. Public Land Renewable
Energy Development Act of 2021.
February 17, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 6654, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
establish a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the
effects of extreme weather events and climate trends, and for
other purposes. Climate Adaptation Science Centers Act or the
CASC Act.
May 12, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 7580, To modify the requirements applicable to
locatable minerals on public domain lands, consistent with the
principles of self-initiation of mining claims, and for other
purposes. The Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act. PRINTED HEARING
117-21.
May 24, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 2794, To provide for the protection of the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and interconnected Federal lands
and waters, including Voyageurs National Park, within the Rainy
River Watershed in the State of Minnesota, and for other
purposes. Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution
Prevention Act.
June 9, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 2073, To place a moratorium on permitting for
mountaintop removal coal mining until health studies are
conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, and
for other purposes. Appalachian Communities Health Emergency
Act or the ACHE Act.
H.R. 2505, To amend the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 to protect taxpayers from liability
associated with the reclamation of surface coal mining
operations, and for other purposes. Coal Cleanup Taxpayer
Protection Act.
H.R. 4799, To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain
improvements in the laws relating to coal royalties, and for
other purposes. Coal Royalty Fairness and Communities
Investment Act of 2021.
H.R. 7283, To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act to make certain activities eligible for grants from the
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.
Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from
Abandoned Mines (STREAM) Act.
H.R. 7937, To direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement, to establish a program to facilitate coal mine
reclamation and award grants to certain States and Indian
Tribes to carry out coal mine reclamation, and for other
purposes. Revitalize, Enhance, and Nurture in Expanded Ways
(RENEW) Our Abandoned Mine Lands Act.
July 19, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 3681, To direct the United States Geological Survey to
establish a program to map zones that area at greater risk of
sinkhole formation, and for other purposes. Sinkhole Mapping
Act of 2021.
H.R. 5522, To require the Secretary of the Interior to
develop and maintain a cadastre of Federal real property.
Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act.
H.R. 5805, To withdraw certain Bureau of Land Management
Land from mineral development. Buffalo Tract Protection Act.
H.R. 5350, To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to
promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under
geothermal leases, and for other purposes. Enhancing Geothermal
Production on Federal Lands Act.
September 20, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 8802, To require the Secretary of the Interior and the
Chief of the Forest Service to align management of public lands
and waters with the President's greenhouse gas emission
reduction goals, and for other purposes. Public Lands and
Waters Climate Leadership Act of 2022. PRINTED HEARING 117-26.
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
June 15, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Environmental
Justice for Coal Country: Supporting Communities Through Energy
Transition.''
July 27, 2021--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``The Toxic Legacy of
the Mining Law of 1872.''
October 14, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Impacts of
Abandoned Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructure and the Need for
Stronger Federal Oversight.''
October 18, 2021--Remote Field hearing in Irvine, CA held
jointly with the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
titled, ``Southern California Oil Leak: Investigating the
Immediate Effects on Communities, Businesses, and the
Environment.''
October 27, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``The Federal Coal
Program: A Bad Deal for Taxpayers and a Threat to Climate.''
November 16, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Plugging in
Public Lands: Transmission Infrastructure for Renewable
Energy.''
December 2, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``What More Public
Lands Leasing Means for Achieving U.S. Climate Targets.''
January 20, 2022--Remote Hearing titled, ``What More Gulf
of Mexico Oil and Gas Leasing Means for Achieving U.S. Climate
Targets.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-12.
March 31, 2022--Remote Hearing titled, ``Benefits of the
Legacy Pollution Clean-Up Programs in the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law.''
April 28, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``The Opportunities
and Risks of Offshore Carbon Storage in the Gulf of Mexico.''
PRINTED HEARING 117-19.
September 8, 2022--Field Hearing in Morro Bay, California
titled, ``Power in the Pacific: Unlocking Offshore Wind Energy
for the American West.''
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States
I. LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS
April 13, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1884, To repeal section 3003 of the Carl Levin and
Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2015, and for other purposes. Save Oak Flat
Act. PRINTED HEARING 117 2.
May 20, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 438, To amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter
Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the
deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter
Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2930, To enhance protections of Native American
tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes. STOP Act of
2021.
Discussion Draft H.R. __, To prescribe procedures for
effective consultation and coordination by Federal agencies
with federally recognized Indian Tribes regarding Federal
Government actions that impact Tribal lands and interests to
ensure that meaningful Tribal input is an integral part of the
Federal decision-making process. Requirements, Expectations,
and Standard Procedures for Effective Consultation with Tribes
Act or the RESPECT Act. (Legislation was later introduced as
H.R. 3587).
July 20, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 442, To provide for the conveyance of certain property
to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in
Sitka, Alaska, and for other purposes. Southeast Alaska
Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act.
H.R. 3496, To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
to expand the funding authority for renovating, constructing,
and expanding certain facilities. Urban Indian Health Providers
Facilities Improvement Act.
October 5, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 441, To provide for the conveyance of certain property
to the Tanana Tribal Council located in Tanana, Alaska, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 2402, To transfer administrative jurisdiction of
certain Federal lands from the Army Corps of Engineers to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, to take such lands into trust for the
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and for other purposes. Winnebago
Land Transfer Act of 2021.
H.R. 4881, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to take
into trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona certain land
in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes. Old Pascua
Community Land Acquisition Act.
H.R. 5221, To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
to establish an urban Indian organization confer policy for the
Department of Health and Human Services. Urban Indian Health
Confer Act.
H.J. Res. 55, To consent to the amendments to the Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act, 1920, made by Act 080 of the Session Laws
of Hawaii, 2017. Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole Protecting
Family Legacies Act.
March 31, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 4715, To authorize appropriations to the Secretary of
the Interior to make payments to certain members of the Quapaw
Tribe of Oklahoma in accordance with the recommendation of the
United States Court of Federal Claims. Quapaw Tribal Landowner
Settlement Act of 2021.
H.R. 5715, To reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart
L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6707, To amend the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act
of 1980 to advance equality for Wabanaki nations, and for other
purposes. Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act.
April 27, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 437, To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
to exclude certain payments to Alaska Native elders for
determining eligibility for certain programs, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 6063, To provide for the equitable settlement of
certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and
for other purposes.
Discussion Draft ANS to H.R. 6181, To reaffirm that certain
land has been taken into trust for the benefit of the Samish
Indian Nation, and for other purposes. Samish Indian Nation
Land Reaffirmation Act.
S. 314, To repeal the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act.
Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act.
S. 559, To amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, and for
other purposes.
S. 789, To repeal certain obsolete laws relating to
Indians. Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging
Conciliation with Tribes Act.
May 12, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 5444, To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on
Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for
other purposes. Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding
School Policies Act. PRINTED HEARING 117-22.
July 28, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 5549, To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
to authorize advance appropriations for the Indian Health
Service by providing 2-fiscal-year budget authority, and for
other purposes. Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations
Act.
September 14, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 6032, To take certain Federal lands located in
Siskiyou County, California, and Humboldt County, California,
into trust for the benefit of the Karuk Tribe, and for other
purposes. Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam Sacred Lands Act.
H.R. 6964, To authorize leases of up to 99 years for lands
held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
Reservation.
H.R. 7581, To recognize tribal cooperation in the
environmental review of proposed actions affecting the revised
Yurok Reservation, and for other purposes. Yurok Lands Act of
2022.
H.R. 8115, To amend the Recreation and Public Purposes Act
to authorize sales and leases of certain Federal land to
federally recognized Indian Tribes, and for other purposes.
Recreation and Public Purposes. Tribal Parity Act.
H.R. 8286, To take certain Federal land in the State of
Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and
for other purposes.
H.R. 8380, To provide for the settlement of claims relating
to the Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation in Illinois, and for other
purposes. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band
Reservation Settlement Act of 2022.
H.R. 8387, To amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act
to provide for advancements in public safety services to Indian
communities, and for other purposes. Parity for Tribal Law
Enforcement Act.
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
March 23, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``A Year in Review:
The State of COVID-19 in American Indian, Alaska Native, and
Native Hawaiian Communities--Lessons Learned for Future
Action.''
April 21, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Infrastructure in
Indigenous Communities: Priorities for American Jobs Plan.''
May 13, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Environmental
Justice in Indigenous Communities.''
June 17, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Examining Federal
Facilities in Indian Country.''
October 26, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Strengthening
Indigenous Communities Through Cultural and Environmental
Preservation.''
June 28, 2022--Remote Hearing held jointly with the
Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Early
Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education titled,
``Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Bureau of Indian
Education.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-23.
September 20, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Examining
Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta: The Implications of the Supreme
Court's Ruling on Tribal Sovereignty.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-27.
III. FORUMS AND ROUNDTABLES
February 18, 2022--Remote Roundtable held jointly with the
House Committee on Rules titled, ``Ending Hunger in America:
Indigenous Nutrition and Food Systems.''
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC LANDS
I. LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS
April 21, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 820, To establish the New Philadelphia National
Historical Park in the State of Illinois as a unit of the
National Park System, and for other purposes. New Philadelphia
National Historical Park Act.
H.R. 920, To amend the Act entitled ``Act to provide for
the establishment of the Brown v. Board of Education National
Historic Site in the State of Kansas, and for other purposes''
to provide for inclusion of additional related sites in the
National Park System, and for other purposes. Brown v. Board of
Education National Historic Site Expansion Act.
H.R. 2497, To establish the Amache National Historic Site
in the State of Colorado as a unit of the National Park System,
and for other purposes. Amache National Historic Site Act.
H.R. 2626, To redesignate the Pullman National Monument in
the State of Illinois as the Pullman National Historical Park,
and for other purposes. Pullman National Historical Park Act.
May 27, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1664, To authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum
Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of
Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1931, To provide competitive grants for the promotion
of Japanese American confinement education as a means to
understand the importance of democratic principles, use and
abuse of power, and to raise awareness about the importance of
cultural tolerance toward Japanese Americans, and for other
purposes. Japanese American Confinement Education Act.
H.R. 2278, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
designate the September 11th National Memorial Trail, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 2444, To establish Fort San Geronimo del Boqueron in
Puerto Rico as an affiliated area of the National Park System,
and for other purposes. Fort San Geronimo Preservation Act.
June 8, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 3113, To require the Secretary of the Interior, the
Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Civil Works to digitize and make publicly available
geographic information system mapping data relating to public
access to Federal land and waters for outdoor recreation, and
for other purposes. Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act.
H.R. 3670, To improve access for outdoor recreation through
the use of special recreation permits on Federal recreational
lands and waters, and for other purposes. Simplifying Outdoor
Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act.
H.R. 3686, To amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands
Management Act of 1996 to provide for the establishment of a
Ski Area Fee Retention Account, and for other purposes. Ski
Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act.
H.R. 3687, To require the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on
the effects of special recreation permits on environmental
justice communities, and for other purposes. Environmental
Justice in Recreation Permitting Act.
June 15, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1154, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the Great Dismal Swamp National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Great Dismal Swamp
National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 1286, To establish in the States of North Carolina and
South Carolina the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National
Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes. Southern Campaign of
the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act of 2021.
H.R. 1316, To authorize a National Heritage Area Program,
and for other purposes. National Heritage Area Act of 2021.
H.R. 1424, To establish the St. Croix National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes. St. Croix National Heritage Area
Act.
H.R. 1908, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the Ka`ena Point National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes. Ka`ena Point National Heritage
Area Act.
H.R. 1925, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the South Kona National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes. South Kona National Heritage
Area.
H.R. 2024, To establish the Southern Maryland National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Southern Maryland
National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 2107, To establish the Nation's Oldest Port National
Heritage Area in the State of Florida, and for other purposes.
Nation's Oldest Port National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 2359, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio National
Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2899, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating areas within the island of Guam as a National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3222, To establish the Alabama Black Belt National
Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Alabama Black Belt
National Heritage Area Act.
H.R. 3616, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain land as the Bear River National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes. Bear River National Heritage Area
Study Act.
July 13, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 2049, To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 to promote reforestation
following unplanned events on Federal land, and for other
purposes. Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary
Trees (REPLANT) Act.
H.R. 2816, To provide for the Forest Service Legacy Roads
and Trails Remediation Program. Legacy Roads and Trails Act.
H.R. 3132, To reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act,
and for other purposes. Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization
Act.
H.R. 3211, To require the Secretary of Agriculture to
establish a Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership
program, and for other purposes. Joint Chiefs Landscape
Restoration Partnership Act of 2021.
H.R. 4300, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to make
free National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Passes
available to members of the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes. Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act.
October 14, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 149, To designate the Peter J. McGuire Memorial and
Peter J. McGuire Gravesite located in Pennsauken, New Jersey,
as a National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes. Peter
J. McGuire Labor Day Landmark Act.
H.R. 250, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
establish the January 8th National Memorial in Tucson, Arizona,
as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for
other purposes. January 8th National Memorial Act.
H.R. 3197, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey to the City of Eunice, Louisiana, certain Federal land
in Louisiana, and for other purposes. Save the Liberty Theatre
Act of 2021.
H.R. 3531, To authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home
Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act.
H.R. 4009, To authorize the Georgetown African American
Historic Landmark Project and Tour to establish a commemorative
work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for
other purposes. Georgetown Waterfront Enslaved Voyages Memorial
Act.
H.R. 4380, To designate the El Paso Community Healing
Garden National Memorial, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4454, To establish a process for the Board on
Geographic Names to review and revise offensive names of
Federal land units, to create an advisory committee to
recommend Federal land unit names to be reviewed by the Board,
and for other purposes. Reconciliation in Place Names Act.
H.R. 4648, To modify the boundary of the Cane River Creole
National Historical Park in the State of Louisiana, and for
other purposes. Cane River Creole National Historical Park
Boundary Modification Act.
H.R. 4706, To establish the Blackwell School National
Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.
Blackwell School National Historic Site Act.
October 27, 2021--Remote Hearing titled ``Wildland
Firefighting Workforce Reforms'' held on:
H.R. 4274, To waive limitations on overtime and premium pay
for wildland firefighters, and for other purposes. Wildland
Firefighter Fair Pay Act.
H.R. 5631, To reform and enhance the pay and benefits of
Federal wildland firefighters, and for other purposes. Tim Hart
Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act.
November 9, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 268, To provide for the boundary of the Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, to authorize
the donation of land to the United States for addition to that
historic park, and for other purposes.
H.R. 980, To withdraw certain land located in Curry County
and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry,
appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws,
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and
operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing
laws, and for other purposes. Southwestern Oregon Watershed and
Salmon Protection Act of 2021.
H.R. 1469, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate certain river segments within the York watershed in
the State of Maine as components of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. York River Wild
and Scenic River Act of 2021.
H.R. 2512, To amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western
National Historic Trail, and for other purposes. Chisholm
National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail
Designation Act.
H.R. 2551, To designate and adjust certain lands in the
State of Utah as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, and for other purposes. Bonneville
Shoreline Trail Advancement Act.
H.R. 3600, To amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail, and for other
purposes. Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act.
H.R. 4358, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate segments of the Little Manatee River as a component
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
Little Manatee Wild and Scenic River Act.
H.R. 4404, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate segments of the Kissimmee River in the State of
Florida as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System,
and for other purposes. Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River
Act.
H.R. 4494, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire land in Frederick County, Maryland, for the Historic
Preservation Training Center of the National Park Service, and
for other purposes. Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation
Training Center Land Acquisition Act.
H.R. 5118, To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to
prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National
Scenic Trail, and for other purposes. Continental Divide Trail
Completion Act.
December 7, 2021--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 1117, To amend the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home
Front National Historical Park Establishment Act of 2000 to
provide for additional areas to be added to the park, and for
other purposes. Rosie the Riveter National Historic Site
Expansion Act.
H.R. 3525, To establish the Commission to Study the
Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific
American History and Culture, and for other purposes.
Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum
of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act.
H.R. 5230, To provide a one-time grant for the operation,
security, and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial
& Museum at the World Trade Center to commemorate the events,
and honor the victims, of the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001, and for other purposes. 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act.
February 3, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 6142, To amend the National Trails System Act to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the
feasibility of designating the Buckeye Trail as a national
scenic trail, and for other purposes. Buckeye National Scenic
Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2021.
H.R. 6199, To revise the boundary of the Ste. Genevieve
National Historical Park in the State of Missouri, and for
other purposes. Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park
Boundary Revision Act.
H.R. 6201, To extend the authority for the establishment of
a commemorative work to honor enslaved and free Black persons
who served in the American Revolution, and for other purposes.
National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act.
H.R. 6337, To require the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture to develop long-distance bike trails
on Federal land, and for other purposes. Biking on Long-
Distance Trails Act.
H.R. 6434, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
establish, within the National Park Service, the Japanese
American World War II History Network, and for other purposes.
Japanese American World War II History Network Act.
H.R. 6435, To provide for the application of certain
provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 for fiscal year 2021. SRS FY21
Technical Fix.
H.R. 6451, To establish the Chiricahua National Park in the
State of Arizona as a unit of the National Park System, and for
other purposes. Chiricahua National Park Act.
March 1, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1638, To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to
transfer certain National Forest System land to the State of
South Dakota, and for other purposes. Gilt Edge Mine Conveyance
Act.
H.R. 4178, To extend the authority to collect Shasta-
Trinity Marina fees through fiscal year 2027. Shasta-Trinity
Marina Fee Extension.
H.R. 5093, To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to
transfer certain National Forest System land in the State of
Washington to Skamania County, Washington. Wind River
Administrative Site Conveyance Act.
H.R. 5493, To provide for greater consultation between the
Federal Government and the governing bodies and community users
of land grant-mercedes in New Mexico, to provide for a process
for recognition of the historic-traditional uses of land grant-
mercedes, and for other purposes. Land Grant-Mercedes
Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act.
H.R. 6366, To modify the boundary of the Berryessa Snow
Mountain National Monument to include certain Federal land in
Lake County, California, and for other purposes. Berryessa Snow
Mountain National Monument Expansion Act.
April 28, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 4878, To amend the National Trails System Act to
include national discovery trails and designate the American
Discovery Trail, and for other purposes. National Discovery
Trails Act.
H.R. 6589, To amend title 54, United States Code, to
increase amounts deposited in the Historic Preservation Fund,
and for other purposes. Historic Preservation Enhancement Act.
H.R. 6805, To amend title 54, United States Code, to
establish within the National Park Service the United States
African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Program, and for
other purposes. African-American Burial Grounds Preservation
Act.
H.R. 7002, To authorize the Gateway Arch in St. Louis,
Missouri, to be illuminated by blue and yellow lights in
support of Ukraine. Gateway Solidarity Act.
H.R. 7075, To designate Ukrainian Independence Park in
Washington, District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Ukrainian Independence Park Act.
H.R. 7218, To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act
of 2009 to reauthorize the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage
Area, Cache La Poudre National Heritage Area, and South Park
National Heritage Area in the State of Colorado, and for other
purposes. Colorado National Heritage Areas Reauthorization Act.
May 11, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 279, To provide lasting protection for inventoried
roadless areas within the National Forest System. Roadless Area
Conservation Act of 2021.
H.R. 7329, To amend the Smith River National Recreation
Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River
National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon,
and for other purposes. Smith River National Recreation Area
Expansion Act.
H.R. 7399, To amend the Land Between the Lakes Protection
Act of 1998 to clarify the administration of the Land Between
the Lakes National Recreation Area, and for other purposes. LBL
Recreation and Heritage Act.
H.R. 7665, To provide for conservation and recreation
enhancement for Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area, and for other purposes. Mt. Hood and
Columbia River Gorge Recreation Enhancement and Conservation
(REC) Act of 2022.
June 14, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 1548, To establish a pilot program for native plant
species, and for other purposes. Native Plant Species Pilot
Program Act of 2021.
H.R. 4658, To designate the Encinal Trailhead on the
Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area as the ``Anthony `Tony' Beilenson Trailhead.''
Beilenson Trailhead Designation Act.
H.R. 6364, To amend the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the exception to the
closure of certain roads within the Recreation Area for local
businesses, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6442, To amend section 101703 of title 54, United
States Code, to include Tribal Governments and quasi-
governmental entities, and for other purposes. PACTS Act.
H.R. 7496, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the Virgin Islands
National Park on St. John, United States Virgin Islands, to
commemorate the slave rebellion that began on St. John in 1733.
H.R. 7615, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
enter into partnerships to develop housing, and for other
purposes. LODGE Act.
H.R. 7693, To amend title 54, United States Code, to
reauthorize the National Park Foundation. National Park
Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022.
H.R. 7952, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a natural gas
distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National Historical
Park, and for other purposes. Valley Forge Park Realignment
Permit and Promise Act.
June 23, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 2522, To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act to establish the Cerro de la
Olla Wilderness in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
and to modify the boundary of the Rio Grande del Norte National
Monument. Cerro De Olla Wilderness Act.
H.R. 2882, To extend the authorization of the Mormon
Pioneer National Heritage Area, to designate the Great Basin
National Heritage Route in the State of Nevada as the ``Great
Basin National Heritage Area,'' to designate the Great Basin
Heritage Route Partnership as the ``Great Basin Heritage Area
Partnership,'' to extend the authorization of the Great Basin
National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Great Basin
National Heritage Area and Mormon Pioneer National Heritage
Area Extension Act.
H.R. 5355, To convey certain Federal land in California to
Apple Valley, California, Twentynine Palms, California,
Barstow, California, and Victorville, California. Desert
Community Lands Act.
H.R. 6240, To release the reversionary interest of the
United States in certain non-Federal land in Salt Lake City,
Utah, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7509, To expand certain land administered by the
Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service in the State of
Oregon as wilderness and a national recreation area, and for
other purposes. Wild Rogue Conservation and Recreation
Enhancement Act.
July 14, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 1256, To direct the Department of the Interior to
remove the brass plaque bearing the name Senator Francis G.
Newlands from the grounds of the memorial fountain located at
Chevy Chase Circle in the District of Columbia. The Francis G.
Newlands Memorial Removal Act.
H.R. 6353, To authorize the National Service Animals
Monument Corporation to establish a commemorative work on
federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate the
heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and handlers of
service animals in the United States. National Service Animals
Memorial Act.
H.R. 6438, To direct the Department of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of the site known as
Dearfield, in Weld County, Colorado. The Dearfield Study Act.
H.R. 6611, To authorize the Embassy of France in
Washington, DC, to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs to honor the
extraordinary contributions of Jean Monnet to restoring peace
between European nations and establishing the European Union,
and for other purposes.
H.R. 6720, To authorize the Thomas Paine Memorial
Association to establish a commemorative work on federal land
in the District of Columbia in honor of the philosopher and
patriot, Thomas Paine.
H.R. 6799, To direct the Department of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of the John P. Parker House in
Ripley, Ohio, which was recognized as a National Historic
Landmark in 1997. John P. Parker House Study Act.
H.R. 7618, To designate the Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust
Memorial in Bedford Heights, Ohio, as a national memorial.
H.R. 7912, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability
and feasibility of establishing a network of locations
associated with lynchings in the vicinity of Memphis,
Tennessee, as a unit of the National Park System. Evaluating
Lynching Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act.
H.R. 8046, To establish the Cesar E. Chavez and the
Farmworker Movement National Historical Park in the States of
California and Arizona. Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker
Movement National Historical Park Act.
H.R. 8258, To provide exceptions from permitting and fee
requirements for content creation, regardless of distribution
platform, including still photography, digital or analog video,
and digital or analog audio recording activities, conducted on
land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture and
the Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes. FILM
Act.
September 14, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 8108, To protect Native cultural sites located on
Federal land, to improve consultation with Indian Tribes, to
bring parity to Indian Tribes with regard to Federal public
land management laws, and for other purposes. Advancing Tribal
Parity on Public Land Act.
H.R. 8109, To establish the Tribal Cultural Areas System,
and for other purposes. Tribal Cultural Areas Protection Act.
H.R. 8719, To establish the Great Bend of the Gila National
Conservation Area in the State of Arizona, and for other
purposes. Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act.
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
March 23, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Building Back
Better: Examining the Future of America's Public Lands.''
April 29, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Wildfire in a
Warming World: Opportunities to Improve Community
Collaboration, Climate Resilience, and Workforce Capacity.''
July 20, 2021--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Examining the
Potential for a Civilian Climate Corps.''
April 5, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, Investing in Wildfire
Management, Ecosystem Restoration, and Resilient Communities:
Examining the Biden Administration's Priorities for
Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.'' PRINTED
HEARING 117-17.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
I. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
April 27, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Accessibility for
People with Disabilities on National Parks and Public Lands.''
May 19, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Misuse of Taxpayer
Dollars and Corporate Welfare in the Oil and Gas Industry.''
June 30, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Toxic Coal Ash:
Adverse Health Effects from the Puerto Rico Plant and Options
for Plant Closure.''
July 15, 2021--Remote hearing titled, ``Are Toxic Chemicals
from Tires and Playground Surfaces Killing Endangered Salmon?''
October 18, 2021--Field hearing in Irvine, CA held jointly
with the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources titled,
``Southern California Oil Leak: Investigating the Immediate
Effects on Communities, Businesses, and the Environment.''
October 21, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Runit Dome and
the U.S. Nuclear Legacy in the Marshall Islands.''
April 5, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``The Opioid Crisis
in Tribal Communities.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-16.
April 28, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Preventing
Pandemics through US Wildlife-borne Disease Surveillance.''
PRINTED HEARING 117-20.
July 28, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Preventing
Polluters from Getting Government Contracts: Bureau of Land
Management's Corporate Exclusions Lists.''
September 14, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``The Role of
Public Relations Firms in Preventing Action on Climate
Change.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-25.
December 6, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Lessons from the
Field: Overcrowding in National Parks.''
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
I. LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS
May 4, 2021--Remote Hearing held on the following bill:
H.R. 160, To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of
2000 and to establish the United States Coral Reef Task Force,
and for other purposes. Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021.
June 29, 2021--Remote Hearing held on the following bills:
H.R. 1851, To establish a Federal cost share percentage for
the Milk River Project in the State of Montana. St. Mary's
Reinvestment Act.
H.R. 1869, To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act
of 2009 to make a technical correction to the water rights
settlement for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley
Reservation, and for other purposes. Technical Correction to
the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water
Rights Settlement Act of 2021.
H.R. 3877, To amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization
and Adjustment Act of 1992 to authorize additional projects
related to the Salton Sea, and for other purposes. Salton Sea
Projects Improvements Act.
H.R. 4099, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
establish a grant program to provide grants on a competitive
basis to eligible entities for large-scale water recycling and
reuse projects, and for other purposes. Large Scale Water
Recycling Project Investment Act.
July 29, 2021--Hybrid Hearing held on the following bills:
H.R. 273, To prevent the escapement of genetically altered
salmon in the United States, and for other purposes. Prevention
of Escapement of Genetically Altered Salmon in the United
States Act.
H.R. 274, To prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Commerce from authorizing commercial finfish
aquaculture operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone except in
accordance with a law authorizing such action. Keep Finfish
Free Act.
H.R. 1569, To assist in the conservation of critically
endangered species in foreign countries, and for other
purposes. Critically Endangered Animals Conservation Act of
2021.
H.R. 1983, To encourage and facilitate efforts by States
and other stakeholders to conserve and sustain the western
population of monarch butterflies, and for other purposes.
MONARCH Act of 2021.
H.R. 2026, To assist in the conservation of highly
endangered amphibian species in foreign countries, and for
other purposes. Global Amphibian Protection Act of 2021.
H.R. 2325, To conserve global bear populations by
prohibiting the importation, exportation, and interstate trade
of bear viscera and items, products, or substances containing,
or labeled or advertised as containing, bear viscera, and for
other purposes. Bear Protection Act of 2021.
H.R. 2773, To amend the Pittman Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available for
management of fish and wildlife species of greatest
conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife
agencies, and for other purposes. Recovering America's Wildlife
Act of 2021.
H.R. 2793, To reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act,
to authorize States to use funds from that Act for
administrative purposes, and for other purposes. Highlands
Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021.
H.R. 2848, To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972 to reauthorize and modify the John H. Prescott Marine
Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Marine Mammal Research and Response Act of 2021.
H.R. 2872, To establish an integrated national approach to
respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and
climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the
fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to
maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation
with State, local, and Tribal Governments and other entities,
and for other purposes. SAFE Act.
H.R. 3075, To address seafood slavery and combat illegal,
unreported, or unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.
Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act.
H.R. 3128, To establish the American Fisheries Advisory
Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries research and
development grants, and for other purposes. American Fisheries
Advisory Committee Act of 2021.
H.R. 3135, To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to
prohibit importation, exportation, transportation, sale,
receipt, acquisition, and purchase in interstate or foreign
commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or
foreign commerce, or possession, of any live animal of any
prohibited primate species. Captive Primate Safety Act.
H.R. 3396, To create dedicated funds to conserve
butterflies in North America, plants in the Pacific Islands,
freshwater mussels in the United States, and desert fish in the
Southwest United States, and for other purposes. Extinction
Prevention Act of 2021.
H.R. 4458, To establish a grant program within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to award grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of carrying out projects on
the conservation, restoration, or management of kelp forest
ecosystems. KELP Act.
November 4, 2021--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 4832, To establish the Open Access Evapotranspiration
(OpenET) Data Program. Open Access Evapotranspiration Data Act.
H.R. 5001, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
continue to implement endangered fish recovery programs for the
Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins, and for other
purposes. Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Recovery
Act.
H.R. 5345, To authorize the Director of the United States
Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess,
monitor, and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great
Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on
those habitats, and for other purposes. Saline Lake Ecosystems
in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021.
H. Res. 320, Recognizing the critical importance of access
to reliable, clean drinking water for Native Americans and
Alaska Natives and confirming the responsibility of the Federal
Government to ensure such water access.
November 16, 2021--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 59, To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act to provide flexibility for fishery managers
and stability for fishermen, and for other purposes.
Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in
Fisheries Management Act.
H.R. 4690, To reauthorize and amend the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and for other
purposes. Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act of
2021.
H.R. 5770, To improve the management of forage fish. Forage
Fish Conservation Act of 2021. PRINTED HEARING 117-11.
January 20, 2022--Remote Hearing held on:
H.R. 1546, To amend the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt
Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 to direct the Presidential
Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking to develop recommendations
to address wildlife trafficking on the internet and on social
media, and to direct the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development to develop a strategy to address wildlife
trafficking on the internet and on social media, and for other
purposes. Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2021.
H.R. 3540, To reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Office of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other
purposes. Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem
Enhancement Act of 2021.
H.R. 4057, To implement the Agreement on the Conservation
of Albatrosses and Petrels, and for other purposes. Albatross
and Petrel Conservation Act.
H.R. 4092, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior,
through the Coastal Program of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, to work with willing partners and provide
support to efforts to assess, protect, restore, and enhance
important coastal areas that provide fish and wildlife habitat
on which Federal trust species depend, and for other purposes.
Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2021.
H.R. 4677, To direct restoration and protection of the New
York-New Jersey watersheds and estuaries hydrologically
connected to New York-New Jersey Harbor, and for other
purposes. New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act.
H.R. 4716, To end the use of body-gripping traps in the
National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes. Refuge
From Cruel Trapping Act of 2021.
H.R. 5973, To reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act of 1990, and for other purposes. Great Lakes
Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021.
H.R. 6023, To require the United States Postal Service to
continue selling the Multinational Species Conservation Funds
Semipostal Stamp until all remaining stamps are sold, and for
other purposes. Multinational Species Conservation Funds
Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2021.
H. Res. 641, Recognizing and celebrating the 75th
anniversary of the National Association of Conservation
Districts and their commitment to our lands.
March 17, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 3431, To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting
through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to establish a website providing
information about grants available to assist State, Tribal, and
local governments with climate resiliency, adaptation and
mitigation, and for other purposes. Increasing Community Access
to Resiliency Grants Act of 2021.
H.R. 6491, To require the identification of salmon
conservation areas and salmon strongholds, and for other
purposes. Salmon Focused Investments in Sustainable Habitats
(Salmon FISH) Act.
H.R. 6651, To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task
Force. Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act.
H.R. 6785, To assist in the conservation of the North
Atlantic right whale by supporting and providing financial
resources for North Atlantic right whale conservation programs
and projects of persons with expertise required for the
conservation of North Atlantic right whales, and for other
purposes. Right Whale Coexistence Act of 2022.
H.R. 6987, To establish programs to reduce the impacts of
vessel traffic and underwater noise on marine mammals, and for
other purposes.
March 29, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 6427, To amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Act to modify the boundary of the Red River National Wildlife
Refuge, and for other purposes. Red River National Wildlife
Refuge Boundary Modification Act.
H.R. 6734, A bill to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of
1956 to reauthorize the volunteer services, community
partnership, and refuge education programs of the National
Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes. Keep America's
Refuges Operational Act of 2022.
H.R. 7025, To prohibit the Director of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service from funding entities that commit,
fund, or support gross violations of internationally recognized
human rights, and for other purposes. Advancing Human Rights-
Centered International Conservation Act of 2022.
May 12, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 263, To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to
clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act,
to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and
for other purposes. Big Cat Public Safety Act.
H.R. 3081, To make certain irrigation districts eligible
for Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program pumping power, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 5880, To amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water
Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to modify the enforceability
date for certain provisions, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6238, To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act
of 2009 to increase Tribal access to water conservation and
efficiency grants, and for other purposes. WaterSMART Access
for Tribes Act.
H.R. 6369, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
construct, operate, and maintain facilities in the Sun River
Project, Montana, for the purpose of hydroelectric power
generation. Sun River Hydropower Authorization Act.
H.R. 7612, To advance desalination research and
technological innovation, and for other purposes. Desalination
Research Advancement Act.
H.R. 7632, To provide access to reliable, clean, and
drinkable water on Tribal lands, and for other purposes. Tribal
Access to Clean Water Act.
H.R. 7633, To approve the settlement of water rights claims
of the Hualapai Tribe and certain allottees in the State of
Arizona, to authorize construction of a water project relating
to those water rights claims, and for other purposes. Hualapai
Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022.
June 16, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 4768, To require the Secretary of the Army to initiate
at least 5 projects to reduce the loss and degradation of Great
Lakes coastal wetlands, and for other purposes. Detrimental
Erosion Forcing Enhanced Needs to Defend (DEFEND) the Great
Lakes Act.
H.R. 6936, To provide for the issuance of a semipostal to
benefit programs that combat invasive species. Stamp Out
Invasive Species Act.
H.R. 6949, To amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements
for the Nation Act to reauthorize Delaware River Basin
conservation programs, and for other purposes. Delaware River
Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022.
H.R. 7398, To prohibit wildlife killing contests on public
lands, and for other purposes. Prohibit Wildlife Killing
Contests Act of 2022.
H.R. 7792, To provide for a national water data framework,
and for other purposes. Water Data Act.
H.R. 7793, To provide for the water security of the Rio
Grande Basin, to reauthorize irrigation infrastructure grants,
and for other purposes. Rio Grande Water Security Act.
H.R. 7801, To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
to allow the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and
Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program, and for other
purposes.
July 21, 2022--Hybrid Hearing held on:
H.R. 4951, To prohibit the use of M 44 devices, commonly
known as ``cyanide bombs'', on public land, and for other
purposes. Canyon's Law.
H.R. 7918, To require the Secretary of Commerce to
establish the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Sea
Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022.
H.R. 7975, To provide for the issuance of a Great Lakes
Restoration Semipostal Stamp. Great Lakes Restoration
Semipostal Stamp Act of 2022.
H.R. 8090, To reauthorize funding for the Reclamation
Climate Change and Water Program.
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
March 11, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Building Back
Better: Building Resilience for the Economy, Climate, and
Ecosystems.''
April 27, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Wildlife
Trafficking and the Growing Online Marketplace.''
May 25, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``The Status of
Drought Conditions Throughout the Western United States.''
June 8, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``DDT Dumping Off the
Southern California Coast: Ecological Impacts, Scientific
Needs, and Next Steps.''
July 21, 2021--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Examining the
President's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal for the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration'' PRINTED HEARING 117-8.
October 15, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Colorado River
Drought Conditions and Response Measures--Day One.'' PRINTED
HEARING 117-10.
October 20, 2021--Remote Hearing titled, ``Colorado River
Drought Conditions and Response Measures--Day Two.'' PRINTED
HEARING 117-10.
October 26, 2021-- Remote Hearing titled, ``Protecting
Human Rights in International Conservation''
March 8, 2022--Remote Hearing titled, ``Klamath River Basin
Conditions and Opportunities.''
April 7, 2022--Hybrid Hearing titled, ``Russian Seafood Ban
Implementation and Seafood Traceability.'' PRINTED HEARING 117-
18.
APPENDIX I
Summary of Activities and Accomplishments
FULL COMMITTEE
Environmental Justice
The Committee approved the Environmental Justice For All
Act (H.R. 2021) in the 117th Congress, marking the first time
that a congressional committee passed major environmental
justice legislation. The Committee's approval of the bill
followed a years-long inclusive, transparent, and community-
driven process led by Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and
Representative A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), culminating in the
most comprehensive environmental justice bill in history. H.R.
2021 is rooted in the moral principle that all people have the
right to pure air, clean water, and an environment that
enriches life. The Committee received testimony from
environmental justice communities, advocates, and scholars at a
full Committee hearing, which underscored the need for bold
environmental justice legislation to right long-standing
wrongs. Throughout the 117th Congress, Chair Grijalva and Rep.
McEachin continued to seek input through a nationwide community
input tour, meeting with local environmental justice
communities and gathering insight on opportunities to
strengthen the bill.
The Committee worked to include provisions in the Inflation
Reduction Act (IRA) to help advance environmental justice
objectives. This included over $30 million for the Council on
Environmental Quality to use for data collection and mapping
efforts, helping track the disproportionate burdens and
cumulative impacts of pollution and climate change.
Additionally, the Committee helped secure more than $700
million to facilitate efficient and effective federal
environmental reviews across a broad range of federal agencies.
This funding can support the hiring and training of personnel,
stakeholder and community engagement, and the development of
environmental data or information systems, all in support of
thorough and timely environmental reviews that include careful
consideration of potential impacts to environmental justice
communities.
Office of Insular Affairs
Insular Affairs hearings, which are held at the Full
Committee level, were chaired by Committee Vice Chair Gregorio
Kilili Sablan (I-MP), except for those involving Puerto Rico.
For the 117th Congress, the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA)
focused its efforts on reviewing the fundamental issues facing
the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, which
included: addressing climate change resilience and mitigation,
challenging the Insular Cases, addressing statistical data gaps
for the territories, access to federal programs, and
implementation and funding for the Compacts of Free
Association.
Under the direction of Chair Grijalva, OIA communicated to
the Biden-Harris Transition Team the importance of re-
establishing an interagency task force dedicated to Puerto
Rico. OIA also focused a considerable amount of its efforts
toward facilitating discussions to draft legislation to resolve
Puerto Rico's political status. Additionally, Chair Grijalva
prioritized addressing the inequities experienced by Puerto
Rico's residents during post-disaster rebuilding efforts after
the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Fiona,
and major earthquakes. Lastly, OIA conducted oversight over the
modernization of Puerto Rico's electrical infrastructure and
residents' access to reliable energy since the privatization of
the island's power transmission and distribution system in
2021.
Addressing Climate Change in U.S. Insular Areas
The U.S. Insular Areas are at the frontlines of the climate
change crisis, evidenced by exacerbating natural disasters, sea
level rise, coastal erosion, temperature increases, and drought
affecting these jurisdictions. The Insular Areas experience
additional vulnerabilities, such as an over-reliance on
petroleum and existing infrastructure that fails to meet new
hazard mitigation codes.
Chair Grijalva drafted H.R. 2780, the Insular Area Climate
Change Act, which would provide support through programs and
financial assistance for climate change planning, mitigation,
adaptation, and resilience in U.S. territories and the Freely
Associated States. On March 4, 2021, the Committee held a
legislative hearing on the discussion draft of H.R. 2780, with
a witness panel that included government officials and climate
experts from the territories and Freely Associated States. H.R.
2780 was voted favorably out of the Committee on July 14, 2021,
and a provision directing the Department of the Interior's
Office of Insular Affairs to provide technical assistance for
climate change planning to the U.S. Insular Areas became law
through the IRA.
Challenging the Insular Cases
The Insular Cases are a series of Supreme Court rulings
from the early twentieth century that created a discriminatory
``separate but equal'' doctrine toward the residents of the
five populated U.S. Territories. Federal courts continue to use
the territorial incorporation doctrine resulting from these
cases as justification to deny residents of the territories
fair taxation, access to federal programs, and voting rights.
In collaboration with Equally American, a nonprofit focused
on the civil rights of residents of the U.S. Territories, Chair
Grijalva introduced H. Res. 279, which resolves that Congress
rejects the discriminatory doctrine established by the Insular
Cases and recognizes that constitutional and democratic
principles apply throughout the states and territories of the
United States. On May 12, 2021, the Committee held a
legislative hearing on H.Res. 279, which included
Representative Stacey E. Plaskett (D VI), governmental
officials from Guam and American Samoa, and academic experts.
President's Task Force on Puerto Rico
Executive orders 13,183 and 13,517 establish the
President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status and its duties,
which include ensuring official attention to Puerto Rico's
political status and providing advice to the President and the
Congress on policies and initiatives that promote job creation,
education, health care, clean energy, and economic development
on the island. However, the Trump Administration did not
reactivate the Task Force on Puerto Rico, which had
traditionally been renewed by previous administrations since
President Bill Clinton created the first interagency working
group on Puerto Rico in 2000.
In December of 2020, Chair Grijalva wrote\1\ to the Biden-
Harris Transition Team and outlined a number of priorities for
the new administration to consider regarding Puerto Rico,
including the creation of a federal interagency task force
charged with investing in public resources and promoting fiscal
recovery and disaster reconstruction. In July of 2021,
President Biden created the White House Working Group on Puerto
Rico to provide the island important resources and technical
assistance.
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Grijalva%20Letter%20to%20Biden%20Transition%20on%20Biden-
Harris%20Plan%20for%20Puerto%20Rico%20December%209%202020.pdf
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The White House Working Group on Puerto Rico met multiple
times during the 117th Congress and facilitated engagement
between Executive Branch officials, federal agencies, the
Government of Puerto Rico, and other stakeholders to support
the island's economic development and recovery from natural
disasters and the COVID 19 pandemic, as well expand workforce
and educational opportunities for residents.
Resolving Puerto Rico's Political Status
Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States for
more than a century. Territory status limits the island's full
political, economic, and social development. The federal
government has a responsibility to facilitate the selection of
and transition to a non-territory, fully self-governing
political status for Puerto Rico.
The Committee held two hearings on legislative proposals to
resolve Puerto Rico's political status in the 117th Congress:
H.R. 1522, which would establish a process for the admission of
Puerto Rico into the Union as a state; and H.R. 2070, which
would establish a process for the people of Puerto Rico to vote
on the political status of the territory and provide for
congressional consideration of a joint resolution to ratify the
self-determination option selected through a referendum. The
first hearing, held on April 14, 2021, included testimony from
Government of Puerto Rico officials and academic experts. The
second hearing, held on June 16, 2021, included academic and
human rights experts and community leaders. Chair Grijalva also
requested that the Department of Justice provide a section-by-
section analysis of both bills.
With the guidance of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer,
Chair Grijalva worked with the sponsors of H.R. 1522 and H.R.
2070 to develop a compromise bill that would combine elements
of the respective bills and that would be supported by a
majority of members of Congress. In May 2022, the Committee
released the discussion draft of the Puerto Rico Status Act and
made it available on an online portal for public comment. In
June 2022, Chair Grijalva organized a Congressional Delegation
visit to Puerto Rico to receive feedback on the discussion
draft from officials from each of Puerto Rico's political
parties and from residents. The delegation hosted a
congressional Public Input Forum, which was attended by more
than 400 residents, including nearly 100 participants who
provided verbal or written feedback on the draft legislation.
About 120 comments were collected via the online portal. These
efforts led to the introduction of H.R. 8393, the Puerto Rico
Status Act, with support from the principal authors of H.R.
1522 and H.R. 2070.
OIA prepared several supplemental documents in English and
Spanish about the legislation that were made available on the
Committee's website, including Spanish translations of the
discussion draft and introduced legislative text. H.R. 8393 was
successfully voted out of Committee during a full committee
markup on July 20, 2022.
Addressing Statistical Data Gaps for the U.S. Territories
The U.S. Territories are disadvantaged by the
unavailability of current population, economic, labor force,
and agricultural data. This disparity is due, in part, to
inconsistent methods for collecting data among federal
agencies. Additionally, crises such as hurricanes and the
COVID-19 pandemic, which have disproportionately impacted the
territories, have resulted in significant data collection
challenges. The lack of parity in available data related to the
territories impedes government and advocacy groups from making
informed decisions for residents.
In April 2022, Chair Grijalva and several other Members
requested that the Government Accountability Office review the
data collection gaps related to the U.S. Territories. On July
29, 2022, Chair Grijalva introduced H.R. 8593, with bipartisan
support from all territorial delegates, to require the
implementation of a plan for federal agencies to collect and
publish statistics regarding the U.S. Territories in the same
manner as statistics are collected and reported for states.
Compensation for Residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico
Residents of Vieques, an island off the eastern coast of
Puerto Rico, have suffered higher incidences of cancer,
diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses due to the
presence of heavy metals in military ordnance dropped on the
island during U.S. military testing. Residents must travel off-
island to receive many types of medical care, which can be
expensive, time-consuming, and unreliable.
On June 30, 2021, the Committee held a legislative hearing
on H.R. 1317 and H.R. 1126, which would provide compensation
for residents of Vieques who have been negatively impacted by
the United States' use of the island for military readiness.
The hearing included testimony from municipal and community
leaders in Vieques, who shared the extreme health complications
among locals due to the U.S. military's decades of testing and
training exercises.
Native Pacific Islanders of America Equity Act
The CHamoru people are indigenous to the Mariana Islands
and have experienced limited social and economic mobility as a
result of colonialism. Today, providing protections and
resources to CHamoru residents is a priority for the
governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands (CNMI), as well as the U.S. federal government.
On February 17, 2022, the Committee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 6504, which would require the Governor of Guam
to establish a database for verifying Native CHamoru ancestry,
as well as assist Native CHamoru and Native Northern Marianas
businesses with accessing Small Business Administration
programs. Witnesses included elected and governmental officials
from Guam and the CNMI.
Oversight of Federal Programs, Provisions, and Funds Regarding the U.S.
Territories
During the 117th Congress, OIA conducted oversight on
federal programs, provisions, and budgets affecting the U.S.
Territories and prioritized equitable access to these resources
for residents of the territories and territorial governments.
These jurisdictions have experienced limited economic growth
and infrastructural development in recent years, in part due to
severe natural disasters and an inequitable access to critical
federal safety net programs.
On March 24, 2021, the Committee held an oversight hearing
on the Biden-Harris Administration's ``Build Back Better'' plan
and recommendations for benefiting the U.S. Territories.
Witnesses included the governors of the five territories, each
of whom shared their government's priorities for several
programs included in the Administration's plan, such as relief
for small businesses, unemployment protections, and
infrastructure development.
On July 28, 2021, the Committee held an oversight hearing
on President Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget and its priorities
for parity for federal programs and services like Medicaid,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Supplemental
Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) between U.S. states and
territories. Witnesses included government officials and budget
and policy experts, who spoke on how the expansion of these
programs would improve the quality of life of millions of
Americans residing in the territories. President Biden's 2022
and 2023 budget requests included eliminating Medicaid funding
caps for the territories and supported establishing parity for
programs like SSI and SNAP.
On May 18, 2022, the Committee held an oversight hearing on
the Department of the Interior's (DOI) Office of Insular
Affair's (DOI OIA) Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. The hearing
provided an opportunity for territorial governors to outline
their needs and priorities for the coming fiscal year, as well
as provide an update on their efforts to address challenges in
their communities. The hearing also described DOI OIA budget
priorities for FY2023, including fiscal payments to Guam and
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and payments under the Compacts of
Free Association.
Oversight of Post-Disaster Reconstruction & Power Grid Modernization in
Puerto Rico
The people of Puerto Rico have been negatively impacted by
several natural disasters in recent years, including Hurricanes
Irma and Maria in 2017, a series of earthquakes in 2020, and
Hurricane Fiona in 2022. Each of these disasters caused
numerous deaths and significant damage to Puerto Rico's
infrastructure, resulting in an urgent need for resources to
facilitate recovery and reconstruction. The Committee has
overseen the use of federal funds provided by Congress and
federal entities like FEMA and HUD to Puerto Rico for
reconstruction and resiliency projects, such as the
modernization of the island's outdated and fragile centralized
power grid.
The Committee held an oversight hearing on October 6, 2021,
on the status of the power grid's development following the
privatization of the island's energy transmission and
distribution system under LUMA Energy, which included testimony
from government officials, community leaders, and experts.
Another oversight hearing was held on November 17, 2022, with
government officials and community leaders from Puerto Rico to
receive updated information on post-disaster reconstruction
efforts and explanations for the delayed application of federal
funding for recovery projects and recurring failures of the
power grid.
Further, OIA staff visited Puerto Rico in September 2022 to
assess the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona. Upon learning
about the reliability of solar energy systems in the aftermath
of the hurricane, Chair Grijalva developed a proposal for a
resiliency program to provide rooftop solar and battery storage
systems for low-income households and households with people
with disabilities in Puerto Rico.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC LANDS
Chaired by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), the Subcommittee has
worked to enhance protections for America's national parks,
forests, and public lands while ensuring that they serve all
Americans--including historically underserved communities, low-
income families, and the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited
these lands since time immemorial. Tasked with overseeing
America's public lands and the federal agencies responsible for
their protection, the Subcommittee has studied the impacts of
climate change on our lands and resources and examined how
protected public lands can bolster community climate
resilience. The Subcommittee's work this Congress--informed by
testimony from scientists, tribal officials, state and local
governments, industry groups, and resource management experts--
has highlighted the role that public land conservation plays in
combating the climate crisis, protecting biodiversity, and
supporting local economies. Furthermore, the Subcommittee
placed an historic emphasis on tribal co-management of public
lands.
Promoting Conservation and Resilience to Combat the Climate Crisis
America's public lands offer significant opportunities to
reduce the impacts of climate change, and they should be
considered a key component of any national climate adaptation
strategy. Studies have shown that public lands already capture
nearly 4 percent of all U.S. carbon emissions and are critical
to building community resiliency to a changing climate.
Protected public lands such as wilderness areas and national
parks safeguard ecosystem services, like clean air and water,
that improve quality of life; protect critical wildlife
habitats; and increase ecological connectivity to preserve
biodiversity. However, only 12 percent of U.S. lands currently
enjoy statutory protection from development, and the pace of
new protections has slowed almost to a stop. Some studies have
even suggested that America is losing a football field's worth
of natural area to development every 30 seconds. These
concerning trends were only exacerbated by the Trump
administration's efforts to open an unprecedented amount of
public lands to new development and extractive uses.
After the passage of the historic John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act and the Great
American Outdoors Act in the 116th Congress, the Subcommittee
continued to highlight the role that protected public lands can
play in responding to the climate crisis while supporting local
economic development in the 117th. The Subcommittee heard
testimony from scientists, business owners, public lands users,
local officials, and leaders in the outdoor recreation industry
on the benefits of protected public lands. The Subcommittee
held hearings to examine the impacts of climate change on
public lands and on public lands recreation and to discuss how
public lands can be managed as part of the climate solution.
This work culminated in the House passage of H.R. 803, the
Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, a package
of eight previously individual measures considered by the
Subcommittee that would designate approximately 1.5 million
acres of wilderness and safeguard more than 1,200 river miles
as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in
Colorado, California, and Washington.
H.R. 803 would put in place protections for some of our
nation's most iconic natural and cultural resources. These
designations would help further the Biden Administration's goal
of conserving 30 percent of the nation's land and waters by
2030, while advancing environmental justice by improving access
to clean water, clean air, and healthy outdoor recreation, and
supporting local economies and historically underserved
communities.
Protecting unique and irreplaceable landscapes was a major
priority for the Subcommittee in the 117th Congress. In the
addition to the bipartisan passage of H.R. 803, the
Subcommittee has held hearings on numerous proposals that would
protect some of America's most iconic landscapes and resources,
including bills conserve and expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness
(H.R. 7509), incorporate tribal co-management and traditional
ecological knowledge in the protection and stewardship of Mount
Hood National Forest (H.R. 7665), and preserve the cultural and
ranching heritage of the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness (H.R.
2522). At these hearings, local elected officials, tribal
leaders, public lands users, and resource management experts
highlighted the importance of protecting these landscapes and
the unique resources they hold.
The Subcommittee also played a central role in securing
funding to advance climate resilience and land restoration
spending through the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169).
Sec. 50221 of the IRA will provide $250,000,000 for public land
conservation and resilience and Sec. 50222 will provide
$250,000,000 for ecosystem restoration. Both represent historic
efforts to protect public lands and communities from the impact
of the climate crisis. These funds could be used by the
National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management to expand
ongoing administration efforts to support resilient publics
lands, invest in ecosystem health, threatened and endangered
species, and land management planning. They will help meet
related Committee goals, including wildfire resilience, water-
availability, and land protection.
With this investment in restoration and resilience, the
National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) can build on funding received under the Inflation,
Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA) (sometimes referred to as the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) and the Great American
Outdoors Act. Both agencies can focus on long-term, large scale
land management priorities with a focus on equity and
inclusion. The $500 million investment will allow NPS and BLM
to expand human capacity, build data collection and decision-
making infrastructure, and put meaningful projects on the
ground. Furthermore, these projects can support youth and
conservation corps programs, particularly those in
underrepresented and indigenous communities, creating a
pipeline for the land management workforce of the future.
Wildfire Resilience
In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee devoted significant
time addressing issues related to wildfire, climate change,
ecosystem restoration, community protection, and the public
lands workforce. The first Subcommittee hearing of the Congress
was to consider the future of America's public lands, including
how addressing climate change and wildfire risk require bold
Federal leadership and investments, in partnership with states,
tribes, and impacted communities. The Subcommittee quickly
followed-up with another hearing focused on the nexus of
wildfire and climate change and to consider opportunities to
improve community collaboration, promote climate resilience,
and enhance workforce capacity. These early hearings
demonstrated the Subcommittee's prioritization of these issues
and helped lay the groundwork for meaningful legislative
accomplishments related to wildfire and climate change in the
117th Congress.
In July of 2021, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on several forest management bills including H.R. 2049
(Panetta, D-CA), Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding
Necessary Trees (REPLANT) Act; H.R. 2816 (Schrier, D-WA),
Legacy Roads and Trails Act; and H.R. 3211 (Neguse, D-CO),
Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Act.
Respectively, these bills directly address wildfire by
providing additional resources to recover from wildfires,
climate-proof roads and trails important for recreation and
wildfire response and provide cross boundary resources to
reduce wildfire risk to homes and communities.
Version of these bills were ultimately passed into law as
part of the IIJA (P.L. 117-58), which also included $7.81
billion total for the Department of the Interior ($2.36
billion) and U.S. Forest Service ($5.5 billion) to address
natural resources related infrastructure, enhance ecosystem
restoration efforts, and to reduce wildfire risk. The
Administration continues to implement these programs and
investments largely informed by the landscapes and strategies
identified by the U.S. Forest Service in their 10-year plan
``Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting
Communities and Improving Resilience in America's Forest'' and
``Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A 10-Year Implementation
Plan'' (January 2022).
Among the resources provided by the IIJA were tools to
enhance the public lands workforce, specifically the workers on
the frontlines of climate change serving as federal wildland
firefighters. IIJA included temporary pay raises and the
creation of a new ``wildland firefighter'' classification that
fully recognizes the unique qualifications and risks inherent
to these positions. These issues were discussed extensively in
a Subcommittee legislative hearing on wildland firefighter
workforce reforms, and Committee Democrats have continued to
champion fair pay and recognition for the federal lands'
workforce. In coordination with the Biden Administration,
nearly 18,000 DOI and USFS wildland fire employees received
temporary pay increases in 2021 and a similar number received
the pay increases provided by IIJA.
The Subcommittee's work on these issues continued when the
House considered H.R. 5118 (Neguse, D-CO), the Wildfire
Response and Drought Resiliency Act. Building on the IIJA
investments, H.R. 5118 combined dozens of bills from numerous
House Committees to improve fire-adapted ecosystems, protect
communities against catastrophic wildfires, enhance drought
resiliency, expand science programs, modernize data and
technology, and ensure a whole-of-government response to
wildfire and drought resiliency. The bill would authorize the
programs and resources that will be necessary to pick up where
IIJA funding ends in Fiscal Year 2026 and to support the
ongoing implementation of a 10-Year Wildfire Response Plan,
including the identification of additional priority landscapes.
Notably, H.R. 5118 also included a permanent pay raise to
approximately $20 per hour for federal wildland firefighters,
along with other reforms to enhance our public lands workforce
and improve fire science and forecasting programs.
Although H.R. 5118 has not been considered in the Senate,
another relevant and historic piece of legislation was signed
into law only a few weeks later. H.R. 5376, the Inflation
Reduction Act, became Public Law 115-169 on August 16, 2022.
While the final version of this legislation was less ambitious
than the earlier House-passed version (Build Back Better Act)
the final IRA still provided $500 million for land
conservation, climate resilience, and ecosystem restoration on
BLM and NPS managed lands. Another $500 million would support
the hiring of additional NPS employees. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture section of the bill, while beyond the scope of the
Natural Resources Committee's budget reconciliation
instructions, also provided an additional $2.15 billion for
National Forest System Restoration and Fuels Reduction
Projects.
In combination, the public lands, wildfire, and workforce
reforms and investments passed by the 117th Congress represent
a generational opportunity to address wildfire risk and other
climate related challenges threatening our National Parks,
Forests, and Public Lands. The Subcommittee has been a driving
force behind these efforts in Congress and, as bipartisan
interest in these issues continues to grow, remains committed
to pursuing solutions that can protect communities and help
conserve the myriad values inherent to the cherished special
places belonging to, and for the benefit of, all current and
future generations of Americans.
Tribal Co-Management
Under the leadership of Rep. Neguse and Full Committee
Chair Grijalva, the Subcommittee made historic progress
advancing the tribal co-management of public lands and
resources. The Subcommittee considered this work an important
effort to address historic wrongs perpetrated against the
Indigenous Peoples of what is now the United States, while
ensuring that Indigenous cultural and ecological knowledge is
fully incorporated into the management of these public
resources. By elevating the voice of communities who have lived
on and managed these lands since time immemorial, federal land
managers can advance ecologically appropriate management to
protect communities, species, and the climate.
Supporting co-management has been a priority of the
Subcommittee for several Congresses, as Members worked to
protect important cultural site designations like the Bears
Ears National Monument, which President Obama designated in
2016 to protect ancestral indigenous lands in southern Utah,
but it became a central focus of the Subcommittee during the
117th, culminating in legislative hearings on several important
bills to advance tribal co-management.
The Subcommittee's work on these issues largely built off
the full-Committee's March 8, 2022, hearing entitled
``Examining the History of Federal Lands and the Development of
Tribal Co-Management,'' which was the first modern
congressional hearing to acknowledge the federal government's
dispossession of Indigenous lands, identifying co-management as
a potential step toward remedying those historic wrongs.
Subcommittee Chair Neguse also joined Chair Grijalva in sending
a September 7, 2022, letter to President Biden identifying
opportunities to expand co-management and requesting
information on the Administration's ongoing co-management
efforts.
The Subcommittee continued these efforts with a September
14, 2022, hearing to consider three bills that would advance
tribal co-management and cultural resource protection on
federal lands. The hearing considered three bills sponsored by
full Committee Chair Grijalva, H.R. 8108, the Advancing Tribal
Parity on Public Lands Act, H.R. 8109, the Tribal Cultural
Areas Protection Act, and H.R. 8719, the Great Bend of the Gila
Conservation Act. H.R. 8108 and H.R. 8109 are the culmination
of a three-year effort between Committee staff, staff from
Senator Heinrich's office, the National Congress of American
Indians (NCAI), the National Association of Tribal Historic
Preservation Officers (NATHPO), tribal lawyers and policy
experts, and the Wilderness Society. H.R. 8719 continues a near
decade-long effort by Chair Grijalva to protect a culturally
and ecologically significant landscape in Southern Arizona.
This hearing presented Members an opportunity to continue
engaging on tribal co-management and Indigenous representation
in federal land management. Members heard from a geographically
diverse group of Indigenous leaders who spoke to the importance
of these three bills and had an opportunity to engage with
officials from the Department of the Interior and on
administrative efforts to better support Indigenous
stewardship.
On September 13, just before the Subcommittee's hearing on
the subject, the Department of the Interior announced internal
guidance circulated from each of its land managing subagencies,
directing staff on how to appropriately engage on co-management
efforts on the ground. This guidance, a direct request of the
Committee's September 7, 2022, letter, builds on interagency
efforts codified through Joint Secretarial Order 3403, signed
by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture at the 2021
White House Tribal Nations Summit. The Subcommittee considers
this guidance a major step toward advancing co-management
agreements across the country.
While the Senate did not take up these measures or issues
during the 117th, the Subcommittee will continue efforts to
engage with the administration on remaining items identified in
Chair Grijalva's September 7, 2022, letter. The Subcommittee
also looks forward to the release of a pending Government
Accountability Office (GAO) report examining agency efforts and
processes for engaging in co-management in land management
units across the country.
Outdoor Recreation and Heritage Preservation
The outdoor recreation economy continues to grow as a
percentage of gross domestic product and as a major economic
sector now estimated to employee approximately 3 percent of all
U.S. employees. While the COVID-19 pandemic created many new
challenges for park and public lands managers, there is still a
strong consensus that federal lands visitation will continue to
increase, even as many units continue to struggle with
overcrowding and a lack of resources to accommodate visitor use
trends. In recognition of the important role National Parks,
Forests, and Public Lands play in support of our multi-billion-
dollar recreation economy, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on June 8, 2021, to consider recreation bills. From
this hearing, H.R. 3113 (Moore, R-UT), Modernizing Access to
Our Public Lands Act, H.R. 3670 (Neguse, D-CO), Simplifying
Outdoor Access for Recreation, and H.R. 3686 (Kuster, D-NH),
Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act were all
ordered to be reported favorably by the Committee with
bipartisan support.
In particular, H.R. 3670 would reform the Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act to improve special recreation
permitting and make other changes to enhance public lands
outdoor recreation opportunities and promote equitable access
for diverse communities. While H.R. 3670 is still pending
before the House, most of these provisions have been included
as components of S. 3266, America's Outdoor Recreation Act,
which was ordered to be reported favorably with amendments by
the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on September
21, 2022.
The Subcommittee has continued to work toward meaningful
year-end legislation to enhance and promote public lands
recreation and conservation. While standalone recreation
reforms would help improve recreation permitting and
opportunities, it's important to recognize how the designation
of new parks, recreation areas, and other conservation
protections also support outdoor recreation. For this reason,
the Subcommittee has also led on efforts to promote recreation
and conservation at the landscape-scale, including H.R. 803
(DeGette, D-CO), Protecting America's Wilderness and Public
Lands Act, H.R. 6337 (Neguse, D-CO) Biking on Long-Distance
Trails Act, and numerous other bills to designate trails,
national monuments, national historic sites, heritage areas,
and wild and scenic rivers, many of which have passed the House
on suspension with bipartisan support.
Lastly, the Subcommittee continues to oversee the
implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act (P.L. 116-
152). That law's full, permanent funding for the Land and Water
Conservation (LWCF) will continue to support public lands
access, outdoor recreation, forest conservation, and state and
local parks, while the billions provided for the National Parks
and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund will help address
deferred maintenance, improve visitor services and climate-
proof critical infrastructure. Similarly, the Subcommittee
continues to oversee implementation of the Infrastructure,
Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to
determine how these investments have benefitted public lands,
visitor experiences, and outdoor recreation, as well as the
potential need, scope, and scale of additional funding in the
future.
The Subcommittee also focused its efforts on protecting
historic resources while supporting regional tourism and
economic development. In June 2021, The Subcommittee considered
twelve bills to study or establish various National Heritage
Areas across the country. National Heritage Areas honor our
nation's shared heritage and elevate the stories and
contributions of diverse communities, strengthening
representation across the National Park System while telling a
more complete American story.
Enhancing Access to Public Lands
National parks, forests, and public lands belong to all
Americans, and throughout this Congress the Subcommittee has
worked to ensure that all Americans have equitable access to
these cherished places. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80
percent of Americans live in urban areas and 100 million
Americans do not have access to a park within a 10-minute walk
from their home. This issue is one of particular concern for
low-income and minority communities, with studies showing that
these communities often have less access to open spaces than
higher income, majority-white communities. Throughout the 117th
Congress, the Subcommittee has highlighted the importance of
close-to-home outdoor recreational opportunities, protected
natural areas, and access to outdoor recreation, while
examining proposals to help bridge the park equity gap.
In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee held hearings to
address multiple barriers to park access, including improving
the recreational permitting process (H.R. 3670), supporting
dedicated funding for urban park projects through the Outdoor
Recreation Legacy Partnership (H.R. 5413), and create critical
protections for environmental justice and frontline communities
overburdened by air and water pollution (H.R. 3687). The full
Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 3670, with H.R. 5413
passing the House of Representatives as part of H.R. 803, the
Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act. The
Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376/P.L. 117-169) represented a
historic commitment to climate action and investment in
disadvantaged communities, including $500 million for new
employees at the National Park Service and $100 million for
urban parks.
Diversity and Representation on Public Lands
Public lands are a unique part of our shared American
heritage. Publicly funded conservation areas and
representations of American history must embrace inclusive
narratives, imagery, and ideals that accurately represent both
our past and our present. As sites that preserve and share the
stories of our past, America's public lands should not idolize
symbols of hate and bigotry. In the 117th Congress, the
Subcommittee grappled with this issue by holding hearings on
two bills that addressed the removal of racist and offensive
statutes and symbols from public lands (H.R. 1256 and H.R.
4454). Racist commemorative works are an unmistakable reminder
of the hate and bigotry that continues to permeate our society,
and it is inappropriate for our public lands to continue to
glorify these symbols of intolerance.
In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee has been committed
to ensuring that our national parks and public lands tell a
more complete story that is representative of all Americans.
Historically, public lands designations have focused on a
narrow view of American history that fails to reflect diverse
communities and cultures. The Subcommittee has prioritized
legislation that recognizes and honors diverse and
underrepresented communities, including the Norman Y. Mineta
Japanese American Confinement Education Act (H.R. 1931), which
would permanently reauthorize the Japanese American Confinement
Site (JACS) program to preserve and educate Americans on the
imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II; the
Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act (H.R. 4009), which honors
enslaved Africans who were forcibly transported across the
Atlantic; and the Commission To Study the Potential Creation of
a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture
Act (H.R. 3525). All three bills passed the House, with H.R.
3525 being signed into law in June 2022.
The Subcommittee considered many bills which strive to make
our public lands more representative of America's diverse and
complex history. During the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee
held hearings on the Brown v. Board of Education National
Historic Site Expansion Act (H.R. 920); the Cesar E. Chavez and
the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act (H.R.
8046); the Amache National Historic Site Act (H.R. 2497), which
preserves a Japanese internment camp in Colorado; the Alabama
Black Belt National Heritage Area Act (H.R. 3222), which
commemorates the birthplace of the Civil Rights and Voting
Rights movements; the Blackwell School National Historic Site
Act (H.R. 4706), which ensures the experiences and history of
Mexican Americans in Marfa, Texas are never forgotten, a
national memorial to honor the victims of the Pulse Night Club
(H.R. 49); and a memorial plaque that recognizes the rebellion
and collective suicide of slaves in the Virgin Islands (H.R.
7496). H.R. 49, H.R. 2497, and H.R. 4706 have all become public
law.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER, OCEANS, AND WILDLIFE
Chaired by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), the Subcommittee
worked to respond to the effects of climate change and fight
for healthy oceans and reliable water resources for all people,
fish, and wildlife, and the environments on which they depend.
Addressing Climate Change and Drought in the United States
The climate crisis is unfolding in the form of relentless
drought for the western United States, imperiling ecosystems
and stressing the water resources that supply drinking water,
agricultural irrigation, and industrial uses. The Subcommittee
examined the impacts of climate-induced drought through
oversight hearings on drought across the West and in specific
river basins, with particular attention to the disproportionate
burdens of drought on tribal and rural communities. The
Subcommittee enacted significant legislation to respond to
immediate water supply challenges while supporting long-term
climate resilience, including elements of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act
(IRA).
Generational Investments in Resilient Western Water Supplies
The Subcommittee helped secure a historic $8.3 billion in
funds for western water investments in the IIJA, a once-in-a-
generation level of investment representing roughly five times
the annual budget for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation). These funds included $450 million for the
creation of a new grant program to support large-scale water
recycling projects, which have the potential to provide water
supplies for tens of millions of people each year. The IIJA
also included $550 million for the Title XVI water recycling
grant program, which provides federal funding to help advance
water recycling projects of all sizes that capture and reuse
wastewater and other impaired water sources. This combined $1
billion investment in drought-proof water supplies was based on
two pieces of legislation championed by Rep. Grace Napolitano
(D-CA), H.R. 1015, the Water Recycling Investment and
Improvement Act, and H.R. 4099, the Large-Scale Water Recycling
Project Investment Act.
The IIJA also included $250 million for Reclamation's
desalination grant program, which supports the planning and
construction of brackish and seawater desalination facilities.
This funding is aligned with the priorities advanced by Rep.
Mike Levin's (D-CA) Desalination Development Act (H.R. 4712),
which authorizes a Reclamation grant program to support the
construction of sustainable water desalination projects.
The IIJA also advanced funding for several environmentally-
focused water programs, including $400 million for WaterSMART
grants, which provide cost-shared funding for projects to
provide water efficiency, drought resilience, and environmental
benefits; $250 million for the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
program, a competitive grant program designed to support
voluntary, collaborative restoration projects to improve fish
passage and restore aquatic habitat; $100 million for the
Cooperative Watershed Management Program, which provides grants
for watershed management projects to encourage a diverse set of
stakeholders to form solutions for local water management
needs; and $100 million for a new authority to advance multi-
benefit watershed health projects based on a provision from
Subcommittee Chair Jared Huffman's (D-CA) Furthering
Underutilized Technologies and Unleashing Responsible
Expenditures (FUTURE) Western Water Infrastructure and Drought
Resiliency Act (H.R. 3404).
The Subcommittee helped secure additional funds for water
and drought management in the IRA, which included significant
funding for tribal water access and $4 billion for drought
mitigation in the Reclamation states. The IRA also provided $25
million for projects to cover water canals with solar panels to
generate renewable energy and help states achieve their own
renewable energy goals.
The Subcommittee also secured House passage of the Wildfire
Response and Drought Resiliency Act (H.R. 5118), which included
a number of measures to support water supply reliability for
communities, tribes, and water users across the western United
States. The package incorporated several provisions from
Subcommittee Chair Huffman's H.R. 3404, which expands the use
of modern water management tools and technologies, helps
disadvantaged areas meet their drinking water needs, and
supports drought preparedness measures for ecosystem health.
Additional water management solutions led by Subcommittee
members were incorporated in H.R. 5118, including Rep. Melanie
Stansbury's (D-NM) Rio Grande Water Security Act (H.R. 7793) to
advance water management planning and activities in the Rio
Grande Basin, and WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act (H.R. 6238)
to authorize the Secretary to waive the cost share for tribal
applicants seeking WaterSMART grants to promote water and
drought management solutions.
Taking Action to Address Severe Drought in the Colorado River Basin
Climate change-driven drought and unsustainable water use
in the Colorado River Basin have led to a looming crisis at the
river's key reservoirs, with 2 to 4 million acre-feet of water
conservation needed to maintain critical water infrastructure
in 2023 alone. Throughout this Congress, the Subcommittee
focused on steps to ensure the long-term resiliency of the
Colorado River for the benefit of the 40 million Americans who
rely on its waters. A two-part hearing on Colorado River
drought conditions and response measures gave Subcommittee
members the opportunity to examine the challenges and
opportunities for water management in this drought-stricken
basin--including implementation of the Drought Contingency
Plan, a set of key water management agreements that Chair
Grijalva shepherded through Congress for authorization in 2019.
Additionally, the Subcommittee helped secure a historic $4
billion in drought response funding as part of the IRA,
prioritizing mitigation of drought impacts in the Colorado
River Basin. Chair Grijalva worked to ensure that the funding
will advance multi-year water reductions to support lasting
climate resilience. The Subcommittee also secured $300 million
for implementation of the Drought Contingency Plan as part of
the IIJA. In addition, the Subcommittee worked to protect the
region's native species with $50 million for programs that
benefit endangered species in the Colorado River Basin, as well
as House passage of Rep. Joe Neguse's (D-CO) legislation to
reauthorize endangered fish recovery programs in the Upper
Colorado River Basin (H.R. 5001).
Fulfilling Trust Obligations to Provide Water Supplies to Indian
Country
The federal government has a trust responsibility to
protect tribes' rights to access and use the water resources
they are legally entitled to, but many tribal water rights
today remain largely undeveloped and unprotected. To help
address this legal obligation and improve clean water access,
Congress has historically approved and funded Indian water
rights settlements, which ensure water security for tribes and
other water users by quantifying Indian reserved water rights
and paying for water infrastructure to serve tribal
communities.
In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee worked to advance
reliable and sufficient funding to support existing and future
congressionally approved tribal water settlements. The IIJA
provided $2.5 billion for the Department of the Interior to
implement enacted tribal water rights settlements.
Additionally, the IRA provided $550 million to fund water
projects for communities and households that currently lack
reliable access to basic water supplies. This provision was
specifically drafted to help address the federal government's
legal trust obligation to tribes and improve clean water access
for tribal communities. Furthermore, the IRA included $12.5
million for Reclamation to provide emergency drought relief for
tribes. To provide lasting solutions for tribal water access,
Chair Grijalva led legislation to permanently reauthorize the
Reclamation Water Settlements Fund and establish a reliable,
permanent funding source for existing and future tribal water
rights settlements, which passed the House as part of H.R.
5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.
The Subcommittee has advanced solutions to enable tribes to
better manage their water resources, including through hearings
and legislative action to approve or amend tribal water rights
settlement bills. H.R. 5118 included a water rights settlement
for the Hualapai Tribe of Arizona, as well as an increase in
the funding authorization for the White Mountain Apache Tribe
of Arizona so the Tribe can complete its water supply system
that was previously approved by Congress as part of the Tribe's
settlement. The House-approved H.R. 5118 also included
provisions from Rep. Joe Neguse's (D-CO) H.R. 7632, Tribal
Access to Clean Water Act, to support tribal clean water access
projects and fund Reclamation's Native Affairs Technical
Assistance Program.
Supporting Water Research and Innovation
The Subcommittee advanced legislation to expand the use of
modern water management tools, data, research, and technologies
through multiple bills incorporated in H.R. 5118.
Many of these bills support the U.S. Geological Survey's
work to produce and deliver key information on water use and
availability. H.R. 4832, the Open Access Evapotranspiration
Data Act, would establish a program within the USGS to support
the generation and distribution of satellite-based
evapotranspiration data to promote data-driven water management
practices. H.R. 5345 would direct USGS to establish a program
to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems
in the Great Basin states. Rep. Melanie Stansbury's (D-NM) H.R.
7792, the Water Data Act, would establish a national framework
and federal grant program to improve water data infrastructure
and accessibility.
Through H.R. 5118, the Subcommittee also helped advance
legislation to identify, research, and develop reliable water
supplies. Rep. Mike Levin's (D-CA) H.R. 7612, the Desalination
Research Advancement Act, would provide additional support and
funding for desalination research at Reclamation. Rep. Katie
Porter's (D-CA) H.R. 8090 would reauthorize Reclamation's Basin
Study program, which funds assessments of the impact of climate
change on western water resources and the development of
strategies to address potential water shortages.
Habitat Restoration and Resiliency
During the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water,
Oceans, and Wildlife prioritized holistic solutions for our
landscapes to promote resiliency and protect native species.
H.R. 3764, the Ocean-Based Climate Solution Act, provides a
strategic roadmap for ocean climate action and meaningful steps
toward protecting the habitat and ecosystems on which humanity
depends. This comprehensive bill integrates evidence-based
approaches to protect our ocean and coastal communities,
promote sustainable job opportunities, and support clean
offshore energy while reducing the devastating impacts of the
climate crisis. H.R. 3764 prioritizes just and equitable
climate solutions for communities of color, under-resourced
communities, tribal and Native Hawaiian communities, and the
U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States. The bill passed
out of Committee on July 14, 2021.
H.R. 4677, the New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection
Act, would provide grants for activities that protect and
restore the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers watershed, one of the
country's most densely populated and economically important
regions. The bill would establish the New York-New Jersey
Watershed Restoration Program to restore and protect
watersheds, maximize community resilience, and improve fish and
wildlife habitat and water quality. In addition to ecosystem
benefits, this bill will improve access to clean water and
healthy ecosystems for the many residents in the region. The
bill passed out of Committee on February 16, 2022.
The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act was signed into
law in 2016 to protect the 13,500 square miles of land across
Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as
nearly 800 square miles of bay and more than 2,000 tributaries
and streams that make up the Delaware River basin. Decades of
waste dumping, mine and agricultural pollution, and other
pollution threatened drinking water quality for more than 15
million people and the nearly $22 billion in ecosystem services
that spur local and regional economies. The Subcommittee held a
hearing on June 16, 2022, on H.R. 6949, the Delaware River
Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize
funding to support future restoration efforts in the basin and
make Delaware River Basin Restoration grants more accessible to
small, rural, and disadvantaged communities by increasing the
federal cost share.
H.R. 2793, the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act,
passed the House on April 26, 2022. This bill would reauthorize
a program established by the Highlands Conservation Act of 2004
under the Land and Water Conservation Fund for state agencies
to purchase and conserve land. The deciduous and coniferous
forests, streams, and lakes of the Highlands yield benefits and
resources to millions of Americans and thousands of plant and
animal species. One in nine Americans lives within a 2-hour
drive of the Highlands. Since the Act's passage in 2004, more
than $20 million in federal funds, matched by $44.3 million in
non-federal funds, have been awarded to protect 9,405 acres of
land permanently.
Recognizing the importance of coral reefs to marine life,
ocean resiliency, and the global economy, the Subcommittee held
a hearing on H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, and
May 4, 2021, and then passed the bill out of Committee on
October 13, 2021. In 2000, Congress passed the Coral Reef
Conservation Act (CRCA), to conserve and restore the nation's
coral reefs by increasing resilience to climate change,
reducing land-based pollution, improving fishery
sustainability, and restoring viable coral populations. The
CRCA's authorization expired in 2005. H.R. 160 would
reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Program through 2024
and amend the CRCA to better address climate change, ecosystem
loss, and disease outbreaks. The bill also establishes new
programs and funding opportunities for states and territories
for coral research, conservation, and restoration.
To further coral reef restoration, the Subcommittee fought
to include and fund several programs that ensure the success of
corals in our oceans in the United States Innovation and
Competition Act (USICA), which passed the House on February 2,
2022, including $100 million over five years for the
conservation of tropical forests and coral reefs; $265 million
over five years for coral reef management and restoration, to
develop a national coral reef resilience strategy, to develop
and implement coral reef action plans, to provide block grants
to States for coral reef action plan implementation, to log and
prepare for coral reef emergencies, to establish a coral reef
emergency fund, and other means of managing coral reefs; and
$20 million over five years for Department of the Interior
grants to support local management, conservation, and
protection of coral reef ecosystems in the insular areas of
covered States and the Freely Associated States. The House-
passed USICA would create a coral reef task that would
coordinate conservation efforts across partners and advise on
the implementation of legislation relating to coral reefs.
To promote coastal and marine resilience, conservation,
restoration, and protection, the Subcommittee secured billions
of dollars in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which were both signed
into law. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
received $2.61 billion in the IIJA to support conservation and
restoration initiatives, including funding for observation
systems, Regional Ocean Partnerships, marine debris removal,
fish passage, and permitting. There is nearly $500 million in
the IIJA for the National Coastal Resiliency Fund to improve
the resilience of coastal communities to flooding and
inundation by restoring or expanding natural ecosystems while
enhancing fish and wildlife habitats and increasing protection
for communities from coastal hazards. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration received over $2.6 billion in the
IRA to conserve, restore, and protect coastal and marine
habitats. This funding will also enable coastal communities to
prepare for increasingly frequent and extreme storms.
The Subcommittee secured $10 billion additional funding in
the House-passed USICA to establish a grant program that
provides funding and technical assistance to projects that
restore marine, estuarine, coastal, or Great Lake habitats, in
additional to the significant investments in coral reef-
specific restoration.
In addition to legislative successes that promote
conservation and preservation, the Subcommittee also examined
the legacy of the thousands of tons of dichloro-diphenyl-
trichloroethane (DDT) dumped into the Southern California Bight
by Montrose Chemical Corporation. The Subcommittee invited
experts to testify to the impacts of DDT on marine life, birds,
and water quality in the Southern California Bight. Even though
decades have passed since Montrose has dumped in the Bight, DDT
is still detected in high concentrations in the water and
animal tissues and has caused the death of many birds,
including bald eagles, California brown pelicans, petrels,
auklets, and gulls. Remediation and study of the issue are
ongoing.
Wildlife Protection and Preventing Wildlife Trafficking
The climate crisis, habitat degradation, invasive species,
and human development are all dramatically impacting wildlife
in the United States and across the globe.
Throughout the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee advanced
legislation to protect vulnerable species and species groups.
On July 29, 2022, the House passed H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public
Safety Act, which ends the private ownership and sale of big
cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and more. The
bill passed the Senate on December 6, 2022, and will head to
the President for his signature. On April 25, 2022, the House
passed Representative Debbie Dingell's H.R. 5973, the Great
Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act, which
would make over $10 million available annually through 2027 to
implement projects that protect and restore wildlife in the
Great Lakes region.
The Subcommittee passed H.R. 2773, the Recovering America's
Wildlife Act, through the House on June 14, 2022. H.R. 2773
would provide $1.3 billion annually to conserve at-risk
wildlife proactively. This funding will help states,
territories, and Tribes carry out wildlife conservation plans,
combat invasive species, engage in law enforcement activities
directly related to conservation, conduct education and
recreational programs associated with wildlife, and implement
programs to address wildfire, drought, and climate change. RAWA
also establishes a $97.5 million annual, non-competitive,
Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration grant program to
assist Tribes in carrying out wildlife conservation and habitat
restoration activities.
The Subcommittee secured hundreds of millions of dollars to
support species conservation and habitat resiliency in the
Inflation Reduction Act. This includes $50 million for the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to construct
facilities that will support the National Marine Sanctuary
Program; $125 million to the Fish and Wildlife Service to
develop and implement recovery plans under the Endangered
Species Act; and $125 for the Fish and Wildlife Service to
rebuild and restore units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System and state wildlife management areas, both crucial to the
protecting and promoting species resilience in the face of
worsening climate change.
In the House-passed USICA, the Subcommittee reauthorized $1
million annually for rescue and rehabilitation activities under
the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It expanded reporting
requirements and the data that need to be included in those
reports to support ongoing marine mammal research and the
response to stranding and entangling events. The bill would
also ban the possession, acquisition, reception,
transportation, sale, and purchase of shark fins or products
containing shark fins.
Additional provisions in the House-passed USICA would
reauthorize and fund programs to reduce and combat the illegal
trade of wildlife and prevent the introduction of invasive
species and zoonotic disease outbreaks. The Subcommittee
secured $150 million for the hiring, training, and deploying at
least 50 new foreign U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law
enforcement attaches to prevent and stop illegal trade of
threatened and endangered species. The Subcommittee fought to
amend the Lacey Act to prohibit interstate trade of injurious
species, allow the Secretary of the Interior to declare an
emergency designation for injurious species that pose an
imminent threat, and ban the importation of species that have
not yet been brought into the country until a risk analysis as
to whether the species may become invasive has been completed.
The Subcommittee also included language in USICA to reauthorize
and improve the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife
Trafficking Act to reduce wildlife poaching and trafficking. To
prevent future disease outbreaks, the Subcommittee included
language prohibiting the possession, acquisition, reception,
selling, and purchasing of American mink raised in captivity
for fur production.
Sustainable and Regulated Fisheries
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has
seriously compromised the state of fisheries worldwide and
created circumstances for illegal and inhumane labor practices.
While the United States has rigorous labor standards and
fishery management protocols in place, seafood from countries
that do not routinely make their way into American markets. In
the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee was dedicated to making
American fisheries even more sustainable and combatting IUU
fishing and the human rights abuses in exploited and degraded
fisheries.
The Subcommittee worked to pass H.R. 4690, the Sustaining
America's Fisheries for the Future Act, which would reauthorize
and update the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation
Management Act (MSA), out of the Committee. MSA provides the
framework to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks,
increase long-term social and economic benefits, and ensure a
safe and sustainable seafood supply. While authorization
expired in 2013 and implementation and appropriations have
continued, the MSA needed updates to address the impacts of
climate change on fisheries and marine habitats, improve
fishery disaster response, and incorporate technological
innovations. H.R. 4690 would ensure American fisheries' future
ecological and economic sustainability by addressing the
following key issues: climate, fishery disasters, data and
technology, essential fish habitats, bycatch, rebuilding,
forage fish, highly migratory species, and environmental
justice.
In addition to legislative means of addressing fisheries'
future sustainability and resilience, the Subcommittee examined
how a lack of transparency and traceability in domestic and
foreign (especially Chinese and Russian) fishery regulations
has led to catch from IUU fishing entering American markets. A
lack of enforcement and regulation of IUU fishing has resulted
in continued slave labor and human trafficking, with most
victims coming from under-resourced regions. Seafood companies
and high-income countries have continued to put profits over
people's safety, especially migrants and others who are
economically disadvantaged. Seafood traceability can expose
illegal practices and create transparent supply chains that
support human rights and sustainable fishing.
Passed through Committee on October 13, 2021, H.R. 3075,
the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act, would
require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP)
to apply to all seafood and seafood products imported into the
United States. Currently, many species not covered under SIMP
contribute to IUU fishing, human trafficking, and forced labor.
The bill also directs the Departments of Commerce, Homeland
Security, Labor, and Health and Human Services to codify and
improve interagency cooperation on enforcement and inspection
and on preventing IUU fishing, human trafficking, seafood
fraud, and safety. Further, NOAA must engage with all parties
that export seafood to the United States to collect information
regarding the effectiveness of parties' fisheries management
and IUU prevention activities.
In the House-passed USICA, the Subcommittee secured $20
million annually to combat human trafficking and IUU fishing
through seafood import monitoring (including expanding the
Seafood Import Monitoring Program to all species),
strengthening international fisheries management, auditing
imports from countries identified as having a high risk of
trafficking and revoking port privileges for illegal or
unreported fishing.
Domestically, the Subcommittee fought to include language
banning the use of driftnets and aiding in the transition to
other types of fishing gear that are more efficient and result
in less bycatch and entanglement.
Human Rights and Environmental Justice
The Committee believes in and fights for the rights of
people and the fair treatment of communities. The Water,
Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee has worked to improve access
to conservation and restoration funding for low-income and
indigenous communities by including federal cost-share waivers
in legislation. Additionally, in the 116th Congress, the
Committee began to investigate, in close coordination with
Republican lawmakers and staff, the World Wildlife Fund's
history of human rights abuses related to federal conservation
grants. That investigation continued into the 117th Congress
and resulted in an oversight hearing on October 26, 2021, where
the Subcommittee heard from human rights experts, international
conservation leaders, and the World Wildlife Fund.
Working with these human rights experts, the Subcommittee
prepared and passed Chair Grijalva's H.R. 7025, the Advancing
Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act, out of
the House. The legislation would enhance the vetting of
projects receiving Fish and Wildlife Service funding, elevate
the standards for the treatment of indigenous peoples and local
communities, suspend grants if necessary, frequently audit
high-risk projects, and require transparent investigations,
reporting, and responses to human rights abuses.
To make federal resiliency grants more accessible to
communities, the Committee pushed to include language in the
House-passed USICA to require the Secretary of Commerce to
establish and update a publicly available website with grant
information. The website will provide centralized information
on grants that assist with coastal resiliency and climate
change mitigation, including links to all grants administered
by NOAA, links to other Federal agencies with similar grants,
and contact information for individuals who can assist State,
Tribal, and local governments. The Secretary will also be
required to reach out to State, Tribal, and local governments
to inform them of resiliency, adaptation, and mitigation
grants.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
Chaired by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), the Subcommittee
this Congress has worked to address the most significant
environmental, economic, public health, national security, and
equity challenge of our time: climate change. Over the past few
years, we've seen devasting and record-breaking climate-related
disasters across the country, from floods to droughts, to heat
waves and hurricanes. Fortunately, under the Biden
administration, we've made real progress. Early into his term,
President Biden set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from 2005 levels by at least half by 2030, reach 100 percent
carbon-free electricity by 2035, and hit net-zero emissions
economy-wide by 2050. With nearly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse
gas emissions originating from federal fossil fuels, our public
lands have been part of the problem for too long. The
Subcommittee's work this Congress has highlighted America's
need to make our public lands part of the solution by reducing
fossil fuel extraction and increasing renewable energy
generation.
The Subcommittee heard from expert witnesses about how
public lands can support economy-wide efforts to reach our
climate goals and held hearings that provided the foundation
for H.R. 8802, Chair Grijalva's bill to require our federal
land managers to align onshore and offshore fossil fuel leasing
with the Biden administration's 2030, 2035, and 2050 targets.
The Subcommittee also held hearings on cleaning up legacy
pollution sites, fossil fuel and mining reforms to increase
transparency and accountability, and renewable energy
development on public lands.
Oil and Gas Development
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, almost a quarter
of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. originate from fossil
fuels produced on federal land. In 2019, roughly 22 percent of
U.S. oil and 12 percent of gas production came from federal
land. In addition to harming the climate, the extraction,
processing, and transportation of oil and gas resources on
public lands degrade air quality, damage water resources,
fragment wildlife habitats, and impair the health of local
communities.
For too long, our oil and gas laws and regulations have
effectively subsidized companies operating on public lands by
providing companies easy access to our publicly owned
resources, charging limited royalties and fees, and allowing
companies to pollute air and water resources. In the 117th
Congress, the Subcommittee prioritized fiscal reforms for
onshore oil and gas development. The Subcommittee held hearings
on reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector (H.R.
1492), improving community input in the oil and gas leasing
process (H.R. 1503), fiscal reforms (H.R. 1517), bonding (H.R.
1505), and transparency (H.R. 1506). The Subcommittee also held
hearings on a new program to clean up orphaned oil and gas
wells (H.R. 2415). As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
and the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President
Biden this Congress, significant aspects of these pieces of
legislation were enacted, including key fiscal reforms and $4.7
billion for an orphaned well cleanup program.
Protecting coastal communities from the impacts of offshore
oil and gas development in federal waters was also a
significant focus for the Subcommittee in the 117th Congress.
This included a hearing and markup on legislation that would
ban new oil and gas development along the Atlantic and Pacific
Coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (H.R. 2836, H.R. 3048,
H.R. 3054, H.R. 3116). The Subcommittee also advanced
legislation to increase the transparency and accountability of
offshore operators (H.R. 570) and improve safety of offshore
pipelines (H.R. 2643). Following the oil spill off the coast of
southern California in October 2021, the Subcommittee held a
joint oversight field hearing with the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations to hear from public officials and
impacted individuals.
Renewable Energy Production
The urgent need to address climate change demands a rapid
transition from fossil fuels to an economy powered by clean
energy. Renewable energy resources on public lands and waters
must lead this transition. Throughout the 117th Congress, the
Subcommittee highlighted the many ways public lands and waters
can propel the country's transition to a clean energy economy
while honoring community input, protecting sensitive
environments, and supporting job creation in local communities.
Public lands and waters contain some of the country's
sunniest, windiest, and most geologically active places. Still,
wind and solar energy production on public lands make up a
minimal portion of the nation's total installed capacity. In
the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee heard testimony from the
renewable energy industry, state and county governments, and
environmental groups on ways to responsibly increase the
development of these clean energy resources. This work
culminated in the markup of H.R. 3326, the Public Land
Renewable Energy Development Act, a bill that would streamline
the permitting process, share renewable energy revenues with
states and counties, and direct a portion of revenues to
projects protecting and restoring fish and wildlife habitats
and improving access for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor
recreational activities.
Offshore wind farms are a potentially enormous source of
sustainable, carbon-free energy to power coastal regions and
create new jobs. While the U.S. offshore wind technical
potential is roughly double the entire country's electricity
consumption, there are only seven installed turbines, five of
which are in state waters. The Subcommittee held a series of
hearings in the 117th Congress to highlight the nation's vast
offshore wind potential and ways to spur economic development
and job creation around this fast-growing industry. The
Subcommittee held a field hearing in Morro Bay, California,
where lawmakers heard from state, local, and tribal officials,
labor unions, commercial fishers, and the wind industry about
the first offshore wind lease sale in the Pacific. The
Subcommittee advanced legislation to create a new offshore wind
workforce development grant program (H.R. 998), a bill to allow
for offshore wind leasing off the coasts of the U.S.
territories (H.R. 1698), and legislation repealing a Trump-era
moratorium on offshore wind leasing in the South Atlantic (H.R.
2635). H.R. 2635, the Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities
Act, was signed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction
Act.
Hardrock Mining
For 150 years, the mining of hardrock minerals on public
lands has been carried out under the long-outdated Mining Law
of 1872. The Mining Law is based on historic state and local
mining customs, laws, and regulations that arose during the
California gold rush of 1848. In the 117th Congress, the
Subcommittee held several hearings on reforms to the nation's
antiquated Mining Law. Congress must bring the nation's
hardrock minerals policy into the 21st century to support the
growing needs of the clean energy economy while protecting
vulnerable communities that have endured the negative
consequences of hardrock mining for too long.
Unlike nearly every other country in the world, the United
States operates on an open-access basis for hardrock minerals
on public lands rather than a leasing system. Mining hardrock
minerals on federal lands occurs without any federal royalty
being paid back to the American people. H.R. 7580, the Clean
Energy Minerals Reform Act, would replace the current archaic
laws with a modern leasing system designed to protect our
economy and environment. The bill establishes a 12.5 percent
royalty on new mining operations and an 8 percent royalty on
existing operations, except for miners with less than $50,000
in mining income. H.R. 7580 also would eliminate the priority
use status that mining currently enjoys on public lands,
leveling the playing field with all other uses of public lands,
such as grazing, hunting, and energy development. This allows
mining to be managed through existing land-use planning
processes. The legislation requires meaningful tribal
consultation, makes certain special places permanently off
limits to hardrock mining, and establishes strong new
reclamation standards and bonding requirements to ensure
taxpayers aren't left paying to clean up abandoned mine sites.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law in the 117th
Congress, included a new program to clean up abandoned hardrock
mines but did not include funding.
Coal Mining and Development
While coal was a dominant energy source in the United
States from the beginning of the 20th century through 2011, its
usage and domestic production have declined significantly. As
coal is displaced by renewable energy and natural gas, the
Committee aims to ensure the environmentally sound cleanup of
abandoned coal mines, a smooth economic transition for
communities traditionally dependent on coal mining and has
encouraged the administration to reform their coal oversight
and leasing programs.
In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee held hearings on
multiple aspects of coal mining, development, and reclamation,
including the need to phase out the federal coal program, how
to improve reclamation standards and enforcement, and the need
to prevent a new wave of coal mine abandonments (H.R. 7937,
H.R. 2505, H.R. 4799, H.R. 2073). One of the Subcommittee's
highest priorities this Congress was to reauthorize the
Abandoned Mine Land (AML) fund (H.R. 1734), which uses fees
paid by current coal mining companies to reclaim previously
abandoned mines. The AML fund was reauthorized as part of the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which included $11.3
billion for abandoned coal mine cleanup. The Subcommittee also
advanced the bipartisan STREAM Act, which makes a small but
important fix to how states can use the funds authorized in the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE UNITED STATES
Chaired by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), the
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States (SCIP)
seeks to protect tribal sovereignty and ensure that the federal
government follows through with its trust and treaty
obligations to Indian Country, Alaska Natives, and Native
Hawaiians.
During the 117th Congress, SCIP supported the Biden
administration's tribal policy priorities by providing a
congressional record documenting best practices and ensuring
that relevant tribal legislation received a timely process.
SCIP conducted oversight on topics that ranged from
environmental justice, cultural preservation, and tribal
infrastructure to hunger and nutrition, education, and tribal
public safety. In addition, SCIP held legislative hearings on
29 tribal bills, 16 of which successfully passed the House and
four of which were signed into law by President Biden.
Continued COVID-19 Pandemic Response
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American
Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) into law. Due to the COVID-19-related
oversight and legislative work SCIP accomplished in the 116th
Congress, ARPA provided $20 billion for tribal governments,
$6.094 for the Indian Health Service (IHS), and $900 million
for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Specifically, this
funding is intended to support tribal housing improvement,
tribal government social services, and the delivery of potable
drinking water on tribal lands. To assist in the implementation
of ARPA funds, on March 23, 2021, SCIP held an oversight
hearing entitled ``A Year in Review: The State of COVID-19 in
American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian
Communities--Lessons Learned for Future Action.'' This hearing
enabled tribal leaders and organizations to describe how ARPA
can best respond to ongoing pandemic-related needs in their
communities.
Addressing Tribal Infrastructure Priorities
In response to the Biden administration's promotion of the
American Jobs Plan, SCIP held an oversight hearing on April 21,
2021, entitled ``Infrastructure in Indigenous Communities:
Priorities for American Jobs Plan.'' During the hearing, tribal
leaders and organizations highlighted tribal climate and
infrastructure priorities related to BIA, the Bureau of Indian
Education (BIE), and IHS. From this oversight, the House-passed
Build Back Better Act included critical provisions dedicated to
Indian Country. Specifically, the legislation provided $945
million for IHS facilities maintenance and construction, $730
million for BIA road maintenance and construction, $500 million
for tribal and Native Hawaiian climate resilience grants, $490
million for tribal public safety activities, $100 million for
urban Indian organizations, and $25 million for tribal
emergency drought relief. Chair Grijalva supplemented this work
by sending two letters to the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO) requesting studies on the current capacity and
necessary resources for developing tribal renewable energy and
microgrid infrastructure.
Examining Environmental Justice in Indian Country
Seeking environmental justice for Indigenous communities
encompasses strategies, impacts, and histories often different
from mainstream environmental justice platforms. To highlight
ecological justice initiatives in the Indian Country and
demonstrate their unique approaches, SCIP held an oversight
hearing on May 13, 2021, entitled ``Environmental Justice in
Indigenous Communities.'' This hearing provided tribal leaders
and Native Hawaiian organizations the opportunity to showcase
community projects and share how environmental justice ties
into the federal trust responsibility. In support of this work,
Chair Grijalva's H.R. 2021, the Environmental Justice for All
Act, contained provisions that sought to strengthen established
tribal public input procedures and expand the scope of impacts
that federal agencies must account for in Indigenous
communities.
Supporting Indigenous Cultural and Environmental Preservation
The re-introduction of Chair Grijalva's Save Oak Flat Act
on March 12, 2021, continued SCIP's efforts to protect sacred
sites and promote tribal cultural preservation efforts. This
legislation seeks to permanently protect Oak Flat, an area of
religious and cultural significance to multiple tribal nations
in Arizona. The Save Oak Flat Act received over 100 bipartisan
co-sponsorships and successfully passed a full Committee markup
for the first time in its legislative history. SCIP followed up
on this work on February 8, 2022, when Chair Grijalva sent a
letter to the White House, U.S. Department of the Interior, and
U.S. Department of Agriculture that requested for Indigenous
traditional ecological knowledge to be considered in the
completion of an environmental impact statement related to the
proposed Resolution Copper mine at Oak Flat. In addition, on
May 13, 2021, SCIP held an oversight hearing entitled
``Strengthening Indigenous Communities Through Cultural and
Environmental Preservation,'' which served as an opportunity
for tribal leaders and community members to highlight the
overall importance of protecting traditional cultural practices
and supporting efforts to preserve their local environments.
Highlighting Indigenous Food Scarcity
On February 18, 2022, SCIP held a joint roundtable with the
House Committee on Rules entitled, ``Ending Hunger in America:
Indigenous Nutrition and Food Systems.'' This roundtable
highlighted the current barriers that American Indians, Alaska
Natives, and Native Hawaiians face when seeking access to
nutritious and affordable foods and the community efforts
underway to combat such obstacles. Chair Grijalva followed up
this effort by sending a letter on February 14, 2022, to GAO
that requested official documentation on the scope of food
scarcity in Indian Country and the identification of relevant
federal support resources for tribal governments and
organizations. In turn, Chair McGovern responded to the
roundtable by petitioning the Biden administration to renew the
national White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and
Health. On September 28, 2022, President Biden delivered on
this request by hosting the first Conference in over 50 years
that notably included the perspectives of tribal leaders and
communities.
Supporting the Tribal Education
SCIP co-hosted its second joint oversight project on June
28, 2022, with the House Education and Labor Committee through
an oversight hearing entitled ``Examining the Policies and
Priorities of the Bureau of Indian Education.'' This hearing
allowed the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to detail its
plans to support tribal students under the Biden administration
and provide updates on the work being done to address prior GAO
reports related to the agency. SCIP continued to advance tribal
education priorities by holding legislative hearings on bills
to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Steward L. Udall
Foundation and to establish a Truth and Healing Commission on
Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States.
Strengthening Tribal Consultation
To strengthen the federal trust responsibility through
legally-enforceable means, SCIP drafted revisions to Chair
Grijalva's tribal consultation legislation--the RESPECT Act--
that standardized tribal consultation procedures across all
federal agencies. Although Chair Grijalva had reintroduced the
RESPECT Act for over a decade, the version of the bill that was
updated throughout the 117th Congress reflected technical
assistance from the Biden administration, recommendations from
leading tribal legal experts, testimony from tribal leaders,
and feedback from Alaska Native entities. The bill's provision
of separate titles for consultation procedures, guidelines for
emergency periods, and protections for tribal sensitive
information directly responded to the Trump administration's
attempts to diminish tribal input in the federal decision-
making process. On November 30, 2022, President Biden
incorporated the fundamental principles and guidelines of the
RESPECT Act into an updated Executive Memorandum on Uniform
Standards for Tribal Consultation.
Leading Efforts to Grant Clemency for Leonard Peltier
Leonard Peltier's case has been subject to heavy scrutiny
since the 1975 killings of Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agents Ronald Williams and Jack Coler on the Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Mr. Peltier was convicted
of their murders in 1977 and sentenced to two consecutive life
sentences; however, in the ensuing decades, revelations of
significant evidentiary and procedural violations in his
prosecution were made public. Despite these revelations, Mr.
Peltier has continually been denied parole by the U.S. Parole
Commission. To address this inequity, Chair Grijalva made a
sustained effort to request clemency for Mr. Peltier by
submitting three letters to the Biden administration. On
October 8, 2021, Chair Grijalva let a letter to President
Biden, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau
of Prisons requesting the expedited release of Mr. Peltier from
the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Florida. On
February 9, 2022, Chair Grijalva let another letter to
President Biden making an updated clemency request letter in
light of Mr. Peltier's recent COVID-19 diagnosis. Finally, on
October 21, 2022, Chair Grijalva sent a letter of inquiry to
the Office of Tribal Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice
to request information related to Mr. Peltier's case and
pending clemency request.
Addressing Tribal Public Safety Needs
On June 29, 2022, U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in
Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta that upended nearly 200 years of
precedent by establishing that state governments maintain
inherent concurrent criminal jurisdiction over Indian Country.
Immediately, tribal advocates characterized this ruling as an
overt attack on tribal sovereignty that threatened to
complicate an already complex framework of criminal
jurisdictions in Indian Country. In response, on September 20,
2022, SCIP held an oversight hearing entitled ``Examining
Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta: The Implications of the Supreme
Court's Ruling on Tribal Sovereignty.'' This hearing provided
federal agencies and tribal leaders the opportunity to detail
current public safety experiences on tribal lands and their
respective predictions on how federal agencies may use the
Castro-Huerta ruling to impact tribal citizens. The takeaways
from this hearing supported the rationale behind SCIP's prior
February 11, 2022, letter to GAO that requested oversight on
the U.S. Department of Justice's management and provision of
tribal justice grants.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
Chaired by Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations (O&I) diversified its focus for
the 117th Congress to include oversight and investigations of
the oil and gas industry as well as DOI and its bureaus. Many
oil and gas companies hold or seek mineral leases on federal
lands and waters within the Committee's jurisdiction and have
received substantial federal largesse in the form of tax breaks
and other subsidies following the oil price crash of 2020 and
the subsequent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. These oil and
gas companies later reaped massive profits when the price of
oil rose again. Along with rigorous oversight of the fossil
fuel sector, the Subcommittee conducted oversight of particular
areas of concern within DOI bureaus, programs, and operations.
The Subcommittee also sent its first-ever criminal referral as
it released an investigative report on alleged Trump
administration corruption of the permitting process for the
Villages at Vigneto development in Arizona.
Villages at Vigneto Investigative Report and Criminal
Referral On May 11, 2022, O&I's years-long investigation of
suspected bribery surrounding the Trump Administration's
approval of a major development in Arizona concluded with the
Committee's first-ever criminal referral\2\ to the Department
of Justice. The referral detailed evidence of a likely criminal
quid pro quo scheme between Trump Administration officials--
including former Department of the Interior Secretary David
Bernhardt--and real estate developer Mike Ingram.
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\2\https://naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/
2022.05.11%20Vigneto_DOJ%20Referral_FINAL_REDACTED.pdf.
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Ingram is the owner of El Dorado Holdings, which proposed
to build the Villages at Vigneto, a 28,000-unit residential and
commercial development spanning more than 12,000 acres near the
endangered San Pedro River in Benson, Arizona. Evidence from
the Committee's investigation strongly suggested that Ingram
and several other Arizona donors gave nearly a quarter of a
million dollars to the Trump Victory Fund and the Republican
National Committee in exchange for an abrupt reversal of the
Fish and Wildlife Service's prior position on the development's
Clean Water Act permit.
Accessibility for People with Disabilities on National Parks and Public
Lands
Despite some improvements over the years, national parks
and public lands' accommodations for people with disabilities
are still insufficient in several areas. O&I sought to explore
the different dimensions of this ongoing problem to help
increase accessibility at these invaluable spaces for people of
all ages and abilities. O&I conducted a hearing on the subject
on March 27, 2021, featuring witnesses telling powerful stories
of how they had personally experienced difficulties accessing
national parks and public lands and the psychological and
physical benefits of being able to fully enjoy them.
The hearing raised public awareness of this issue,
uncovered new barriers to access, gave a voice to an
underrepresented sector, and resulted in increased
appropriations for national parks and public lands
accessibility. To further increase access to parks, Chair
Porter secured Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations report
language encouraging the National Park Service to leverage
resources and maximize support for the Every Kid Outdoors
Program.
Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars and Corporate Welfare in the Oil and Gas
Industry
Even in ordinary times, oil and gas companies receive
billions of dollars of subsidies and tax breaks from American
taxpayers year after year. In 2020, in response to a major drop
in oil prices and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)
provided extra benefits to the industry in the form of
additional tax breaks, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans,
and financial bailouts through the Federal Reserve. Despite oil
and gas companies' claims that they needed these bailouts to
stay afloat, many of them used the money to raise executive
compensation, increase shareholder dividend payouts, and
purchase stock buybacks.
O&I sought to shine a light on the largesse taxpayers
unwittingly bestow on polluters, especially during the
recurring ``bust'' cycles that these companies should have
anticipated and prepared for during ``boom'' cycles. O&I's May
19, 2021, hearing on the subject featured industry experts and
a former oil rig worker who told his compelling story of how
the rig operators exploited the workers, often with severe harm
to physical and psychological health. Through witness testimony
and investigative evidence, the hearing highlighted the need
for legislation to address the massive government subsidies and
taxpayer burden of propping up an industry that was not only
exacerbating climate change, but also consistently failing to
pass on its taxpayer benefits to its workers and the public at
large.
To protect taxpayer dollars and our public lands, Chair
Porter introduced H.R. 1517, the Ending Taxpayer Welfare for
Oil and Gas Companies Act, on March 2, 2021. The legislation
would raise royalties, rental rates, inspection fees, and
penalties on oil and gas companies that extract resources from
public lands. The legislation would recover billions of
taxpayer dollars by raising rates that haven't been updated in
decades.
Hearing on the Damage to Endangered Salmon Populations Caused by Toxic
Chemicals from Tires and Playground Surfaces
On July 15, 2021, O&I held a hearing entitled ``Are Toxic
Chemicals from Tires and Playground Surfaces Killing Endangered
Salmon?'' The hearing sought to raise awareness of the known
and potential harms of 6PPD-quinone--a chemical that comes from
tires and some playground surfaces--on salmon populations and
to assess current efforts to mitigate those harms. The hearing
featured testimony from biologists, the tire industry, and
other experts to understand the known and potential scope of
damage done by 6PPD-quinone to the environment and human
health--and explore solutions. The hearing established
important congressional precedent on this little-known issue;
exposed the tire industry as the primary barrier to progress;
and created pressure for the tire manufacturers to identify
safer alternatives. In May 2022, the State of California
proposed a new regulation\3\ requiring tiremakers to consider
safer alternatives.
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\3\https://dtsc.ca.gov/2022/05/23/news-release_t-07 22/.
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Investigation and Hearing on the October 2021 Oil Leak Off the Coast of
Huntington Beach
On October 18, 2021, O&I held a field hearing in Irvine,
California, titled ``Southern California Oil Leak:
Investigating the Immediate Effects on Communities, Businesses,
and the Environment'' in response to a pipeline leak of
approximately 25,000 gallons of crude oil earlier that month
off the coast of Huntington Beach. The rapid-response hearing
and investigation of the oil leak allowed witnesses from
affected communities to share their stories and assess the
damage caused to the regional economy and wildlife. At the
hearing, Chair Porter released new findings about how subsidies
received under the Trump administration by the companies behind
the oil spill allowed them to keep their unprofitable
operations running. The hearing raised up important community
voices and applied pressure on the offshore platform operator,
Amplify Energy Corp, to remedy the disaster by highlighting the
operator's negligence in allowing the leak to happen despite a
history of regulatory violations, near misses, and warning
signs.
On August 26, 2022, the rig operator and two of its
subsidiaries pleaded guilty\4\ to federal violations of the
Clean Water Act and agreed to pay millions in fines and damages
for the leak.
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\4\https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/three-companies-agree-
plead-guilty-federal-offense-and-pay-nearly-13-million-federal.
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Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental
Policymaking: The Role of Environmental Organizations and
Grantmaking Foundations
Environmental organizations and grantmaking foundations
play an important role in shaping environmental policymaking.
On February 8, 2022, the Full Committee held an oversight
hearing investigating how a lack of justice, equity, diversity,
and inclusion (JEDI) within these organizations creates a
barrier to robust public participation in the decision-making
process. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and
low-income communities are on the front lines of the climate
crisis and show some of the nation's highest rates of support
for environmental action. However, these communities are vastly
underrepresented in the staff, leadership, boards, and projects
of environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
foundations.
This hearing examined how advancing JEDI within these
organizations is vital to upholding our nation's commitment to
democratic, fully participatory policymaking and ensuring that
environmental policies are comprehensive and designed to
benefit all Americans. Experts testified about how increased
transparency and accountability from NGOs and foundations are
needed to build a more inclusive, equitable, just, and
effective environmental movement.
Runit Dome and the U.S. Nuclear Legacy in the Marshall Islands
Decades after the United States used the Marshall Islands
as a Cold War testing site for nuclear weapons--including
flawed attempts to contain nuclear waste and radiation in Runit
Dome on Enewetak Island--justice and accountability for this
environmental and humanitarian disaster have still not been
fully realized. O&I held a hearing on October 21, 2021, to
conduct oversight on the Department of Energy's (DOE)
environmental monitoring programs at Runit Dome; the DOE's
relationship to the U.S. nuclear legacy in the Marshall
Islands; and the national security implications of the U.S.
government's ongoing refusal to address outstanding issues
related to this legacy nuclear testing.
The hearing and underlying investigation induced the U.S.
government to acknowledge it had unaddressed responsibilities
to remedy its nuclear legacy on the islands. Key barriers
within the State Department were removed, paving the way for
continuing the alliance between the Marshall Islands and the
U.S. In the FY 2022 omnibus funding package, Chair Porter
secured appropriations report language directing the Department
of Energy to come up with a plan to come into compliance with
environmental monitoring requirements in the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, and a plan to increase access to information
in the Marshallese language.
On March 1, 2022, Chair Porter, Senator Hirono (D-HI), and
Senator Markey (D-MA) introduced H.J. Res. 73 formally
apologizing for the nuclear legacy of the United States in the
Republic of the Marshall Islands and affirming the importance
of free association between the Government of the United States
and the Government of the Marshall Islands.
Toxic Coal Ash: Adverse Health Effects From the Puerto Rico Plant and
Options for Plant Closure
Even as the use of renewable energy expands throughout the
island, Puerto Rico's lone coal power plant in Guayama
continues to pose serious threats to the environment and public
health. Particularly problematic is the toxic coal ash produced
by the power plant, which has contaminated scarce groundwater
and has been spread throughout the island, posing an immediate
threat to public health.
On June 30, 2021, O&I held a hearing to amplify the voices
of members of the community around Puerto Rico's coal plant,
hear from scientists about the links between existing health
problems and the toxic coal ash, and discuss options to close
the plant. As a result of the hearing, negotiations are
underway to close the coal plant before the required date of
2028.
The Opioid Crisis in Tribal Communities
Nationally, tribal communities continue to be among the
hardest hit by the opioid epidemic. Native Americans are almost
50 percent more likely to die of an opioid overdose than other
population groups, and overdose deaths spiked further during
the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 5, 2022, O&I held a hearing in
which tribal leaders and healthcare providers testified that
treatment and prevention programs for tribal communities are
chronically underfunded. The Federal government has a fiduciary
trust obligation to provide healthcare to all American Indians
and Alaska Natives, but even recent increases in the Indian
Health Services (IHS) budget do not come close to meeting the
true need. Hearing witnesses emphasized that existing funding
is too restrictive, difficult to access, and does not allow
tribal governments and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) to
effectively meet their communities' needs. This hearing lifted
up the voices of impacted communities and generated two
appropriations requests for funding to meet tribal governments
and UIOs' budget requests for opioid addiction management.
Preventing Pandemics Through U.S. Wildlife-borne Disease Surveillance
The risk of wildlife-borne diseases like COVID-19 spilling
over to humans is increasing as the climate changes and the
frequency of human-wildlife interactions increase. The
Committee won $45 million to strengthen surveillance and rapid
response to wildlife disease outbreaks in the American Rescue
Plan, but consistent, long-term resources are needed to
effectively monitor and respond to wildlife disease threats.
O&I held a hearing on April 28, 2022, examining how an improved
wildlife disease surveillance in the U.S. could better prepare
the country to address the threats wildlife-borne disease
outbreaks like COVID-19 pose to biodiversity, human health, the
economy, and our culture. In response to recommendations made
by the expert witnesses, Chair Porter will introduce a bill to
create and fund a comprehensive U.S. wildlife disease
surveillance system.
Preventing Polluters from Getting Government Contracts: Bureau of Land
Management's Corporate Exclusions Lists
In January 2022, an Office of Inspector General (OIG)
report found that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to
implement required policies to exclude individuals and
companies from doing business with the federal government if
they have not operated responsibly. Although BLM agreed with
the OIG's recommendations, the agency gave long timeframes for
updating their policies and continued to allow suspended,
debarred, or disqualified businesses to be eligible for mineral
leases, putting taxpayers at risk of additional environmental
liabilities such as orphaned wells. Chair Porter initiated an
investigation into BLM's ongoing failure to implement the
required policies in the Spring of 2022, prompting BLM to
implement the OIG's recommendations up to 1.5 years ahead of
schedule.
On July 28, 2022, O&I held a hearing on BLM's updated
policies and continued areas of concern, including potential
loopholes that could allow suspended or debarred entities to
evade the safeguards blocking them from receiving lucrative
contracts, leases, and agreements. The Subcommittee continues
to follow up with BLM and other agencies within the Committee's
jurisdiction to ensure the updated policies are implemented
effectively.
The Role of Public Relations Firms in Preventing Action on Climate
Change
After decades of outright denial that climate change is
real and fossil fuels are the main cause of it, oil and gas
companies and their trade groups have come to rely heavily on
public relations (PR) firms to misinform the public and
obstruct meaningful action on climate in increasingly
sophisticated and subtle ways. The secretive methods and sheer
breadth of PR firms' work on behalf of the fossil fuel sector
in this regard has often been overlooked in discussions about
climate change, so O&I sought to shed new light on these
partnerships through a months-long investigation specifically
focused on the PR firms that continue to serve polluters'
misinformation and obstruction agendas.
On February 9, 2022, Chairs Grijalva and Porter sent
letters\5\ to six organizations that give out public relations
awards, requesting documents on PR campaigns conducted on
behalf of the oil and gas industry on the subject of climate
change. The letters cite former senior Exxon Mobil lobbyist
Keith McCoy, who admitted on tape that his employer had funded
``shadow groups'' to undermine climate efforts.
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On June 13, 2022, Chairs Grijalva and Porter sent
letters\6\ to five public relations firms and a letter\7\ to
the American Petroleum Institute, a major industry trade group
that plays a major, active role in climate disinformation. In
the letters, the lawmakers requested all documents and
information related to any of the firms' PR work, marketing, or
influence campaigns for oil, gas, and coal companies and trade
groups.
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\6\https://naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/
2022.06.12%20Grijalva%20Porter%20letters%20to%20PR%20firms_combined.pdf
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Oil and gas companies receive millions in taxpayer
subsidies for these marketing efforts, which include
advertisements that deny climate science, deflect
responsibility to individuals, and falsely champion ``clean
alternatives'' such as methane. To end these taxpayer-funded
climate misinformation campaigns, on August 19, 2022, Chair
Porter introduced the End Subsidies for Fossil Fuel Advertising
Act, which would end tax breaks for the costs fossil fuel
companies incur from promoting their companies and the use of
fossil fuels, or from spreading climate disinformation.
On September 14, 2022, O&I released a 116-page report,\8\
including appendices of primary documents, detailing the
results of its investigation. The same day, O&I also held a
hearing on the subject. O&I had invited the heads of some of
the investigated PR firms to testify, but all of them refused
to appear. Instead, the testifying witnesses included a former
vice president of Edeleman--one of the largest PR firms--who
now speaks out against PR firms' involvement in climate
misinformation; a university professor with in-depth
scholarship on the topic; and a Colorado climate activist who
was personally subjected to the threatening and unethical
practices by PR firms acting on behalf of the natural gas
industry to subvert her organization's attempts to limit
fracking in the state.
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\8\https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearing-report-the-role-of-
public-relations-firms-in-preventing-action-on-climate-change
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The September O&I hearing report revealed details--some of
which had never before been publicly disclosed--of the
elaborate, underhanded methods some PR firms use to help
polluters misinform the public and prevent meaningful policy
action on climate change. The report highlighted three unique
tactics: (1) corporate image promotion, such as falsely
depicting industry as joining the fight against climate change;
(2) third-party mobilization, such as engineering astroturf
``citizen'' groups to advocate for industry interests; and (3)
delegitimization of opposition, such as sabotaging policy
solutions and attacking community advocates. The report was an
unprecedented examination of the topic by Congress, supplying
many of the PR firms' internal deliberations and materials that
had been missing from public scrutiny thus far, and adding a
critical piece to the historical record on the increasingly
urgent issue of climate change.
APPENDIX II
Printed Hearings
117 1--Remote Legislative Hearing on Discussion Draft __,
Insular Area Climate Change Act (later introduced as H.R.
2780). March 4, 2021 (Full Committee)
117-2--Remote Legislative Hearing held on H.R. 1884, To
repeal section 3003 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck''
McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015,
and for other purposes. April 13, 2021 (Subcommittee for
Indigenous Peoples of the United States)
117-3--Remote Legislative Hearing held on H.R. 1522, Puerto
Rico Statehood Admission Act and H.R. 2070, Puerto Rico Self-
Determination Act of 2021. April 14, 2021 (Full Committee)
117-4--Remote Legislative Hearing held on H. Res. 279,
Insular Cases Resolution. May 12, 2021 (Full Committee)
117-5--Remote Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1522, Puerto Rico
Statehood Admission Act and H.R. 2070, Puerto Rico Self-
Determination Act of 2021--Part II. June 16, 2021 (Full
Committee)
117-6--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 660, Shovel-Ready
Restoration Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021;
H.R. 1415, Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act; H.R. 1689, Offshore
Wind for Territories Act; H.R. 2750, Blue Carbon for Our Planet
Act; H.R. 3160, Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act; H.R.
3228, National Coastal Resilience Data and Services Act; H.R.
3692, Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act; H.R. 3748,
BLUE GLOBE ACT; H.R. 3764, Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of
2021; H.R. 3817, Regional Ocean Partnership Act; H.R. 3864,
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research Act; H.R. 3892, National Oceans
and Coastal Security Improvements Act; and H.R. 3906, Blue
Carbon Protection Act. June 22, 2021 (Full Committee)
117-7--Oversight Hearing on Examining the Department of the
Interior's Spending Priorities and the President's Fiscal Year
Budget 2022 Proposal. June 23, 2021 (Full Committee)
117-8--Oversight Hearing on Examining the President's
Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
July 21, 2021 (Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife)
117-9--Oversight Hearing titled, ``PREPA Post
Implementation of the LUMA Transmission and Distribution
Contract.'' October 6, 2021 (Full Committee)
117-10--Oversight Hearings titled, ``Colorado River Drought
Conditions and Response Measures'' Part 1, October 15, 2021,
and Part 2, October 20, 2021 (Subcommittee on Water, Oceans,
and Wildlife)
117-11--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 59, Strengthening
Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries
Management Act, H.R. 4690 Sustaining America's Fisheries for
the Future Act of 2021, and H.R. 5770, Forage Fish Conservation
Act of 2021. November 16, 2021 (Subcommittee on Water, Oceans,
and Wildlife)
117-12--Oversight Hearing titled, ``What More Gulf of
Mexico Oil and Gas Leasing Means for Achieving U.S. Climate
Targets.'' January 20, 2022 (Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral
Resources)
117-13--Oversight Hearing titled, ``The Role of Justice,
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the Nonprofit Sector in
Natural Resources Policy.'' February 8, 2022 (Full Committee)
117-14--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2021, To restore,
reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights,
and for other purposes. Environmental Justice For All Act.
February 15, 2022 (Full Committee)
117-15--Oversight Hearing titled, ``Examining the History
of Federal Lands and the Development of Tribal Co-Management.''
March 8, 2022. (Full Committee)
117-16--Oversight Hearing titled, ``The Opioid Epidemic in
Tribal Communities.'' April 5, 2022. (Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations)
117-17--Oversight Hearing titled, ``Investing in Wildfire
Management, Ecosystem Restoration, and Resilient Communities:
Examining the Biden Administration's Priorities for
Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.'' April 5,
2022. (Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public
Lands)
117-18--Oversight Hearing titled, ``Russian Seafood Ban
Implementation and Seafood Traceability.'' April 7, 2022.
(Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife)
117-19--Oversight Hearing titled, ``The Opportunities and
Risks of Offshore Carbon Storage in the Gulf of Mexico.'' April
28, 2022. (Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
117-20--Oversight Hearing titled, ``Preventing Pandemics
through US Wildlife-borne Disease Surveillance.'' April 28,
2022. (Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations)
117-21--Legislative Hearing held on H.R. 7580, The Clean
Energy Minerals Reform Act. May 12, 2022. (Subcommittee on
Energy and Mineral Resources)
117-22--Legislative Hearing held on H.R. 5444, Truth and
Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. May
12, 2022. (Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United
States)
117-23--Joint Oversight Hearing held with the Committee on
Education and Labor titled, ``Examining the Policies and
Priorities of the Bureau of Indian Education.'' June 28, 2022.
(Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States)
117-24--Full Committee Markup on H.R. 6353, the National
Service Animals Memorial Act, H.R. 6439, the Dearfield Study
Act, H.R. 6799, the John P. Parker House Study Act, H.R. 7618,
to designate the Kol Israel Foundation Memorial in Bedford
Heights, Ohio, as a national memorial, and H.R. 8393, the
Puerto Rico Status Act. July 20, 2022. (Full Committee)
117-25--Oversight Hearing titled, ``The Role of Public
Relations Firms in Preventing Action on Climate Change.''
September 14, 2022. (Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigation)
117-26--Legislative Hearing held on, H.R. 8802, Public
Lands and Waters Climate Leadership Act of 2022. September 20,
2022. (Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
117-27--Oversight Hearing titled, ``Examining Oklahoma v.
Castro-Huerta: The Implications of the Supreme Court's Ruling
on Tribal Sovereignty.'' September 20, 2022. (Subcommittee for
Indigenous Peoples of the United States)
117-28--Oversight Hearing titled, ``Puerto Rico's Post-
Disaster Reconstruction and Power Grid Development.'' November
17, 2022. (Full Committee)
APPENDIX III
Committee Bill Reports Filed
House Report 117-100 (H.R. 2497), A bill to establish the
Amache National Historic Site in the State of Colorado as a
unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-101 (H.R. 2278), A bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to designate the September 11th
National Memorial Trail, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-103 (H.R. 438), A bill to amend the Alyce
Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children
Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted
Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for
other purposes.
House Report 117-104 (H.R. 1154), A bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the
suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the
Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-105, Part 1 (H.R. 4300), A bill to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to make free National Parks and
Federal Recreational Lands Passes available to members of the
Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-106 (H.R. 1029), A bill to Waive the
application fee for any special use permit for veterans'
special events at war memorials on land administered by the
National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its
environs, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-107 (H.R. 1664), A bill to authorize the
National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its
environs, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-114 (H.R. 1619), A bill to clarify the
status of gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation, and
for other purposes.
House Report 117-163 (H.R. 1975), A bill to take certain
land located in San Diego County, California, into trust for
the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-164 (H.R. 2088), A bill to take certain
Federal lands in Tennessee into trust for the benefit of the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-165 (H.R. 3616), A bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the
suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the
Bear River National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-166 (H.R. 4881), A bill to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to take into trust for the Pascua
Yaqui Tribe of Arizona certain land in Pima County, Arizona,
and for other purposes.
House Report 117-168, Part 1 (H.R. 5221), A bill to amend
the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to establish an urban
Indian organization confer policy for the Department of Health
and Human Services.
House Report 117-194 (H.R. 897) A bill to take certain
lands in California into trust for the benefit of the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-195 (H.R. 2074) A bill to assist Tribal
governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat
and for the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian lands.
House Report 117-196, Part 1 (H.R. 2930) A bill to enhance
protections of Native American tangible cultural heritage, and
for other purposes.
House Report 117-197 (H.R. 3531) A bill to authorize the
Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its
environs, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-198 (H.R. 4706) A bill to establish the
Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and
for other purposes.
House Report 117-262 (H.R. 6434) A bill to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to establish, within the National
Park Service, the Japanese American World War II History
Network, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-263 (H.R. 5001) A bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to continue to implement endangered
fish recovery programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan
River Basins, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-264 (H.R. 4380) A bill to designate the El
Paso Community Healing Garden National Memorial, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-265 (H.R. 2899) A bill to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the
suitability and feasibility of designating areas within the
island of Guam as a National Heritage Area, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-266 (H.R. 3197) A bill to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to convey to the City of Eunice,
Louisiana, certain Federal land in Louisiana, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-267 (H.R. 1908) A bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the
suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the
Ka'ena Point National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-268 (H.R. 268) A bill to provide for the
boundary of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to
be adjusted, to authorize the donation of land to the United
States for addition to that historic park, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-271 (H.R. 1931) A bill to provide
competitive grants for the promotion of Japanese American
confinement education as a means to understand the importance
of democratic principles, use and abuse of power, and to raise
awareness about the importance of cultural tolerance toward
Japanese Americans, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-272 (H.R. 3113) A bill to require the
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and
the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize
and make publicly available geographic information system
mapping data relating to public access to Federal land and
waters for outdoor recreation, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-293 (H.R. 1146) A bill to amend the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize
partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities for
the purpose of reclaiming and restoring land and water
resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before
August 3, 1977, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-294 (H.R. 972) A bill to establish the
Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-295, Part 1 (H.R. 441) A bill to provide
for the conveyance of certain property to the Tanana Tribal
Council located in Tanana, Alaska, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-296 (H.R. 2793) A bill to reauthorize the
Highlands Conservation Act, to authorize States to use funds
from that Act for administrative purposes, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-297, Part 1 (H.R. 3525) A bill to
establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a
National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture,
and for other purposes, with an amendment.
House Report 117-298 (H.R. 5973) A bill to reauthorize the
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990, and for
other purposes, with an amendment.
House Report 117-299 (H.R. 6201) A bill to extend the
authority for the establishment of a commemorative work to
honor enslaved and free Black persons who served in the
American Revolution, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-300 (H.R. 6651) A bill to establish an
Alaska Salmon Research Task Force.
House Report 117-301, Part 1 (H.R. 6023) A bill to require
the United States Postal Service to continue selling the
Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp until
all remaining stamps are sold, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-359 (H.R. 2773) A bill to amend the
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make supplemental
funds available for management of fish and wildlife species of
greatest conservation need as determined by State fish and
wildlife agencies, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-407 (H.R. 164) A bill to authorize the
Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land,
and for other purposes.
House Report 117-408 (H.R. 1286) A bill to establish in the
States of North Carolina and South Carolina the Southern
Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor, and for
other purposes.
House Report 117-409 (H.R. 2024) A bill to establish the
Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-410 (H.R. 2107) A bill to establish the
Nation's Oldest Port National Heritage Area in the State of
Florida, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-411 (H.R. 3222) A bill to establish the
Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-414 (H.R. 4404) A bill to amend the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Kissimmee
River in the State of Florida as a component of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-415, Part 1 (H.R. 6337) A bill to require
the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
to develop long-distance bike trails on Federal land, and for
other purposes.
House Report 117-416 (H.R. 7002) A bill to authorize the
Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, to be illuminated by blue
and yellow lights in support of Ukraine.
House Report 117-417 (H.R. 7025) A bill to prohibit the
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from
funding entities that commit, fund, or support gross violations
of internationally recognized human rights, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-418 (H.R. 7693) A bill to amend title 54,
United States Code, to reauthorize the National Park
Foundation.
House Report 117-419 (H.R. 5118) A bill to direct the
Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize the completion of the
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-428 (H.R. 263), A bill to amend the Lacey
Act Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the
Captive Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of
certain wildlife species, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-434 (H.R. 5093), A bill to direct the
Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest
System land in the State of Washington to Skamania County,
Washington.
House Report 117-435 (H.R. 7283), A bill to amend the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to make certain
activities eligible for grants from the Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-467 (H.R. 4009), A bill to authorize the
Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project and Tour
to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia
and its environs, and for other purposes, with an amendment.
House Report 117-468 (H.R. 6353), A bill to authorize the
National Service Animals Monument Corporation to establish a
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its
environs, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-469 (H.R. 6734), A bill to amend the Fish
and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer services,
community partnership, and refuge education programs of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-470 (H.R. 7618), A bill to designate the
Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust Memorial in Bedford Heights,
Ohio, as a national memorial.
House Report 117-471 (H.R. 820), A bill to establish the
New Philadelphia National Historical Park in the State of
Illinois as a unit of the National Park System, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-472 (H.R. 4358), A bill to amend the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Little
Manatee River as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers
System, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-497 (H. Res. 1247) Resolution of inquiry
directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit certain
documents to the House of Representatives relating to the 2023-
2028 five-year program for offshore oil and gas leasing.
House Report 117-498 (H. Res. 1248) Resolution of inquiry
directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit certain
documents to the House of Representatives relating to the
compliance with the obligations of the Mineral Leasing Act.
House Report 117-499 (H. Res. 1251) Resolution of inquiry
directing the Secretary of Agriculture to transmit certain
documents to the House of Representatives relating to the
mineral withdrawal within the Superior National Forest.
House Report 117-500 (H. Res. 1252) Resolution of inquiry
directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit certain
documents to the House of Representatives relating to the
mineral withdrawal within the Superior National Forest.
House Report 117-501 (H. Res. 1253) Resolution of inquiry
directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit certain
documents to the House of Representatives relating to the
actions of the Department of the Interior's Departmental Ethics
Office.
House Report 117-502 (H.R. 1638) A bill to direct the
Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest
System land to the State of South Dakota, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-503 (H.R. 6364) A bill to amend the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to
extend the exception to the closure of certain roads within the
Recreation Area for local businesses, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-561 (H.R. 404) A bill to improve the
management of driftnet fishing.
House Report 117-562 (H.R. 570) A bill to require operators
of offshore oil and gas facilities to report failures of
critical systems to the Secretary of the Interior, and for
other purposes.
House Report 117-563, Part 1 (H.R. 667) A bill to authorize
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Director of the Indian Health Service, to acquire private land
to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center
in Hemet, California, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-564 (H.R. 1415) A bill to amend the
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to authorize grants to
Indian Tribes to further achievement of Tribal coastal zone
objectives, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-565 (H.R. 1733) A bill to amend the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide
funds to States and Indian tribes for the purpose of promoting
economic revitalization, diversification, and development in
economically distressed communities through the reclamation and
restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by
coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-566, Part 1 (H.R. 1734) A bill to amend
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to allow
the Secretary of the Interior to delegate certain emergency
reclamation activities to the States and Tribes, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-567 (H.R. 2026) A bill to assist in the
conservation of highly endangered amphibian species in foreign
countries, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-568 (H.R. 2444) A bill to establish Fort
San Geronimo del Boqueron in Puerto Rico as an affiliated area
of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-569 (H.R. 2512) A bill to amend the
National Trails System Act to designate the Chisholm National
Historic Trail and the Western National Historic Trail, and for
other purposes.
House Report 117-570 (H.R. 2551) A bill to designate and
adjust certain lands in the State of Utah as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-571 (H.R. 2872) A bill to establish an
integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected
effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting,
managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the
United States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce
costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal Governments
and other entities, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-572, Part 1 (H.R. 3228) A bill to direct
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to improve
science, data, and services that enable sound decision making
in response to coastal flood risk, including impacts of sea
level rise, storm events, changing Great Lakes water levels,
and land subsidence.
House Report 117-573 (H.R. 3540) A bill to reauthorize the
Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-574 (H.R. 4458) A bill to establish a
grant program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to award grants to eligible entities for the
purpose of carrying out projects on the conservation,
restoration, or management of kelp forest ecosystems, with an
amendment.
House Report 117-575 (H.R. 4494) A bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to acquire land in Frederick County,
Maryland, for the Historic Preservation Training Center of the
National Park Service, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-576 (H.R. 4677) A bill to direct
restoration and protection of the New York-New Jersey
watersheds and estuaries hydrologically connected to New York-
New Jersey Harbor, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-577 (H.R. 5345) A bill to authorize the
Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a
regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the hydrology
of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and
other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other
purposes
House Report 117-578 (H.R. 6142) A bill to amend the
National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating
the Buckeye Trail as a national scenic trail, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-579 (H.R. 6199) A bill to revise the
boundary of the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in the
State of Missouri, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-580 (S. 2923) A bill to improve the
Fishery Resource Disaster Relief program of the National Marine
Fisheries Service, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-582 (H.R. 2626) A bill to redesignate the
Pullman National Monument in the State of Illinois as the
Pullman National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-585 (H. Res. 1378) Resolution of inquiry
requesting the President and directing the Secretary of
Agriculture to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the
House of Representatives relating to Resolution Copper mine,
reported adversely.
House Report 117-592 (H.R. 1884) To repeal section 3003 of
the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-593 (H.R. 3600) to amend the National
Trails System Act to designate the Route 66 National Historic
Trail, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-594 (H.R. 4648) To modify the boundary of
the Cane River Creole National Historical Park in the State of
Louisiana, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-595, Part 1 (H.R. 5444) To establish the
Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
in the United States, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-596, Part 1 (H.R. 5715) To reauthorize the
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-597 (H.R. 6063) To provide for the
equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding
land in Illinois, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-598 (H.R. 6181) To reaffirm that certain
land has been taken into trust for the benefit of the Samish
Indian Nation, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-599 (H.R. 6707) To amend the Maine Indian
Claims Settlement Act of 1980 to advance equality for Wabanaki
nations, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-600 (H.R. 6438) To authorize the Secretary
of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site
known as ``Dearfield'' in the State of Colorado.
House Report 117-601 (H.R. 6442) To amend section 101703 of
title 54, United States Code, to include Tribal Governments and
quasi-governmental entities, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-602 (H.R. 6654) To direct the Secretary of
the Interior to establish a National Climate Adaptation Science
Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to
respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate
trends, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-603 (H.R. 6799) To direct the Secretary of
the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine
the suitability and feasibility of establishing the John P.
Parker House in Ripley, Ohio, as a unit of the National Park
System.
House Report 117-604 (H.R. 7075) To designate Ukrainian
Independence Park in Washington, District of Columbia, and for
other purposes.
House Report 117-605 (H.R. 7496) To direct the Secretary of
the Interior to install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the
Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, United States Virgin
Islands, to commemorate the slave rebellion that began on St.
John in 1733.
House Report 117-606 (S. 789) To repeal certain obsolete
laws relating to Indians.
House Report 117-615 (H.R. 6427) To amend the Red River
National Wildlife Refuge Act to modify the boundary of the Red
River National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-616 (H.R. 7952) To authorize the Secretary
of the Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to
a natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge
National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-617 (S. 314) To repeal the Klamath Tribe
Judgment Fund Act.
House Report 117-625, Pt. 1 (H.R. 6611) To authorize the
Embassy of France in Washington, DC, to establish a
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs
to honor the extraordinary contributions of Jean Monnet to
restoring peace between European nations and establishing the
European Union, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-626 (H.R. 160) To reauthorize the Coral
Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and to establish the United
States Coral Reef Task Force, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-627 (H.R. 920) To amend the Act entitled
``Act to provide for the establishment of the Brown v. Board of
Education National Historic Site in the State of Kansas, and
for other purposes'' to provide for inclusion of additional
related sites in the National Park System, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-628, Part 1 (H.R. 1503) To amend the
Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments in leasing on
Federal lands for oil and gas drilling, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-629 (H.R. 1505) To amend the Mineral
Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the regulation of
surface-disturbing activities and to protect taxpayers from
unduly bearing the reclamation costs of oil and gas
development, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-631, Part 1 (H.R. 1506) To provide for the
accurate reporting of fossil fuel extraction and emissions by
entities with leases on public land, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-632 (H.R. 1517) To amend the Mineral
Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the fiscal terms for
fossil fuel development and to make other reforms to improve
returns to taxpayers for the development of Federal energy
resources, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-633 (H.R. 2643) To require the Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement to further develop,
finalize, and implement updated regulations for offshore oil
and gas pipelines to address long-standing limitations
regarding its ability to ensure active pipeline integrity and
address safety and environmental risks associated with
decommissioning, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-634 (H.R. 2794) To provide for the
protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and
interconnected Federal lands and waters, including Voyageurs
National Park, within the Rainy River Watershed in the State of
Minnesota, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-635 (H.R. 3128) To establish the American
Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding of
fisheries research and development grants, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-636, Part 1 (H.R. 3326) To promote the
development of renewable energy on public lands, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-637, Part 1 (H.R. 3670) To improve access
for outdoor recreation through the use of special recreation
permits on Federal recreational lands and waters, and for other
purposes.
House Report 117-638, Part 1 (H.R. 3686) To amend the
Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to
provide for the establishment of a Ski Area Fee Retention
Account, and for other purposes.
House Report 117-639, Part 1 (H.R. 6435) To provide for the
application of certain provisions of the Secure Rural Schools
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 for fiscal year
2021.
House Report 117-640, Part 1 (H.R. 6936) To provide for the
issuance of a semipostal to benefit programs that combat
invasive species.
House Report 117-642 (H.R. 8393) To enable the people of
Puerto Rico to choose a permanent, nonterritorial, fully self-
governing political status for Puerto Rico and to provide for a
transition to and the implementation of that permanent,
nonterritorial, fully self-governing political status, and for
other purposes.
APPENDIX IV
Legislation Passed and Failed To Pass the House
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT PASSED THE HOUSE
Asterisk (*) denotes bills on which the Committee on Natural Resources
was not the lead Committee
[Brackets] denote counterparts of Senate bills that passed the House.
2/24/2021--*H.R. 1192, To impose requirements on the
payment of compensation to professional persons employed in
voluntary cases commenced under title III of the Puerto Rico
Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (commonly known
as ``PROMESA''). PRRADA. Passed House under suspension of the
Rules. (Public Law 117-82)
2/25/2021--H.R. 803, To designate certain lands in the
State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, and for other purposes. Passed House, as
amended, by a vote of 227-200.
3/18/2021--*H.R. 1620, To reauthorize the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Violence Against
Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2021. Passed House, as
amended, by a vote of 224-172.
5/12/2021--H.R. 49, To designate the National Pulse
Memorial located at 1912 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida,
32806, and for other purposes. Passed House under suspension of
the Rules. (Public Law 117-20)
5/12/2021--H.R. 297, To require the Secretary of
Agriculture to conduct a study on the establishment of, and the
potential land that could be included in, a unit of the
National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for other
purposes. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
5/12/2021--H.R. 478, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior to take certain land located in Pinal County, Arizona,
into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community,
and for other purposes. Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer
Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
5/12/2021--H.R. 810, To amend the National Trails System
Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study
on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear
National Historic Trail, and for other purposes. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules.
5/12/2021--H.R. 1688, To amend the Indian Child Protection
and Family Violence Prevention Act. Native American Child
Protection Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
5/12/2021--H.R. 2208, To restore an opportunity for tribal
economic development on terms that are equal and fair, and for
other purposes. Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta
Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Act. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules.
5/18/2021--*H.R. 2533, To provide for a study by the
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors
in estuarine environments. NEAR Act of 2021. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
6/29/2021--*H.R. 2471, Making consolidated appropriations
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for
providing emergency assistance for the situation in Ukraine,
and for other purposes. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.
Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
(Public Law 117-103)
7/1/2021--*H.R. 3684, To authorize funds for Federal-aid
highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and
for other purposes. INVEST in America Act. Passed House, as
amended, by a vote of 221-201. (Public Law 117-58)
7/26/2021--H.R. 1664, To authorize the National Medal of
Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work in
the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other
purposes. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the
Rules. (Public Law 117-80)
7/26/2021--H.R. 2365, To extend the authority for the
establishment of a commemorative work in honor of Gold Star
Families, and for other purposes. Gold Star Mothers Family
Monument Extension Act. Passed House, as amended, under
suspension of the Rules.
7/30/2021--H.R. 2278, To designate the September 11th
National Memorial Trail Route, and for other purposes. Passed
House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law
117-48)
7/30/2021--H.R. 2497, To establish the Amache National
Historic Site in the State of Colorado as a Unit of the
National Park System, and for other purposes. Amache National
Historic Site Act. Passed House, as amended, under suspension
of the Rules. (Public Law 117-106)
7/30/2021--H.R. 4300, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to make free National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes available to
members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Alexander
Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act. Passed House, as amended,
under suspension of the Rules.
8/23/2021--*S. 325, [H.R. 438] To amend the Alyce Spotted
Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to
extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and
Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other
purposes. Passed House under suspension of the Rules. (Public
Law 117-41)
8/24/2021--*S. Con. Res. 14, A concurrent resolution
setting forth the congressional budget for the United States
Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through
2031. Passed House by a vote of 220-212.
9/23/2021--*H.R. 4350, To authorize appropriations for
fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the Department of
Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2022. Passed House, as amended, by a vote of 316-913.
9/28/2021--H.R. 1154, To authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and
feasibility of designating certain land as the Great Dismal
Swamp National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Great
Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
10/1/2021--*H.R. 5434, To provide an extension of Federal-
aid highway, highway safety, and transit programs, and for
other purposes. Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021.
Passed House under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117-44)
10/28/2021--*H.R. 5763, To provide an extension of Federal-
aid highway, highway safety, and transit programs, and for
other purposes. Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2021. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
(Public Law 117-52)
10/29/2021--H.R. 1029, To waive the application fee for any
special use permit for veterans' special events at war
memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in
the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other
purposes. Free Veterans from Fees Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
11/1/2021--H.R. 1619, To clarify the status of gaming
conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation, and for other purposes.
Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act. Passed House under suspension
of the Rules.
11/1/2021--H.R. 1975, To take certain land located in San
Diego County, California, into trust for the benefit of the
Pala Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. Pala Band
of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules.
11/2/2021--H.R. 2088, To take certain Federal lands in
Tennessee into trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians, and for other purposes. Eastern Band of
Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
11/2/2021--H.R. 2758, To provide for the recognition of the
Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and for other purposes. Lumbee
Recognition Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
11/2/2021--H.R. 3616, To authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and
feasibility of designating certain land as the Bear River
National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Bear River
National Heritage Area Study Act. Passed House under suspension
of the Rules.
11/2/2021--H.R. 4881, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior to take into trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of
Arizona certain land in Pima County, Arizona, and for other
purposes. Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules.
11/2/2021--H.R. 5221, To amend the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act to establish an urban Indian organization
confer policy for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Urban Indian Health Confer Act. Passed House under suspension
of the Rules.
11/2/2021--*S. 108, [H.R. 164] To authorize the Seminole
Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land, and for
other purposes. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
(Public Law 117-65)
11/17/2021--*H. Res. 789, Censuring Representative Paul
Gosar. Passed House by a vote of 223-207, 1 Present.
11/18/2021--*H.R. 5376\1\, To provide for reconciliation
pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14. Build Back Better Act.
Passed House, as amended, by a vote of 220-211.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Passed the House twice, the second time on August 12, 2022, as
amended. See H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act (Public Law 117-
169) for more information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/2/2021--H.R. 2930, To enhance protections of Native
American tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes.
Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117-258)
12/2/2021--H.R. 4352, To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to
reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take
land into trust for Indian Tribes, and for other purposes.
Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
12/7/2021--*S. 1605, To designate the National Pulse
Memorial located at 1912 South Orange Avenue in Orlando,
Florida, and for other purposes. National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2022. Passed House by a vote of 363-70.
(Public Law 117-81)
12/8/2021--H.R. 897, To take certain lands in California
into trust for the benefit of the Agua Caliente Band of
Cahuilla Indians, and for other purposes. Agua Caliente Land
Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
12/8/2021--H.R. 2074, To assist Tribal governments in the
management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and for the
reestablishment of buffalo on Indian lands. Indian Buffalo
Management Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
12/8/2021--H.R. 3531, To authorize the Women Who Worked on
the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in
the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other
purposes. Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II
Memorial Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
12/8/2021--H.R. 4706, To establish the Blackwell School
National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.
Blackwell School National Historic Site Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
2/4/2022--*H.R. 4521, To provide for a coordinated Federal
research initiative to ensure continued United States
leadership in engineering biology. Bioeconomy Research and
Development Act of 2021. Passed House by a vote of 222-210.
2/28/2022--S. 3706, [H.R. 6435] To provide for the
application of certain provisions of the Secure Rural Schools
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 for fiscal year
2021. Passed House under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law
117-102)
3/15/2022--H.R. 268, To authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and
feasibility of designating certain land as the Ka ena Point
National Heritage Area. Ka ena Point National Heritage Area
Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
3/15/2022--H.R. 1908, To provide for the boundary of the
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, to
authorize the donation of land to the United States for
addition to that historic park. Palo Alto Battlefield National
Historic Park. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
3/15/2022--H.R. 1931, To provide competitive grants for the
promotion of Japanese American confinement education as a means
to understand the importance of democratic principles, use and
abuse of power, and to raise awareness about the importance of
cultural tolerance toward Japanese Americans. Japanese American
Confinement Education Act. Passed House, as amended, under
suspension of the Rules.
3/15/2022--H.R. 2899, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and
feasibility of designating areas within the island of Guam as a
National Heritage Area. Passed House under suspension of the
Rules.
3/15/2022--H.R. 3113, To require the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize and make
publicly available geographic information system mapping data
relating to public access to Federal land and waters for
outdoor recreation. Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act
or the MAPLand Act. Passed House, as amended, under suspension
of the Rules. (Public Law 117-114)
3/15/2022--H.R. 5001, To authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to continue to implement endangered fish recovery
programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins.
Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Recovery Act. Passed
House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
3/16/2022--H.R. 3197, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior to convey to the City of Eunice, Louisiana, certain
Federal land in Louisiana. Save the Liberty Theatre Act. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117-112)
3/16/2022--H.R. 4380, To designate the El Paso Community
Healing Garden National Memorial, and for other purposes.
Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
3/16/2022--H.R. 6434, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior to establish, within the National Park Service, the
Japanese American World War II History Network. Japanese
American World War II History Network Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
04/01/2022--*H.R. 3617, To decriminalize and deschedule
cannabis, to provide for reinvestment in certain persons
adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, to provide for
expungement of certain cannabis offenses, and for other
purposes. Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement
Act. Passed House, as amended, by a vote of 220-204.
4/26/2022--S. 270, [H.R. 920] To amend the Act entitled
``Act to provide for the establishment of the Brown v. Board of
Education National Historic Site in the State of Kansas, and
for other purposes'' to provide for inclusion of additional
related sites in the National Park System, and for other
purposes. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Expansion Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
(Public Law 117-123)
4/26/2022--H.R. 441, to provide for the conveyance of
certain property to the Tanana Tribal Council located in
Tanana, Alaska. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of
the Rules.
4/26/2022--H.R. 2793, To reauthorize the Highlands
Conservation Act, to authorize States to use funds from that
Act for administrative purposes, and for other purposes.
Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules.
4/26/2022--H.R. 3525, To establish the Commission to Study
the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific
American History and Culture. Commission To Study the Potential
Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History
and Culture Act. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of
the Rules. (Public Law 117-140)
4/26/2022--H.R. 5973, To reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish
and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990, and for other purposes.
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act
of 2021. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the
Rules.
4/26/2022--H.R. 6023, To require the United States Postal
Service to continue selling the Multinational Species
Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp until all remaining stamps
are sold. Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal
Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2021. Passed House, as amended,
under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117-127)
4/26/2022--H.R. 6201, To extend the authority for the
establishment of a commemorative work to honor enslaved and
free Black persons who served in the American Revolution, and
for other purposes. National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act.
Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
4/26/2022--H.R. 6651, to establish the American Fisheries
Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries
research and development grants. Alaska Salmon Research Task
Force Act. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
4/26/2022--S. 497, [H.R. 3128, H.R. 4690] To establish the
American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding
of fisheries research and development grants. American
Fisheries Advisory Committee Act. Passed House under suspension
of the Rules. (Public Law 117-121)
5/11/2022--S. 66, [H.R. 565] To require the Inter-Agency
Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a
plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal
blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other purposes.
South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules.
6/14/2022--H.R. 2773, To amend the Pittman-Robertson
Wildlife Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available
for management of fish and wildlife species of greatest
conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife
agencies, and for other purposes. Recovering America's Wildlife
Act of 2021. Passed House, as amended, by a vote of 202-220.
7/19/2022--S. 144, [H.R. 667] To authorize the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the
Indian Health Service, to acquire private land to facilitate
access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet,
California, and for other purposes. Desert Sage Youth Wellness
Center Access Improvement Act. Passed House under suspension of
the Rules. (Public Law 117-161)
7/19/2022--H.R. 1286, To establish the Southern Campaign of
the Revolution National Heritage Corridor, and for other
purposes. Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage
Corridor Act of 2021. Passed House, as amended, under
suspension of the Rules.
7/19/2022--H.R. 2024, To establish the Southern Maryland
National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Southern
Maryland National Heritage Area Act. Passed House, as amended,
under suspension of the Rules.
7/19/2022--H.R. 3222, To establish the Alabama Black Belt
National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. Alabama Black
Belt National Heritage Area Act. Passed House, as amended,
under suspension of the Rules.
7/19/2022--H.R. 4404, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act to designate segments of the Kissimmee River in the State
of Florida as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Act. Passed House, as
amended, under suspension of the Rules.
7/19/2022--H.R. 6337, To require the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop long-
distance bike trails on Federal land. Biking on Long-Distance
Trails Act. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the
Rules.
7/19/2022--H.R. 7002, To authorize the Gateway Arch in St.
Louis, Missouri, to be illuminated by blue and yellow lights in
support of Ukraine. Gateway Solidarity Act. Passed House, as
amended, under suspension of the Rules.
7/19/2022--H.R. 7025, To prohibit the Director of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service from funding entities
that commit, fund, or support gross violations of
internationally recognized human rights, and for other
purposes. Advancing Human Rights-Centered International
Conservation Act of 2022. Passed House, as amended, under
suspension of the Rules.
7/19/2022--*H.R. 7693, To amend title 54, United States
Code, to reauthorize the National Park Foundation. National
Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
7/27/2022--H.R. 3952, To strengthen the role of the Chief
Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in order to promote scientific integrity and
advance the Administration's world-class research and
development portfolio. NOAA Chief Scientist Act. Passed House,
as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
7/28/2022--H.R. 5093, To direct the Secretary of
Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest System land in
the State of Washington to Skamania County, Washington. Wind
River Administrative Site Conveyance Act. Passed House, as
amended, under suspension of the Rules.
7/29/2022--H.R. 263, To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of
1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife
Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain wildlife
species, and for other purposes. Big Cat Public Safety Act.
Passed House by a vote of 278-134. (Public Law-243)
7/29/2022--H.R. 5118, To direct the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the
completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and
for other purposes. Continental Divide Trail Completion Act.
Passed House, as amended, by a vote of 218-199.
7/29/2022--H.R. 7283, To amend the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act to make certain activities eligible for
grants from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other
purposes. STREAM Act. Passed House, as amended, under
suspension of the Rules.
7/29/2022--S. 3451, [H.R. 7870] A bill to include certain
computer-related projects in the Federal permitting program
under title XLI of the FAST Act, and for other purposes. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117-173)
8/12/2022--*H.R. 5376, To provide for reconciliation
pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14. Inflation Reduction
Act of 2022. Passed House, as amended for the second time by a
vote of 220-207. (Public Law 117-169)
9/19/2022--H.R. 6353, To authorize the National Service
Animals Monument Corporation to establish a commemorative work
in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other
purposes. National Service Animals Memorial Act. Passed House,
as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
9/19/2022--H.R. 6734, To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of
1956 to reauthorize the volunteer services, community
partnership, and refuge education programs of the National
Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes. Keep America's
Refuges Operational Act of 2022. Passed House, as amended,
under suspension of the Rules.
9/19/2022--H.R. 7618, To designate the Kol Israel
Foundation Holocaust Memorial in Bedford Heights, Ohio, as a
national memorial. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
9/19/2022--H.R. 820, To establish the New Philadelphia
National Historic Site in the State of Illinois as a unit of
the National Park System, and for other purposes New
Philadelphia National Historic Site Act. Passed House, as
amended, under suspension of the Rules.
9/20/2022--H.R. 4009, To authorize the Georgetown African
American Historic Landmark Project and Tour to establish a
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its
environs, and for other purposes. Enslaved Voyages Memorial
Act. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
9/20/2022--H.R. 4358, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act to designate segments of the Little Manatee River as a
component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other
purposes. Little Manatee Wild and Scenic River Act. Passed
House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
9/20/2022--S. 2490, [H.R. 4607] To establish the Blackwell
School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other
purposes. Blackwell School National Historic Site Act. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117-206)
9/28/2022--H.R. 6364, To amend the Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the
exception to the closure of certain roads within the Recreation
Area for local businesses, and for other purposes. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules.
9/29/2022--H.R. 1638, To direct the Secretary of
Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest System land to
the State of South Dakota, and for other purposes. Gilt Edge
Mine Conveyance Act. Passed House under suspension of the
Rules.
12/12/2022--H.R. 2551, To designate and adjust certain
lands in the State of Utah as components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act. Passed House under
suspension of the Rules.
12/12/2022--H.R. 5715, To reauthorize the Morris K. Udall
and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes. Passed
House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
12/12/2022--H.R. 6427, To amend the Red River National
Wildlife Refuge Act to modify the boundary of the Red River
National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes. Red River
National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act. Passed
House, as amended, under suspension of the Rules.
12/12/2022--H.R. 7496, To direct the Secretary of the
Interior to install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the
Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, United States Virgin
Islands, to commemorate the slave rebellion that began on St.
John in 1733. Passed House under suspension of the Rules.
12/12/2022--H.R. 7952, To authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a
natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National
Historical Park, and for other purposes. Valley Forge Park
Realignment Permit and Promise Act. Passed House, as amended,
under suspension of the Rules.
12/12/2022--S. 314, To repeal the Klamath Tribe Judgment
Fund Act. Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act. Passed House
under suspension of the Rules. (Public Law 117 09261)
12/14/2022--H.R. 6611, To authorize the Government of
France to establish a commemorative work in the District of
Columbia and its environs to honor the extraordinary
contributions of Jean Monnet to restoring peace between
European nations and establishing the European Union, and for
other purposes. Passed House, as amended, under suspension of
the Rules.
12/14/2022--S. 558 [H.R. 1438] To establish a national
integrated flood information system within the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules.
12/14/2022--S. 789 [H.R. 3158], To repeal certain obsolete
laws relating to Indians. Repealing Existing Substandard
Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act. Passed
House under suspension of the Rules.
12/15/2022--H.R. 8393, To enable the people of Puerto Rico
to choose a permanent, nonterritorial, fully self-governing
political status for Puerto Rico and to provide for a
transition to and the implementation of that permanent,
nonterritorial, fully self-governing political status, and for
other purposes. Puerto Rico Status Act. Passed House by a vote
of 233 09191.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT FAILED TO PASS THE
HOUSE
[None]
APPENDIX V
Public Laws and Enacted Bills
Asterisk* denotes bills that were not referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources but contain provisions under the jurisdiction of the
Committee.
(Parentheses) denote bills referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources contained within the public law and are included in the total
count of enacted bills.\1\
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\1\See Statistical Overview.
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Asterisks** denote Committee on Natural Resources bills that were held
at the desk.
[Brackets] denote House counterparts of Senate bills. Counterparts are
not included in the total count of enacted bills.
Public Law 117-20: H.R. 49, To designate the National Pulse
Memorial located at 1912 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida,
32806, and for other purposes. June 25, 2021
Public Law 117-41**: S. 325, [H.R. 438] To amend the Alyce
Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children
Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted
Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for
other purposes. September 24, 2021
Public Law 117-44: H.R. 5434, To provide an extension of
Federal-aid highway, highway safety, and transit programs, and
for other purposes. Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2021. October 2, 2021
Public Law 117-48: H.R. 2278, To designate the September
11th National Memorial Trail Route, and for other purposes.
October 13, 2021
Public Law 117-52: H.R. 5763, To provide an extension of
Federal-aid highway, highway safety, and transit programs, and
for other purposes. Further Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2021. October 31, 2021
Public Law 117-58*: H.R. 3684, (H.R. 1733, H.R. 1734, H.R.
1939 partially, H.R. 2049, H.R. 2415 partially, H.R. 2641, H.R.
2781, H.R. 2816, H.R. 3211, H.R. 3404 partially, H.R. 3585,
H.R. 3702, H.R. 4082, H.R. 4099) To authorize funds for
Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit
programs, and for other purposes. Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act. November 15, 2021
Public Law 117-65**: S. 108, [H.R. 164] A bill to authorize
the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain
land, and for other purposes. November 23, 2021
Public Law 117-80: H.R. 1664, To authorize the National
Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative
work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for
other purposes. December 27, 2021
Public Law 117-81*: S. 1605, (H.R. 1115, H.R. 4300) To
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such
fiscal year, and for other purposes. National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. December 27, 2021
Public Law 117-82*: H.R. 1192, To impose requirements on
the payment of compensation to professional persons employed in
voluntary cases commenced under title III of the Puerto Rico
Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act. PRRADA.
January 20, 2022
Public Law 117-102**: S. 3706, [H.R. 6435] To provide for
the application of certain provisions of the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 for fiscal
year 2021. March 15, 2022
Public Law 117-103*: H.R. 2471, Making consolidated
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022,
and for providing emergency assistance for the situation in
Ukraine, and for other purposes. Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2022. March 15, 2022
Public Law 117-106: H.R. 2497, To establish the Amache
National Historic Site in the State of Colorado as a Unit of
the National Park System, and for other purposes. Amache
National Historic Site Act. March 18, 2022
Public Law 117-112: H.R. 3197, To direct the Secretary of
the Interior to convey to the City of Eunice, Louisiana,
certain Federal land in Louisiana, and for other purposes. Save
the Liberty Theatre Act of 2021. April 19, 2022
Public Law 117-114: H.R. 3113, To require the Secretary of
the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize and make
publicly available geographic information system mapping data
relating to public access to Federal land and waters for
outdoor recreation. Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act
or the MAPLand Act. April 29, 2022
Public Law 117-121**: S. 497, (H.R. 3128, H.R. 4690) To
establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist
in the awarding of fisheries research and development grants,
and for other purposes. American Fisheries Advisory Committee
Act. May 12, 2022
Public Law 117-123**: S. 270, [H.R. 920] To amend the Act
entitled ``Act to provide for the establishment of the Brown v.
Board of Education National Historic Site in the State of
Kansas, and for other purposes'' to provide for inclusion of
additional related sites in the National Park System, and for
other purposes. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic
Site Expansion Act. May 12, 2022
Public Law 117-127: H.R. 6023, To require the United States
Postal Service to continue selling the Multinational Species
Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp until all remaining stamps
are sold, and for other purposes. Multinational Species
Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of
2021. May 16, 2022
Public Law 117-140: H.R. 3525, To establish the Commission
to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian
Pacific American History and Culture, and for other purposes.
Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum
of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act. June 13,
2022
Public Law 117-161**: S. 144, [H.R. 667] To authorize the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Director of the Indian Health Service, to acquire private land
to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center
in Hemet, California, and for other purposes. Desert Sage Youth
Wellness Center Access Improvement Act. July 29, 2022
Public Law 117-169*: H.R. 5376, (H.R. 1162, H.R. 1503, H.R.
1517, H.R. 2102, H.R. 2635, H.R. 2780, H.R. 3764, H.R. 5435) To
provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res.
14. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. August 16, 2022
Public Law 117-173**: S. 3451, [H.R. 7870] A bill to
include certain computer-related projects in the Federal
permitting program under title XLI of the FAST Act, and for
other purposes. August 16, 2022
Public Law 117-206**: S. 2490, [H.R. 4706] To establish the
Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and
for other purposes. Blackwell School National Historic Site
Act. October 17, 2022.
Public Law 117-243: H.R. 263, To amend the Lacey Act
Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive
Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain
wildlife species, and for other purposes. Big Cat Public Safety
Act. The bill has been presented to the president and is
expected to be signed into Public Law at the time of
publication. However, no official action occurred prior to
publication.
Public Law 117-261: S. 314, To repeal the Klamath Tribe
Judgment Fund Act. Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act. The
bill has been presented to the president and is expected to be
signed into Public Law at the time of publication. However, no
official action occurred prior to publication.
Public Law 117-258: H.R. 2930, To enhance protections of
Native American tangible cultural heritage, and for other
purposes. Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021.
The bill has been presented to the president and is expected to
be signed into Public Law at the time of publication. However,
no official action occurred prior to publication.
APPENDIX VI
Committee Prints
First Session:
117-A--Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources, 117th
Congress (Adopted: February 18, 2021)
APPENDIX VII
----------
Dissenting Views
The final Report of the 117th Congress documents the
failure of the Democrat Majority to address the myriad crises
brought on by President Biden. Democrat leadership repeatedly
refused to take up bipartisan solutions to address our nation's
wildfire crisis and improve the health of our federal forests,
like the Resilient Federal Forests Act and the Trillion Trees
Act. While Americans were facing record-high energy prices and
energy insecurity, Democrats were holding hearings inspired by
the Netflix show ``Tiger King.'' When Republicans offered
solutions to pressing national issues, Democrats refused to
act.
Republicans on House Committee on Natural Resources worked
to promote access, conservation, innovation, and transparency
within our nation's natural resources by advancing sound,
science-based conservation; unleashing American energy
dominance; restoring active management to our public lands and
national forests; reducing excessive federal land acquisition
and preservationist, restrictive land designations; promoting
natural climate solutions; promoting economic opportunity in
tribal communities and the insular areas; and responsibly
stewarding our nation's water resources and fisheries.
Our Dissenting Views to the Activities Report highlight
issue-by-issue the failures of the Democrat Majority and sets a
path forward toward successfully addressing the critical
natural resources issues facing Americans.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
Oil and Gas Development on Federal Lands and Waters
The United States led the world in reducing emissions from
2005 to 2020, even as oil and gas production has increased over
the same period. This has largely been made possible by
voluntary innovations lead by the American energy sector.\1\
Over the same 15-year period, CO2 emissions from the global
energy sector grew by 14 percent.\2\ Specifically, China saw
staggering emissions increases over the same 15-year period,
emitting 23 times more carbon dioxide than the U.S. and all of
Europe combined.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Institute for Energy Research, ``Since 2005, U.S. Has Had
Largest Decline in Carbon Dioxide Emissions Globally,'' October 27,
2021, https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/climate-change/since-
2005-u-s-has-had-largest-decline-in-carbon-dioxide-emissions-globally/.
\2\Id.
\3\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instead of focusing on the positive reductions made by
American companies and the worrisome trend of growing global
emissions, Committee Democrats and this administration have led
an all-out assault on U.S. energy producers. This started in
President Biden's first days in office when he issued Executive
Order 14008, which imposed an indefinite pause on new oil and
gas leasing on U.S. federal lands and waters ``pending
completion of a comprehensive review.''\4\ On June 15, 2021,
U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty placed an injunction on
DOI's unlawful moratorium and ordered the agencies to restart
the leasing process.\5\ In response, the Biden administration
appealed the decision and continued to delay scheduling lease
sales.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\Exec. Order 14008, 86 Fed. Reg. 19, 7619 (Jan. 27, 2021).
\5\Partlow, Joshua and Eilperin, Juliet. Louisiana judge blocks
Biden Administration's oil and gas leasing pause. https://
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/06/15/louisiana-judge-
blocks-biden-administrations-oil-gas-leasing-pause/.
\6\Valerie Volcovici. ``Biden administration appeals federal court
decision to block oil, gas leasing pause.'' Reuters. August 16, 2021,
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-appeals-federal-
court-decision-block-oil-gas-leasing-pause-2021-08-16/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For onshore development, the Biden administration did not
hold a lease sale until June of this year. Unfortunately, this
sale was largely watered down as it only offered 20 percent of
the parcels that were originally included, and it implemented a
50 percent royalty hike.\7\ The Biden administration also fell
behind in permitting federal oil and gas production. For
example, in FY 2022, the Biden administration has approved an
average of 233 drilling permits per month, while the Department
of Interior was approving nearly 400 drilling permits monthly
in FY 2020 under President Donald Trump.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\Energy in Depth, FIRST BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ONSHORE LEASE SALES
BRING IN NEARLY $22 MILLION, 7/1/22, https://www.energyindepth.org/
first-biden-administration-onshore-lease-sales-bring-in-nearly-22-
million/.
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The Biden administration has held only one offshore oil and
gas lease sale to date, Lease Sale 257.\8\ A district court
vacated the lease sale in January 2022 in an unprecedented
decision\9\ and the Biden administration chose not to appeal
this case, declining to defend their own work.\10\ As a result,
no new leases were issued for this sale until the Inflation
Reduction Act required issuance of the leases. The Biden
administration cancelled the three remaining sales under the
current 5-year plan for offshore leasing\11\ and has only
resumed planning for these sales at the direction of the
Inflation Reduction Act. The Department issued a draft version
of the 2022 to 2027 5-year plan, known as a ``proposed
program,'' on July 1, 2022, after the most recent plan expired
on June 30, 2022.\12\ Publication of a proposed program is the
second step in a lengthy interagency process, and many months
of public comment and agency deliberation must occur before the
final program is published. As a result, future leasing on the
OCS remains uncertain under the Biden administration.
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\8\Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Final Notice of Sale, Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 257, https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/
oil-gas-energy/leasing/Final-NOS-257.pdf.
\9\Friends of the Earth, et al. vs. Debra Haaland, et al., U.S.
District Court for the District of Columbia, Memorandum Opinion, filed
January 27, 2022, https://subscriber.politicopro.com/eenews/f/eenews/
?id=00000l7e-a065-db8b-ab7f-f2ff5ec00000.
\10\Rachel Frazin, ``Biden administration won't appeal invalidation
of offshore oil leases,'' The Hill, March 1, 2022, https://thehill.com/
policy/energy-environment/596334-biden-administration-declines-to-
appeal-invalidation-of-offshore.
\11\Department of the Interior. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
2017-2022 Lease Sale Schedule. https://www.boem.gov/2017-2022-lease-
sale-schedule.
\12\Testimony of Secretary Deb Haaland. Senate Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources Hearing. May 19, 2022.
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Failing to hold sufficient and legally required lease sales
will have a significant long-term impact on American production
capability thus threatening our future domestic energy
security. Additionally, these attacks have also caused near
term price increases by thwarting investor confidence and by
holding producers back from drilling wells. In fact gasoline
prices rose sharply during President Biden s first year in
office before reaching historic highs in 2022. Fortunately, the
Trump administration prioritized both permitting and leasing
which has allowed producers to keep prices from skyrocketing
further.
Throughout this Congress, Committee Democrats have joined
this administration in its attack on onshore oil and gas
production. Bills were introduced to increase fees and
royalties paid by producers add additional red tape to the
leasing and permitting processes and even halt leasing until
impossible benchmarks were reached. Once they realized that
these policies would not be able to make it through Congress in
regular order Committee Democrats set their sights on the
reconciliation process. Unfortunately for everyday Americans
the so called ``Inflation Reduction Act'' included language to
increase fees and royalties on all stages of oil and gas
development. These changes will likely dissuade future
production, all but ensuring that energy prices remain
unnecessarily high.
Committee Republicans look forward to conducting rigorous
oversight of the Biden administrations' ``energy policy'' and
fighting to ensure that America becomes energy dominant once
again. One of the top priorities of the Subcommittee in the
118th Congress will be restarting the oil and gas leasing
process, ensuring timely planning of new lease sales and
processing of oil and gas permits.
Onshore Renewable Energy Production
Republican members introduced the Public Land Renewable
Energy Development Ac (PLREDA) to streamline renewable energy
production on federal lands. For eight years prior, this bill
was always bipartisan. Unfortunately, Committee Democrats used
politics to attempt to steal the bill and refused to allow
certain Republicans, who drafted major portions of it, from
joining as cosponsors. Due to this unnecessary partisan
approach, the bill was unable to move through Congress and get
signed into law but Republicans aim to advance it again next
Congress, either alone or with Democratic support.
Committee Democrats held a hearing titled ``Plugging in
Public Lands: Transmission Infrastructure for Renewable
Energy'' to examine the roadblocks for renewable energy and
transmission on federal lands. The hearing unearthed some major
hinderances for renewable energy and transmission development
on federal land including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act
(ESA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, multiple lead federal
agencies, and litigation usually by radical special interest
groups.
Following the hearing, Committee Democrats failed to act,
so Committee Republicans began working with stakeholders across
the energy sector to determine how best to address these
issues. The result of these conversations was the introduction
of the ``Transparency and Production of American Energy Act''
or the ``TAP American Energy Act.'' The bill would streamline
the permitting process for all energy generation, development,
and transportation on federal lands while creating more
transparency from the federal agencies. The bill enjoyed
support from across the energy sector from renewable energy
groups to oil and gas trade associations.
Committee Republicans aim to build upon the TAP Act next
Congress to ensure advance American energy independence.
Offshore Renewable Energy Production
DOI aims to double renewable energy production from
offshore wind to a total of 30 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.\13\ Wind
energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) has the
potential to create jobs and diversify the energy sector.
However, offshore wind development is hampered by regulatory
burdens at multiple levels of government and conflicting
federal, state, local, and private interests pose numerous
competing priorities that offshore wind developers must
balance. For example, the commercial fishing industry,
recreational anglers, and fishing-dependent communities are
concerned that offshore wind development will hamper access to
the OCS.
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\13\The White House, President Biden Takes Executive Actions to
Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Create Jobs, and Restore
Scientific Integrity Across Federal Government/ https://bitly/3knbv19.
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New requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
(IRA)\14\ may affect the pace of offshore wind leasing going
forward. The IRA requires that, during the first 10 years after
its enactment, DOI cannot issue a lease for offshore wind
development on the OCS unless an offshore oil and gas lease
sale has been held in the previous year. This requirement pits
the Biden administration's well-documented resistance to
regular oil and gas leasing directly against their renewable
energy goals. It is currently unknown how this new policy will
affect offshore wind deployment--or oil and gas development--on
the OCS and oversight of this requirement will be critical
going forward.
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\14\Public Law 117-169.
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While renewables are certainly growing in our energy mix,
current technology is not capable of shouldering the high
demands of the American electric grid or replacing the hundreds
of thousands of good-paying jobs supported by other facets of
the energy sector and related industries. In the 118th
Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the
offshore wind leasing program to ensure that various interests
related to activities on the OCS are considered and ratepayers
do not bear the burden of the overzealous renewable energy
targets of the Biden administration.
Hardrock Mineral Development
Hardrock minerals like cobalt, copper, and lithium will see
surging demand in the coming years, largely driven by the
growth of the renewable energy sector. While the United States
has rich deposits of many of these commodities, the vast
majority are sourced abroad, many from China and other nations
with interests not aligned to those of the U.S. This import
reliance poses major economic and national security risks for
the U.S., and raises serious concerns about ongoing
humanitarian and environmental impacts of poor mining
conditions in other countries. The importance of domestic
mineral production was discussed at length during Committee
bearings and markups in the 117th, as well as during the
Republican forum titled ``Critical Minerals: Addressing Supply
Chain Challenges and Rising Demand'' held on May 18, 2021, as
well as the Republican forum titled, ``Minnesota Mining and
American Potential: An Opportunity for a Brighter and More
Secure Future'' held on January 13, 2022.
To address the significant supply chain concerns posed by
foreign reliance, Ranking Member Westerman introduced H.R.
8981, the Securing American Mineral Supply Chains Act on
September 22, 2022. The legislation looks at mineral supply
chains holistically, from mine permitting and land access, to
tracking global trends, to encouraging domestic refining. The
core of H.R. 8981 is permitting reform, streamlining the
permitting process for all hardrock mining projects on federal
lands. The bill would also require mineral assessments and
extensive strategic and national security analysis before
federal lands can be withdrawn from mineral development. H.R.
8981 strengthens other parts of the supply chain as well, such
as supporting mine research, emerging fields like carbon
mineralization, and growing our mining workforce. This bill
would also address mineral security, creating detailed tracking
mechanisms for the global marketplace, with an emphasis on
China's outsized influence. Finally, H.R. 8981 includes
permitting efficiencies for the Clean Air Act, the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, and other statutes to facilitate more domestic
refining and processing. Legislative efforts to support
domestic hardrock mineral production will be among the top
priorities of the Subcommittee in the 118th Congress.
Coal Mining and the Abandoned Mine Land Program
Coal mining is essential for American energy security,
providing a reliable source of baseload power and gainful
employment for thousands of Americans. Coal mining and
associated mine reclamation is regulated by the Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1251 et
seq.) and overseen by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement (OSMRE) at the Department of the Interior.
Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is
responsible for coal leasing on over 570 million acres of
federally owned land, primarily in Western states. Coal
production on federally owned lands continues to be a major
source of federal and state revenues.
The Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program,
administered by OSMRE, provides annual grants to states and
tribes with approved programs to remediate historic coal mines
abandoned before modem regulations. The AML program received a
fee reauthorization on November 15, 2021, as part of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), with a 20
percent reduction in the fee compared to the level previously
authorized. IIJA also made nearly $11.3 billion in new funding
available for the AML program. While this new funding presents
an opportunity for progress in the coal AML inventory, there
are several potential challenges to navigate as well.
Specifically, DOI guidance on how to manage the new funding has
presented some unclear or conflicting priorities, creating
areas of confusion about how the guidance is meant to apply.
Understanding this guidance and ensuring transparent
distribution of funds in the manner detailed under SMCRA, will
be an important focus for the Subcommittee going forward. The
federal coal leasing program under BLM needs oversight as well,
as coal lease applications continue to languish at BLM.
Ensuring predictable, efficient reviews in coal leasing will be
a priority of the Subcommittee in the 118th Congress.
Environmental Justice
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), environmental justice (EJ) is ``the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income, with respect to the development
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws
regulations, and policies.''\15\ Executive Order 12898,\16\
issued in 1994 by President Clinton, directed federal agencies
to make EJ part of their missions. Federal agencies currently
abide by E.O. 12989 even though federal law does not directly
mandate the consideration of EJ across federal programs and
activities.
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\15\U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Justice,
https://www.epa.gov/environementaljustice.
\16\Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, Wednesday
February 16, 1994, https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/
executive-orders/pdf/12898.pdf.
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In February, the Full Committee held a hearing on the
Environmental Justice for All Act sponsored by Chairman
Grijalva. The bill aims to address issues of EJ, which the bill
defines as ``the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
all people regardless of race, color, culture, national origin,
or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.''
However, the bill would not treat all people fairly as the
definition of an ``EJ Community'' in the bill only includes
communities with ``significant representation of communities of
color, low-income communities, or Tribal and Indigenous
communities.''
Besides a falsified intent, the bill does not consider the
potential benefits of proposed projects to impacted EJ
communities that could result in better health and economic
outcomes for households and communities over time. For example,
new construction of a natural gas pipeline can generate
thousands of well-paying jobs and access to reliable,
affordable baseload energy for households and communities,
minimizing energy poverty and creating economic opportunity. In
fact, last Congress this Committee held a hearing on a similar
bill and the Republican witness for that hearing, Derrick
Hollie, President of Reaching America, urged Congress to
address energy poverty by increasing access to affordable
energy for minority communities.
This bill would slow or stop all projects in EJ Communities
by creating more opportunities for litigation and imposing
additional reviews on top of the already burdensome National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Specifically, the bill
would require ``community impact reports'' for federal actions
that require an environmental impact statement under NEPA.
These community impact reports would consider the impacts of an
action on environmental communities as well as public health
data. The bill would also add new requirements (public comment
periods, public meetings, and hearings) for any action under
NEPA that may impact an EJ community.
The bill made it through Committee by a party line vote,
but fortunately was not seriously considered by the House of
Representatives as a whole. Next Congress, Committee
Republicans will conduct oversight to ensure that the current
administration does not attempt to use EJ to disenfranchise any
group of people along with local economies.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATERS, OCEANS, AND WILDLIFE
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Since the ESA's inception, 1,682 species have been listed
under this nearly five-decade old federal law. Only 66 of those
species have been de-listed due to recovery, which is a 3.9
percent success rate. This underwhelming figure exists despite
millions of taxpayer dollars and regulations going towards
implementation year after year. To make matters worse, ESA
mandates have hampered all kinds of infrastructure projects
across the country. Compliance costs under the act, usually in
the form of Section 7 consultations and permits under Section
10, continue to increase the financial burden on taxpayers as
well as small businesses and local economies.
In the 117th Congress, Committee Republicans put forward
common sense solutions to amend the ESA in ways that will
protect and promote species but would also reduce red tape on
small businesses and local economies, increase transparency and
ensure that taxpayer money goes to the species that need it.
These proposals include Representative Tom McClintock's
Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2022,
which would require that data used in species listings be made
publicly available and that all data used shall be provided to
states in advance of listing determinations. They also include
Representative Pete Stauber's Endangered Species Act
Flexibility Act, which would give the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service the flexibility to utilize species specific 4(d) rules
for endangered species.
Republican members also introduced legislation to codify
regulatory changes made by the Trump administration that have
been revoked by or are under attack from the Biden
administration. The codification of the Trump administration
regulations would establish clarity and protect local economies
and landowners without negatively impacting species. In
addition, Committee Republicans introduced bills to delist gray
wolves and grizzly bears, two species that are recovered but
stay listed due to environmental litigation.
Unfortunately, Republican efforts have fallen on deaf ears
as Democrats continue to hold the belief shared by radical
special interest groups that commonsense ESA reform is not
needed, and taxpayer money is the ESA solution. As such,
Committee Democrats failed to hold a single oversight hearing
this Congress on the ESA even as it continues to plague
communities across the country and businesses across the
spectrum. Committee Republicans look forward to having this
debate in the 118th Congress.
Western Water
In this Congress, the Democrat Majority steered billions of
taxpayer dollars under the guise of reacting to the drought.
The IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) alone gave the
Bureau of Reclamation over $12 billion in funds. What we did
not see, unfortunately, was any attempt to ensure those funds
are not gobbled up by administrative overhead or in compliance
with excessive and unnecessary regulatory red tape. The
Democrats simply refused to hold any hearings or oversight
activities on how this money is being and will be spent.
Meanwhile, Republicans held two forums on western drought.
At those forums, we heard from stakeholders that simply
throwing more money at the situation does not solve the
underlying problem of natural drought worsened by federal
regulations. The daunting number of federal regulations,
particularly the ESA and NEPA, have compromised our western
water infrastructure.
The West needs more water and regulatory certainty, not
necessarily money being spent without goals or oversight. Water
storage is an integral component of the Republican all-of-the-
above water strategy. Projects such as the 18.5 feet raise of
Shasta Dam, which would increase storage capacity by 634,000-
acre feet would be beneficial to farms, cities and fish and
wildlife. Yet, the Democrat Majority and the Biden
administration have stopped that project and have returned
federal ESA regulations on smelt and salmon back to the Obama
administration edicts that will make the current drought in
California worse. Committee Republicans will renew the
Committee's focus on the need to restore water deliveries and
overcome future drought.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC LANDS
Active Forest Management
During the 117th Congress, Committee Republicans introduced
several pieces of meaningful, bipartisan legislation to address
the catastrophic wildfire and forest health crisis on our
federal lands. In April 2021, Ranking Member Westerman
introduced H.R. 2639, the Trillion Trees Act, which currently
has 105 bipartisan cosponsors. Scientists have found that if
one trillion trees were planted and restored globally, it would
sequester 205 gigatons of carbon, an amount equivalent to two-
thirds of the carbon remaining in the atmosphere since the
Industrial Revolution. Committee Republicans also held a forum
on this legislation to examine the importance of science-based
reforestation, active management, and wood product utilization
in improving the overall health of our nation's forests. The
Trillion Trees Act also contained the BIOCHAR Act of 2021,
which would create demonstration projects in each Forest
Service region for biochar, an innovative carbon sequestration
tool with promising benefits for improving forest health and
agricultural productivity.
Additionally, Representatives Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and
Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Save Our Sequoias
Act (H.R. 8168), to protect some of the most iconic trees on
this Earth. Since 2015, catastrophic fires have caused
unprecedented destruction and in the last two years alone, have
destroyed nearly one-fifth of all Giant Sequoias. This
emergency facing Giant Sequoias is unprecedented--the last
recorded evidence of mass Giant Sequoia mortality occurred in
1297 A.D., over seven centuries ago. The bill improves
interagency coordination, utilizes robust scientific analysis
to triage high priority Giant Sequoia groves, expedites forest
restoration projects by codifying and streamlining existing
emergency procedures, and provides substantial new tools and
resources to land managers. The bill has 25 Republican and 25
Democrat cosponsors and companion legislation was introduced in
the Senate by California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex
Padilla.
Committee Republicans also held several forums on
addressing the catastrophic wildfire crisis and hosted a
bipartisan briefing in conjunction with the Working Forests
Caucus with Chief of the Forest Service, Randy Moore. Despite
historic and record-breaking fire seasons, Committee Democrats
did not mark up any legislation that would address our forest
health crisis. Committee Republicans strongly opposed the
partisan Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act that
Comm.ittee Democrats moved to the floor without proper
committee process. The legislation would have made the Forest
Service re-do its recently announced 10-year strategy and would
have resulted in layoffs of over 600 brave wildland
firefighters, according to information obtained from the Forest
Service. Instead, Committee Republicans supported the
bipartisan Resilient Federal Forests Act, which would
comprehensively address our wildfire crisis by giving the land
management agencies the new tools and authorities they need to
treat our overgrown, fire-prone federal lands on a fireshed-
scale level.
In response to Russia's unwarranted and unprovoked
aggression towards Ukraine, Republicans introduced H.R. 7437,
the No Timber from Tyrants Act. This legislation would ban wood
imports from Russia and Belarus and direct the federal land
management agencies to harvest more timber from our overgrown,
fire-prone federal lands to make up for the lost imports. In
2021, the United States imported over half-a-billion dollars'
worth of wood products from these nations, helping fund Putin's
deplorable acts of aggression. Securing American independence
from wood supplied by tyrants will greatly enhance American
forest management and create vitally important economic
opportunities for rural communities to produce more American
wood products. Harvesting more wood products here at home,
under high environmental standards, will also help address the
wildfire crisis by supporting more active management to improve
forest health and reduce the risk and severity of catastrophic
wildfires.
Addressing Access Challenges and Deferred Maintenance at Our National
Parks and Public Lands
Despite several requests from Committee Republicans,
Committee Democrats did not schedule a single hearing to
oversee the implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act
(GAOA) and the reduction of deferred maintenance backlogs at
our national parks and public lands. It is disappointing that
despite historic investments in parks through GAOA, the
National Park Service (NPS) deferred maintenance backlog
increased from roughly $11.9 billion in 2018 to over $21
billion. This alarming, nearly $10 billion increase in the
backlog over the past four years is indicative of greater
underlying problems in how we manage our parks and deserves
renewed attention and oversight. Republicans are committed to
identifying areas of waste and lower priority spending within
the budget to ensure the long-term viability of the National
Park System.
Committee Republicans encouraged NPS to adopt market-based
solutions to pressing challenges and to enter more public-
private partnerships to maximize park resources and enhance
visitor services. Republicans support new strategic
partnerships including additional concessions opportunities,
enhanced use of leasing, creative partnerships for employee
housing, utilization of existing public land service corps and
private volunteer organizations, and additional opportunities
for private philanthropic giving. To that end, Republicans
introduced new legislation with innovative solutions that
address pressing issues at our national parks without relying
on new bureaucracy or taxpayer funding. This included the PACTS
Act, LODGE Act, and National Park Foundation Reauthorization
Act. The latter of these bills was passed by the House and
later included in the omnibus spending package.
Committee Republicans continued to support increased public
access to our nation's parks, especially to our nation's
veterans. On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed into law
the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year
2022, which included the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks
(VIP) Act. This Republican-led effort codified free America the
Beautiful Passes (the National Parks and Federal Recreational
Lands pass) for active-duty military and provided lifetime
passes to veterans and Gold Star Families at no cost.
Disappointingly, Committee Democrats did not hold a hearing
or markup on any comprehensive recreation package. Moving
forward, increasing access and opportunities for outdoor
recreation should be a bipartisan and bicameral priority. From
hiking and biking to rock climbing and hunting, America's
public lands offer abundant opportunities for outdoor
recreation that can and should be unleashed by cutting
unnecessary red tape, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and
promoting increased access.
Conservation Over Preservation
Republicans remained committed throughout the 117th
Congress to promoting conservation over the misguided,
preservationist policies of the Biden administration and
Committee Democrats. This effort began by holding a forum in
2021 to gather testimony on the misguided 30 by 30 initiative
(later re-branded as America the Beautiful), which purports to
conserve 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030. Committee
Republicans also conducted extensive oversight efforts of the
Biden administration's $1 billion fund they claimed would help
advance this goal. Ultimately, while this initiative claimed to
support conservation over preservation, the administration
repeatedly and consistently identified only preservationist
land designations, such as national monuments and wilderness
areas, as being consistent with 30 by 30.
The Great American Outdoors Act permanently funded the Land
and Water Conservation Fund, allowing NPS to acquire land in
perpetuity, but funding for deferred maintenance was only
provided for five years. Republicans believe that the federal
government should exercise the highest level of constraint in
acquiring new land and held a very high threshold for any
legislation that would add to the federal estate this year.
Similarly, Committee Republicans opposed the Democrats'
partisan Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act,
which included over 1 million acres of new wilderness and
mineral withdrawals, respectively. Legislation like this one
proposed by committee Democrats will only make it more
difficult to manage our lands, imperil our energy independence
and security, and ignore the voices of local communities who do
not need or want such restrictive designations.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
During the 117th Congress, Natural Resources Committee
Republicans requested more than 247 items from 21 officials at
more than nine different departments or agencies. The Biden
administration satisfactorily responded to only 61 of the
requests for documents and other items from Republican members
of the committee. Today, the Biden administration is more than
a year and a half delayed in responding to some of the document
requests. When House Democrats once again made Resolutions of
Inquiry available under the House Rules, Natural Resources
Committee Republicans were quick to act, compelling committee
action on many of these document requests relating to such
priority topics as the Biden administration's cancelation of
the Twin Metals mine, their failure to provide certainty in
American onshore and offshore energy production, and
insufficient ethics compliance by Biden political appointees at
the Department of the Interior. Committee Democrats unfavorably
reported six such resolutions of inquiry, all of which warrant
renewed action in the 118th Congress under a Republican
majority.
In the 118th Congress, Republicans on the House Committee
on Natural Resources will focus on the unresponsiveness of
departments and agencies within the committee's jurisdiction
and utilize all available oversight and investigations
enforcement mechanisms to ensure an accountable and transparent
government.
FULL COMMITTEE--INSULAR AFFAIRS
Puerto Rico's Political Status
The island of Puerto Rico has been a United States
Territory since 1898. The question of its political status has
been intensely debated ever since, both on the island and in
Congress. It is a question that deserves serious debate and
consideration, especially given the complicated and permanent
effects either statehood or independence would have on Puerto
Rico, Puerto Ricans, and the United States.
Unfortunately, the Democrat majority decided to cut
backroom deals and force through legislation (H.R. 8393, the
Puerto Rico Status Act) that is unclear, unwise, and was never
open for consensus building among all of Members of Congress
and the residents of Puerto Rico. The Majority has deprived the
U.S. citizens living on the island of Puerto Rico of a full,
robust, and open debate in Congress, choosing instead to rely
on negotiations between just a few select individuals rather
than seeking to build consensus and understanding of this issue
across Congress. The political decision to push through this
bill at the end of Congress when the Senate would not have the
time to adequately debate the measure shows that this was
political theater that never meant to engage the wider body of
Congress or to enact law.
Whether the Democrats want to accept it or not, Puerto Rico
is a U.S. territory subject to Congressional authority derived
from the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The
Territory Clause grants Congress the ``[p]ower to dispose of
and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the
Territory or other Property belonging to the United States
(U.S. Const. Art. 4 Sec. 3 Cl. 2).'' Congress--all of Congress,
not just a select group of Members--must be involved in
conversations regarding political status changes for Puerto
Rico, and any other territory of the United States.
Puerto Rico's Energy Needs
It is undeniable that Puerto Rico has faced many different
and overlapping challenges for several years. One of the most
pressing involves energy reliability and ensuring electricity
for homes and businesses throughout the island. Both the
generation side and the transmission and distribution side of
the electrical grid on the island need significant
improvements.
However, the solution Democrats have proposed is more
federal money for more individual solar electricity generating
systems and to disconnect residents from the larger grid. This
is done without concern for how building out that type of
individualized electricity system will affect both individuals
and businesses who cannot switch to that system due to monetary
or reliability issues, among others. It also pays no regard to
the consequences of such a plan. For every home and business in
Puerto Rico that disconnects from the electrical grid, there
will be fewer rate payers, which will necessitate an increase
in electrical rates for remaining customers. While Democrats
may want to believe that a utopia of individual solar cells and
batteries is possible for every home and business in Puerto
Rico, it is not feasible. This approach avoids the reality that
what must be done is to improve Puerto Rico's electrical grid,
rebuild it to sustain a 21st Century economy, and follow an
all-of-the-above energy approach for electricity generation. To
truly put Puerto Rico on a path towards their energy goals,
they need reliable and affordable energy now.
Going forward, the Committee must continue to conduct
oversight and ensure that federal funds already set aside for
Puerto Rico's electrical grid rebuilding and improvement are
used for that purpose. The Committee must also work to ensure
electricity reliability through an all-of-the-above energy
approach to electricity generation in Puerto Rico.
Insular Economic Development
The U.S. Territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands face both similar and unique challenges that are
often tied to their geographic locations. Encouraging economic
development should be a high priority for Congress, considering
Congress's responsibility to the territories. However,
Democrats have remained focused on building up federal
programs, sending more federal dollars, and narrowly focusing
on climate challenges rather than forming a holistic
perspective on interrelated challenges that face each of the
territories.
The Democrat majority's single-minded focus on only
renewable energy sources to support island territories' energy
needs is short-sighted and does not consider the need to build
up capacity for such technologies. Energy sources should be
prioritized based on an all-of-the-above approach that
prioritizes affordability and reliability, particularly for
places where most, if not all, energy generating fuels need to
be imported.
The Committee should continue to work with each territory
to achieve energy goals they set for themselves, utilizing
current available resources and existing programs, while also
conducting oversight of federal programs to ensure they are
working to meet each territory's individual needs and not just
mandating whatever the government feels it knows best at the
time. Continued oversight of the efficacy of funding that has
already been appropriated and distributed is also imperative.
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE UNITED STATES
Tribal Consultation
Tribal consultation ensures the government-to-government
relationship between the United States federal government and
federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes
is respected. The federal government is required to consult
with federally recognized tribes and Native peoples on matters
that affect them under Executive Order 13175, and federal
consultation is required with Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs)
on the same basis as tribes by Public Law 199-108, Sec. 161.
Each American Indian and Alaska Native tribe, band, nation,
pueblo, village, or community has its own unique culture,
goals, needs, and history. Congress supports including their
voices in policy deliberations that affect Native communities.
However, Democrats have continued to seek to weaponize the
consultation process and serve environmentalist agendas through
their efforts to codify a tribal consultation policy in law as
seen in H.R. 3587, the Requirements, Expectations, and Standard
Procedures for Effective Consultation with Tribes (RESPECT)
Act. Not only have Democrats failed to seek consensus with
Republicans on what could be accomplished through bipartisan
work in this area, they have also failed to bring Tribes to
consensus on what codification of a tribal consultation policy
should look like.
As deeper understanding and further application of
indigenous and traditional knowledge is seen to be beneficial
to many different areas, including forest management, wildlife
management, and climate adaptation, the Committee should seek
to build consensus on how best to elevate voices and add inputs
from tribes and Native stakeholders. Tribal consultation should
not be a weapon to prevent projects from happening. It should
be an opportunity to build high value and high benefit projects
that continue meet both development and conservation goals in a
manner consistent with the values we all share tribal self-
determination and sovereignty, economic opportunity, and
ecological conservation.
Indian Health Service
Upholding the Federal government's trust responsibility to
deliver healthcare to the approximately 2.2 million American
Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) is paramount. The Indian
Health Service (IHS) serves as the principal federal agency
charged with raising the physical, mental, social, and
spiritual health of AI/ANs to the highest level. Congress has
continued to increase federal funds and appropriations to IHS
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in recent years.
Despite these increases, the IHS was added to and remains
on the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list. After
throwing the permanent reauthorization for the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act into the Affordable Care Act in 2009, the
Obama administration seemingly forgot to properly manage the
IHS. If this Committee truly wishes to save AI/ANs from high
rates of mortality and needless suffering, oversight of IHS and
its funding is paramount and major legislative reforms should
be considered. Creative proposals must be explored to leverage
existing programs and funding, as the discretionary budget may
not keep pace with need. Paying lip service to tribes on this
important issue won't reduce disparities in Indian Country.
While increases to many IHS accounts are well supported,
there remains a deep need to conduct proper oversight over the
agency as to how funds are, and will be, spent. Congress has
provided an immense amount of funding during the COVID-19
pandemic. The Biden administration must be held accountable.
Congress must do more to address programmatic and systemic
issues within the IHS system to provide a reliable healthcare
delivery system.
This extends to health care facility construction, which is
a high priority for Indian Country and Native Communities. The
increased age of IHS facilities adds to the risk of building
code noncompliance and compromises the delivery of healthcare.
National benchmarks for operations and maintenance costs show
that a 40-year-old facility will cost around 26 percent more to
operate and maintain than a 10-year-old facility. It is
unfortunate that this majority did not place a high priority of
the state of the Indian health system in its agenda during the
117th Congress.
Continuing to develop and implement innovative approaches
that can combine sources of funding and establishing an Area
Distribution fund could allow each IHS area to improve, expand,
or replace exiting health care facilities without waiting for
funding for line-item projects through congressional
appropriations. Instead, Democrats have chosen only to focus on
advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service as a cure
all for the issues that are plaguing health care services for
Native peoples across the United States. This ignores the
constitutionally mandated role of Congress to conduct oversight
and ensure government programs are operating well and without
waste, fraud, and abuse.
Tribal Sovereignty Over Lands, Energy, and Mineral Rights
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations face many
challenges and bureaucratic red tape that impacts their ability
to use or develop their lands. Ensuring that Native communities
can access their lands and use it for the purposes they see
fit--even when the federal government may disagree--is key to
tribal self-determination and sovereignty.
However, the Democrat majority has only focused on cultural
and environmental preservation, which are only part of the
conversation of how tribal sovereignty can be exercised over
Tribal lands, whether they are held in trust, are part of the
reservation, or are owned outright by individual Indians or
tribes. This single-minded focus on preservation does not
consider working lands, project development needs, and that
Native people have shown they know best how to steward their
own natural resources.
Continuing to work to remove barriers for tribes to engage
in traditional practices, maintain and pass on indigenous
traditional ecological knowledge, and develop natural resources
for the benefit of tribal members is critical to encouraging
economic development in Indian Country. Native peoples are the
experts about their own lands, and removing barriers to
development, like allowing an easy and reversible transition
between trust lands and restricted fee status for tribally
owned lands, would enable further projects and shorten
timelines.
Economic Development in Indian Country and Native Communities
Indian Country plays a key role in an all-of-the-above
energy approach, and Republicans support these efforts. Native
lands hold an estimated ten percent of the nation's untapped
energy resources and provide over $1 billion to tribes
annually. Given growing federal budget deficits and the current
energy crisis, scarce resources should be steered toward energy
development on Native lands to spur growth and much-needed
revenues that benefit tribes and the country.
Regulations can hinder a tribe's ability to fully realize
the huge economic potential of their trust assets and should
not be encouraged. Indian land is not federal land and should
not be treated as such. Regulatory or programmatic changes to
expedite efforts to expand economic development in Indian
country are also badly needed. Without regulatory and
programmatic reforms, there is no way to ensure available
funding goes to where it's needed most and won't instead be
lost to an expanded bureaucracy or never-ending bureaucratic
processes. Congress should support tribal self-determination
and respect what tribes wish to do on their land.
However, Democrats have focused on mandating
``environmental justice'' have skewed towards environmentalist
agendas rather than seeking to understand each tribal and
Native community's needs and working towards their goals.
Republicans held roundtables focused on economic
development in Native Communities inviting Tribes and Native
organizations to speak about what works for them, what doesn't
work for them, and where further work should be done. In
September 2021, tribal leaders from western areas spoke about
the diverse business investments and economic development
projects that provide economic stability for their tribes. In
March 2022, Alaska Native leaders educated Congressmembers
about Alaska's unique system. The Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (ANCSA) has become essential to Alaska's tribal
system and the state's economy over the past 50 years. Hearing
about ANCSA's successes and opportunities for the next 50 years
provided Members with new insights into the Native communities
and economies of Alaska.
Republicans will continue to listen and work with tribes
and Indian Country to further support economic development and
diversification that they seek.
Bruce Westerman.
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