WASHINGTON– Today, Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Rep. Paul Cook (CA-8), Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-3), and Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2) introduced bipartisan legislation that would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to proactively coordinate with states and localities on wildfire mitigation projects. The bill, which places wildfires on par with other natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes, would make states eligible to receive an additional 15 percent of the total funds FEMA allocates for fire suppression to support wildfire-mitigation efforts. Read more »
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-2), introduced the Provide Access and Retain Continuity Act, otherwise known as the PARC Act. In the event of future government shutdowns or lapse in appropriations, this bill enables states to fund and continue operating National Parks and other federal facilities or programs that have direct economic impacts on tourism, mining, timber, or general transportation in the state. Read more »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has cosponsored legislation to ensure that the federal government can’t hold private water rights hostage as a condition for a land use permit. H.R. 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act, prohibits agencies from requiring the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government in order to obtain a permit to use federal land. Read more »
Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after winning several victories for families in southeast Louisiana. The House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act with an amendment by Scalise and Rep. Cedric Richmond to ensure that the Corps of Engineers account for the regional benefits of each proposed flood protection project. The bill also includes a… Read more »
Roswell, NM (October 23, 2013) – Responding to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) announcement in support of existing plans to protect the Lesser Prairie Chicken, U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce today issued the following statement: Read more »
Washington, DC (October 23, 2013) – Today, U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce voted for H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013. WRRDA passed the House by a strong bipartisan vote of 417 to 3. The bill authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resource projects throughout the country, including key dams and levees that help to prevent flooding on the Rio Grande in New Mexico, and makes cuts toward wasteful, outdated projects. Read more »
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem today announced that the first official public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee will be held next week on Wednesday, October 30. Read more »
WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endorsement of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan. Read more »
The House overwhelming passed WRRDA with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 417-3. WRRDA brings unprecedented reform through cutting the red tape of federal regulation and clearing the path for increased efficiency and competition in our nation’s water infrastructure system. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) voted against H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA). The bill would authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to spend over seven billion dollars on construction of 23 new water infrastructure projects, despite the fact that the Corps does not have enough money to maintain existing projects or to construct the over 60 billion dollars in projects that Congress has already authorized in prior legislation. Read more »