The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group, led by Representatives Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large), today held a forum entitled “Reviewing 40 Years of the Endangered Species Act and Seeking Improvement for People and Species.” The forum featured 17 panelists, representing diverse groups and interests from across the country who discussed ways in which the Endangered Species Act could be strengthened and improved to better serve the needs of both species and people. Participants specifically highlighted the need to empower states, local governments, and private landowners to conserve species and avoid federal listings, the need for balance within the law, the importance of transparent data and science and the need to prevent the ESA from being used as a tool for lawsuits and closed-door settlements with litigious groups. Read more »
During her weekly press conference today with South Dakota media, Rep. Kristi Noem announced her plans to visit Rapid City and the surrounding area affected by last weekend’s storm. Noem said she planned to visit on Sunday at the latest, depending on the House of Representatives potential weekend schedule. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the week of August 19, 2013, a team of agents, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), raided placer mine sites in the Fortymile Mining District near Chicken, Alaska to investigate potential Clean Water Act violations. Read more »
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Scott Tipton’s (R-CO) bill to protect Colorado and Western water rights from federal takings received a legislative hearing in the House Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee. H.R. 3189, which Tipton introduced earlier this month with bipartisan support from Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), has received strong support from a broad coalition of local, state and national stakeholders concerned with recent federal attempts to hijack privately held water rights. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Department of Interior’s recent decision authorizing states to use state funds to reopen National Parks, Congressman Steve Daines today announced his plans to introduce legislation that would ensure states are reimbursed within 90 days for all state funds spent to pay for National Park operations. Read more »
Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) today sent a letter, along with 12 other members of the House Western Caucus,to the director of the U.S. National Park Servicedemanding to know what "specific criteria, if any" the Parks Service uses to determine who is allowed access to our public lands during the government shutdown. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young (both R-Alaska) today sent a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe insisting that commercial hunting and fishing guides and air taxi operators with valid permits be allowed to continue to operate in National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. Read more »
WASHINGTON— Today, the National Park Service (NPS) opened sections of the National Mall for a rally. Upon learning this, Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, is calling on the Administration and Senator Harry Reid to support legislation that would fund national parks while Congress continues to negotiate a budget agreement. The Open Our National Parks and Museums Act[H.J. Res 70] was passed by the House and sent to the Senate on October 02, 2013. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) issued the following statement regarding the Obama administration’s decision to allow an immigration reform rally on the National Mall while it continues to block public access to the rest of the national park system, including the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores. Read more »
U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem today said she has received an assurance from Speaker of the House John Boehner that he will appoint House conferees within the next week to the House-Senate Farm Bill conference committee. The naming of House conferees will allow formal Farm Bill conference negotiations to begin, bringing the Farm Bill one step closer to completion. Read more »
