Natural Resources Committee Advances Three Western Caucus Bills

Washington, April 21, 2026 | Quinn Jenssen ((202) 738-0845)
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources reported three of our Members' bills to the House:
  • H.R. 5911 – Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act – Vice Chair Jeff Hurd (CO-03)
  • H.R. 1687 – Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act – Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01)
  • H.R. 3756 – Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2025 – Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)
See what they have to say about these wins below. 

“Momentum matters when fighting for American resources. Today ‘s progress moves us toward stronger infrastructure, dependable energy, and fair protections for American industries,” said Chair Celeste Maloy.

"In Western Colorado, reliable water is essential to our communities, our agriculture, and our way of life. This legislation will allow the City of Ouray to take ownership of Crystal Reservoir, make needed repairs to the dam, and restore a critical water source that supports local needs, wildfire response, and recreation," said Vice Chair Jeff Hurd. “It is a practical, commonsense solution that puts this resource back in the hands of the people who rely on it every day. I appreciate Chairman Bruce Westerman’s support in advancing H.R. 5911 through markup, and I look forward to continuing to move this legislation forward to deliver real results for Western Colorado.”

"Geothermal has the potential to be a powerhouse for America. This clean, abundant resource can provide families with affordable, reliable electricity while diversifying our nation’s power portfolio and strengthening American energy independence. I am very pleased to see my bipartisan legislation, the CLEAN Act, H.R. 1687, clear committee, and I look forward to getting it on the House floor for passage," said Congressman Russ Fulcher.
 

Legislative Digest

H.R. 5911, the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act
Sponsor: Vice Chair Jeff Hurd (CO-03)
Summary: Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray, Colorado. The conveyance will include the Full Moon Dam, Full Moon Ditch, a related lake, all infrastructure associated with the reservoir, 45 acres of U.S. Forest Service land considered necessary for the management of the Crystal Reservoir, and all of the federal water rights associated with it. After completion of the conveyance, the city of Ouray would become responsible for management of the land and infrastructure, and would be required to maintain the Federal Land in perpetuity for public access and recreation. 
 
H.R. 1687, the Committing Leases for Energy Action Now (CLEAN) Act
Sponsor: Representative Russ Fulcher (ID-01)
Co-sponsors: Chair Maloy (UT-02), Executive Vice Chair Begich (AK-AL), Boebert (CO-04), Lee (NV-03)
Summary: Requires the Secretary of the Interior to hold annual lease sales for geothermal energy, including annual replacement sales for any geothermal lease that is canceled or delayed. Geothermal drilling permit applications must be responded to within 30 days of receipt, and any deferral must be accompanied by a list with specific reasons and steps to be taken by either the applicant or the agency before a final decision can be made.
 
H.R. 3756, the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2025
Sponsor: Representative Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)
Co-sponsors: Executive Vice Chair Begich (AK-AL), Mace (SC-01), Magaziner (RI-02), Vindman (VA-07)
Summary: Establishes a blacklist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for foreign vessels that have been involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This list would be made public and used to impose sanctions on listed vessels and entities that support them, thereby barring them from using American ports and imposing financial penalties.

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