Latest News
Committee Republicans Conduct Oversight of Increased Budget Requests, Lack of Results
By Interior Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
On May 23, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight hearing on the president's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget request for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs).
Committee Republicans Move Solutions to Increase Forest Management, Improve Wildland Firefighter Conditions and Address the Wildfire Crisis
By Interior Newswire Report | May 23, 2023
On May 23, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on nine bills focused on forest management, wildland firefighter reforms and fire suppression policies.
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Strengthening America's Security and Competitiveness and the Path Ahead for the US-China Relationship
By Interior Newswire Report | May 23, 2023
On May 16, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, led a full committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to examine President Biden’s budget request in the context of the U.S.-China relationship and discuss the investments needed in the upcoming fiscal year to strengthen America’s security and competitiveness and stay ahead of global competitors like China.
Senator Collins: The Fentanyl Crisis ‘Begins and Ends in China’
By Interior Newswire Report | May 23, 2023
At a full Appropriations Committee hearing to review the President’s fiscal year 2024 budget request related to U.S.-China policy, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Committee, stressed the need to curtail China’s involvement in the fentanyl crisis in America.
Senator Collins Calls for Increased Funding to Cover Military Fuel Shortfalls
By Interior Newswire Report | May 23, 2023
At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley on the Administration’s under-budgeted calculations for fuel costs to maintain military readiness.
Members Seek Additional Answers from USFWS on Use of Outside Consultants for "Social Change" Initiatives
By Interior Newswire Report | May 22, 2023
Last week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) led a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams, seeking transparency on the use of funds to hire outside consultants for various trainings, projects and workshops that are unrelated to the mission of the agency.
What They Are Saying: The Save Our Sequoias Act
By Interior Newswire Report | May 18, 2023
On Arbor Day 2023, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) joined Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and a bipartisan group of more than 50 members in re-introducing the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act.
Westerman Leads Bipartisan Delegation to See Forest Management in Action
By Interior Newswire Report | May 18, 2023
On May 19, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a bipartisan group of members and staff to the Yale School of the Environment to see their working forest in action and learn more from faculty and subject-matter experts on scientific forest management
Members Ask DOI to Extend Comment Period on Land Management Rule, Hear From Impacted Communities
By Interior Newswire Report | May 17, 2023
On May 17, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, asking her to extend the comment period on a proposed land management rule until the agency has time to hear from the communities most impacted by the decision.
Comer Applauds Senate Passage of Resolution Blocking D.C.’s Anti-Police Bill
By Interior Newswire Report | May 16, 2023
On May 16, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) applauded bipartisan Senate passage of a joint resolution (H. J. Res. 42) blocking the D.C. Council’s anti-police bill from taking effect. Washington, D.C. is facing a crime crisis resulting from soft-on-crime policies and the D.C.
Mace Questions DHS About New AI Task Force
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
Requests staff level briefing to understand how AI Task Force will advise DHS’s border crisis response
Wyoming’s Paul Ulrich Testifies Before the Senate on Federal Permitting Reform
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
On May 11, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), welcomed Mr. Paul Ulrich, Vice President, Jonah Energy and Member, Wyoming Energy Authority Board of Directors, to the committee.
Barrasso: Reduce Energy Dependence on China & Russia
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
“We can pass bipartisan legislation that unleashes American energy and mineral production, creates good paying jobs, lowers consumer prices, and boosts our national security."
What They Are Saying: Broad Support for Barrasso/Capito Permitting Reform
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
A broad group of outside stakeholders and issue experts have voiced support for measures to reform and modernize America’s broken permitting process. Last week Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) and Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) introduced S. 1456, the SPUR Act, and S. 1449, the RESTART Act, respectively. Taken together, this package will bring much-needed reform of the nation’s broken permitting and environmental review processes.
House & Senate Republican Energy Leaders Request GAO Evaluate DOE Mismanagement of Strategic Petroleum Reserve
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluate the Department of Energy’s (DOE) mismanagement of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
Manchin: New Guidance Rewards Chinese Control Over the Solar Supply Chain
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
On May 12, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the below statement following the release of guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that would allow solar cells composed of Chinese materials to count toward an extra tax credit bonus under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Manchin Rallies Senators Around Bipartisan Permitting Reform Bill
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
On May 11, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to examine opportunities for Congress to reform the permitting process for energy and mineral projects.
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Defense on Terrorism Threat From Afghanistan
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
“We can't lose sight of the fact that Afghanistan is once again a safe haven for many terrorist groups.”
Senator Collins Underscores Critical Need to Support Ukraine, Calls for Accelerated Delivery of Abrams Tanks
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, called on the Administration to provide Ukraine with swift support.
Senator Collins Calls for Continued Support from FBI, DEA to Combat Opioid Epidemic in Maine
By Interior Newswire Report | May 15, 2023
During hearing, Senator Collins discussed Auburn restaurant that received $3M worth of fentanyl last month