News List

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alaskan Congressman Don Youngtoday introduced legislation that would prohibit the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce from authorizing commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) unless specifically authorized by Congress. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) today, along with 28 original bipartisan cosponsors, reintroduced the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, to allow the United States to more efficiently develop strategic and critical minerals, such as rare earth elements, that are vital to job creation, American economic competitiveness, and national security. The bill streamlines the permitting process for mineral development by coordinating the actions of federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to reduce red tape while protecting the environmental review process. Read more »

Washington, D.C. –Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-2), introduced his first piece of legislation, the 2013 Utah Land Sovereignty Act, which would prevent the extension or establishment of national monuments in Utah without authorization from Congress. This bill adds Utah to an agreement made in 1950 between the federal government and Wyoming. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Senate Western Caucus Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Congressional Western Caucus co-chairs Stevan Pearce (R-NM) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined 22 other Caucus Members in sending a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging the Administration to withdraw Secretarial Order 3321, which establishes the “National Blueways” program. Read more »

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), authors of H.R. 267, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013, applauded the unanimous approval of their bill in the House of Representatives today. The final vote was 422-0. Their legislation would facilitate the development of small hydropower and conduit projects and direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study the feasibility of a streamlined two-year permitting process. The bill now moves to the Senate. Read more »

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) sent a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel Ashe today, detailing concerns with a proposal to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Read more »

WASHINGTON – Wednesday President Obama announced his nomination for Interior Secretary, REI CEO Sally Jewell. Following the announcement US Representative Cynthia Lummis issued the following statement: Read more »

Washington, D.C. (February 5, 2013) – Today, Utah Congressman Chris Stewart announced his membership with the Congressional Western Caucus. The Caucus is in its twentieth year of advocating for Western and rural interests in Congress. Read more »

Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, released the following statement after reviewing Dr. Joseph R. Mason’s report on the “Economic Effects of Immediately Opening Federal Lands to Oil and Gas Leasing: A Response to the Congressional Budget Office.” The report projects significant growth in jobs and economic activity—$14.4 trillion GDP increase, almost 2 million jobs created, and $2.7 trillion in federal tax revenues—that would result from increased energy production on federal lands. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (February 5, 2013)- Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce worked across the aisle with other members of the New Mexico delegation to introduce a bipartisan mining cleanup bill. Read more »