Press Releases

Chair Grijalva Helps Secure Funding for Rooftop Solar for Vulnerable Households in Puerto Rico, Other Committee Wins in Government Funding Bill

Following today's House passage of the year-end government funding omnibus bill and imminent signing into law, House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on inclusion of $1 billion for rooftop solar and battery storage for low-income households and households with disabilities in Puerto Rico. In October, shortly after Hurricane Fiona caused an island-wide blackout, Chair Grijalva led a 38-member letter requesting $5 billion for … Continue Reading

National Heritage Area Act, Two More Natural Resources Bills Pass House, Await President Biden’s Signature

Today, the House passed the National Heritage Act (S. 1942) by a bipartisan vote of 326-95. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) introduced and championed the House version of the bill (H.R. 1316), which passed the House as an amendment to the bipartisan Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act last year. The National Heritage Area Act will establish a National Heritage Areas System to standardize the process for studying and establishing new National Heritage Areas. The bill will also reduce b… Continue Reading

Rep. Grijalva Elected as Top Democrat of Natural Resources Committee for 118th Congress

Today, outgoing Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) was elected to continue his tenure as top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee in the position of ranking member in the 118th Congress. Prior to becoming chair when Democrats won the House majority in 2018, Chair Grijalva had served as ranking member since 2014 and had been a member of the Committee since coming to Congress in 2003. During his chairmanship, Chair Grijalva has elevated not only the profile of the Natural Resour… Continue Reading

Media Advisories

LIVESTREAMS NEXT WEEK: Overcrowding in National Parks on Tuesday, Committee Markup on Thursday

The Natural Resources Committee is holding two livestreamed events next week. SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT & INVESTIGATIONS The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led by Chair Katie Porter (D-Calif.), will hold a hearing titled, Lessons from the Field: Overcrowding in National Parks. National parks have a dual mandate to protect natural and cultural resources and provide enjoyment for current and future generations of visitors, but sky rocketing visitation numbers are harming the … Continue Reading

LIVESTREAMS NEXT WEEK: Committee Markup on Wednesday, Puerto Rico Disaster Reconstruction and Power Grid Oversight on Thursday

The Natural Resources Committee is holding two livestreamed events next week. FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP The full Committee, led by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), will hold a markup on the following Resolution of Inquiry: H.Res.1378 (Gosar) Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Agriculture to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to Resolution Copper mine. When: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Watch … Continue Reading

MEDIA ADVISORY: House Natural Resources Committee Staff to Hold Tribal Listening Session on the American Indian Religious Freedom Act

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Central in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, House Natural Resources Committee staff will hold an in-person listening session in conjunction with the Native American Church of North America to hear from tribal communities about the challenges facing their practice of ceremonies and religion and how the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) can be strengthened. For generations, the federal government enacted assimilationist policies that prohibited tribal … Continue Reading

Opinion Pieces

Oil and gas lobbyists are using Ukraine to push for a drilling free-for-all in the US

Last week, we all watched in horror as Vladimir Putin launched a deadly, catastrophic attack on Ukraine, violating international treaties across the board. Most of us swiftly condemned his actions and pledged support for the Ukrainian people whose country, homes and lives are under attack. But the fossil-fuel industry had a different take. They saw an opportunity - and a shameless one at that - to turn violence and bloodshed into an oil and gas propaganda-generating scheme. Within hours, indust… Continue Reading

Remote Testimony Is a Major Upgrade for Congress

As a pandemic safety measure, the U.S. House of Representatives began in May 2020 to hold committee hearings remotely so that witnesses could testify from home rather than in a crowded hearing room. This allowed people of all backgrounds, not just those who already live near Washington or who are able to fly there on short notice, to have their say before Congress. The results suggest this needs to become the new standard. After hearing from a broad range of speakers over the past year - people… Continue Reading

Climate policy has an ocean-sized hole in it. My legislation would change that.

The world's oceans have until recently been an overlooked piece of the climate policy puzzle - a serious omission, since oceans cover more than 70 percent of earth's surface and absorb approximately a quarter of humanity's annual carbon dioxide emissions. Steps as simple as switching to cleaner shipping fuel would have tremendous climate benefits, but the impetus to take them has been lacking. On June 8, I introduced the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act to put marine health and ocean managemen… Continue Reading

Newsletters

Leading Democrats Introduce a Mining Reform Bill

Last week Ranking Member Grijalva and Rep Lowenthal, the top Democrat on the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, introduced the Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2018. The Grijalva-Lowenthal bill requires hardrock mining operations to meet some of the same requirements and standards that already apply to oil, gas, and coal development on public lands. Among other measures, the bill would: Eliminate the antiquated use of mining claims, and create a leasing system for hardrock mi… Continue Reading

This Week in Committee: Markup on Nine Bills

Today marks the 230th day since our fellow Americans living in Puerto Rico lost power and were devastated by Hurricane Maria. Many people living on the island are still lacking power and still need assistance from the federal government. Instead of addressing the immediate needs of the people, Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) traveled to Puerto Rico to promote oil and gas projects and discuss importing fossil fuels to the island. Bishop has continuously ignored the fact that renewable energy sources… Continue Reading

This Week in Committee: Floor Vote on a Bill that Would Drive the Pacific Northwest's Salmon Runs Closer to Extinction

The House is voting on H.R. 3144 on Wednesday - also known as the Columbia River Salmon Extinction Act - which will drive the Pacific Northwest's salmon runs closer to extinction. Federal agencies have been ordered by the courts to develop a new salmon recovery plan to bring back dwindling salmon populations. H.R. 3144 attempts to mandate an outdated recovery plan that won't recover salmon and that has been deemed illegal by federal courts. Ranking Member Grijalva opposes the bill for the follow… Continue Reading

Letters

Grijalva to Sec. Haaland about Colorado River System - Sept. 22, 2022

HNRC letter to ConocoPhillips on Alaska Gas Leak.pdf

Grijalva, Committee Members to Sec. Haaland about Northern Corridor Highway in Red Cliffs - April 14, 2022

Reports

Hearing Report: The Role of Public Relations Firms in Preventing Action on Climate Change

The Hearing Report presents select findings and redacted documents from the Committee's investigation into PR firms' work with fossil fuel companies. For decades, the fossil fuel industry denied or downplayed climate change and its role in causing it. As climate denial has become less accepted by the general public, the industry has worked with PR firms to execute subtler and more sophisticated campaigns to mislead the public and block climate change policy proposals. The Hearing Report details … Continue Reading

Repairing the Trump Administration's Damage to US Indigenous Communities and Charting a Better Way Forward

Dirty Deals

Photos

Democratic Forum on the Dangers of Opening Alaska’s Arctic Refuge to Oil and Gas Drilling

Grijalva Introduced a Bill that Permanently Protects Grizzly Bears

Grijalva Traveled to Appalachia to Witness Environmental & Health Degradation Caused by Mountaintop Removal Mining