Hearings for Week of May 6 to Focus on Ocean Legislation, Wildfire Oversight and Resilience, Mining Law Reform
Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Natural Resources will hold three hearings during the week of May 6.
On Wednesday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a legislative hearing on nine oceans bills that enjoy bipartisan support.
As communities across the nation are preparing for the summer fire season, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands will conduct an oversight hearing on wildfire resilience on Thursday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The focus will be on protecting communities from wildfire risks, which are increasing due to climate change across vast swathes of the country.
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is holding a hearing on Thursday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time focused on revising the antiquated Mining Law of 1872. This nearly 150-year-old law, written in the days of the independent pick-and-shovel prospector, still sets the rules for giant corporations mining gold, silver, copper, and other metals from America’s public lands. The law was designed to give away public land and minerals for virtually no cost, or even for free, and is long overdue for serious reform.
Witness lists are available below. As with all hearings, these events are open to media and the public.
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Hearing
Hearing: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Legislative Hearing on H.R. 417, H.R. 1023, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1240, H.R. 1314, H.R. 1979, H.R. 2189, H.R. 2405, and H.R. 2406
When: Wednesday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time
Where: Longworth 1324
Livestream: TBA
Bills Considered
- H.R. 417 (Rep. Darren Soto), To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish measures to combat invasive lionfish, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 1023 (Rep. Mike Quigley), To authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to conduct monitoring, assessment, science, and research, in support of the binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, and for other purposes, “Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2019.”
- H.R. 1218 (Rep. Don Young), To establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries research and development grants, and for other purposes, “American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act.”
- H.R. 1240 (Rep. Don Young), To preserve United States fishing heritage through a national program dedicated to training and assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen, “Young Fishermen’s Development Act of 2019.”
- H.R. 1314 (Rep. Don Young), To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, and for other purposes, “Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act Amendments of 2019.”
- H.R. 1979 (Rep. Ted Lieu), To improve the management of driftnet fishing, “Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act.”
- H.R. 2189 (Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger), To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a constituent-driven program to provide a digital information platform capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-support tools, training, and best practices and to support collection of priority coastal geospatial data to
- H.R. 2405 (Rep. Jared Huffman), To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes, “National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2019.”
- H.R. 2406 (Rep. Ed Case), To reauthorize and amend the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002, and for other purposes, “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2019.”
Witness List
Dr. Seth Moore (H.R. 1023)
Director of Biology and Environment
Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
Ms. Molly McCammon (H.R. 1314 and H.R. 2405)
Executive Director
Alaska Ocean Observing System
Mr. Bill Shedd (H.R. 1979)
President, American Fishing Tackle Company
Testifying on behalf of:
American Sportfishing Association,
Coastal Conservation Association, and
International Game Fish Association
Mr. Gary Burke (H.R. 1979)
Board of Directors
Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara
Ms. Sarah Newkirk (H.R. 2189)
Director of Disaster Resilience
The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Zachary L. Penney (H.R. 2405)
Fishery Science Department Manager
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
Hearing: Wildfire Resilient Communities
When: Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m. Eastern time
Where: Longworth 1324
Livestream: TBA
Witness List
Ms. Patti Hirami
Acting Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry
U.S. Forest Service
Dr. Ray Rasker
Executive Director
Headwaters Economics
Dr. Steve Quarles
University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor Emeritus and
Chief Scientist (retired), Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Mr. Marko Bey
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Lomakatsi Restoration Project
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Hearing: The Long Overdue Need to Reform the Mining Law of 1872
When: Thursday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time
Where: Longworth 1334
Livestream: TBA
Bills Considered
- H.R. ___ (Rep. Grijalva): The Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019
Witness List
The Honorable Edward D. Manuel
Chairman
Tohono O’odham Nation
Mr. Colin Davis
Member
Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition
Ms. Gwen Lachelt
County Commissioner
La Plata County, Colorado
Mr. Robert D. Comer
Partner and Co-Head of Mining, United States
Norton Rose Fulbright
Press Contact
Media Contact: Adam Sarvana
(202) 225-6065 or (202) 578-6626 mobile
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