LIVESTREAMS NEXT WEEK: Committee Markup of EJ For All Act on Wednesday, BLM Oversight Hearing and Indian Health Service Bill on Thursday

Washington, D.C. – The Natural Resources Committee is holding three livestreamed events next week.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

The full Committee, led by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), will hold a markup on the following bills:

H.R. 2021 (Grijalva), To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, and for other purposes. Environmental Justice For All Act.

The Environmental Justice For All Act, led by Chair Grijalva and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) is the result of a years-long, community-led process to draft the most comprehensive piece of environmental justice legislation in history. Over the past several months, Chair Grijalva, Rep. McEachin, and other members of the Committee have visited communities all over the country to get a firsthand look at ongoing environmental injustices in these communities, hear about community leaders’ efforts to address those injustices, and obtain feedback on the Environmental Justice For All Act. The communities’ input on the bill has been instrumental in preparing the legislation for Committee markup.

When: 9:30 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/-0PPYEY33PE

THURSDAY, JULY 28

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led by Chair Katie Porter (D-Calif.), will hold an oversight hearing titled, Preventing Polluters from Getting Government Contracts: Bureau of Land Management’s Corporate Exclusions Lists.

Federal suspension, debarment, and disqualification regulations are designed to protect the public interest by preventing irresponsible parties from doing business with the federal government. By maintaining a government-wide list of businesses and individuals convicted of criminal or civil charges, or other forms of serious corporate misconduct, and requiring federal officials to check this list before doing business with outside entities, the federal government aims to prevent repeat offenses.

These forms of exclusions are critical in the natural resources sphere. Resource extraction activities, like mining and drilling, are inherently risky to the environment and public health. Extractive industries also have a track record of cutting corners on safeguards to maximize profits and exploiting policy loopholes to leave the costs of clean-up to American taxpayers.

A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office of Inspector General found that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lacked adequate policies to prevent leasing fraud and abuse. Despite a 2015 DOI-wide policy requiring all agencies to review the federal exclusions list before issuing leases, BLM had no policies in place to do so. BLM issued new policies in July 2022, after Chair Porter initiated a congressional inquiry.

Witnesses

The Honorable Mark Greenblatt, Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mr. Mike Nedd, Deputy Director for Operations, Bureau of Land Management

When: 10:00 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/FMa9GpQbQAI

Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States

The Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, led by Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), will hold a legislative hearing on the following bill:

H.R. 5549 (Young), To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service by providing 2-fiscal-year budget authority, and for other purposes. Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act.

Witnesses

Panel I: Administration Panel

To be announced

Panel II: Expert Witness Panel

Hon. Johnathan Nez, President of Navajo Nation, Navajo Area Representative of National Indian Health Board
Hon. Fawn Sharp, President, National Congress of American Indians
Hon. Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Ms. Maureen Rosette, Board Member, National Council of Urban Indian Health
Ms. Alberta Unok, President and CEO, Alaska Native Health Consortium
Other witnesses TBA

When: 1:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/DuqphPP_TXo

Press Contact

Media Contact: Lindsay Gressard

202-225-6065 | cell: 202-740-4715

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