04.30.21

Livestreams Next Week: Legislative Hearing on Coral Protection on Tuesday, Markup Continuation on Wednesday, Member Day Hearing on Thursday

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

Tuesday, May 4

The Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, led by Chair Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), will host a legislative hearing to consider the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 (H.R. 160) by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.).

Experts widely expect coral reefs to be functionally extinct within the next century without dramatic and long overdue conservation measures. Intact coral reefs protect coastlines from disasters, create whole ecosystems that support hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity in the U.S. alone, and sustain ocean health around the planet.

Among other measures, Rep. Soto’s bill reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Program through 2024, directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide block grants to states to support state coral reef management and restoration, requires the Department of the Interior to provide grants upon the declaration of a coral reef emergency to implement emergency plans, and establishes a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program.

Witnesses include:

  • Jennifer Koss

Director

Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  • Dr. Robert H. Richmond

Research Professor and Director

Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa

  • Fran A. Castro

Associate Director

University of Guam Sea Grant

  • Dr. Andrew C. Baker

Professor, Department of Marine Biology and Ecology

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami

  • Kelley L. Anderson Tagarino

Extension Faculty - Aquaculture & Marine Science, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program

American Samoa Community College

When: 3:00 p.m Eastern time

Watch Live: https://bit.ly/3gOm8fS (Facebook) or https://youtu.be/WWrjg5bfLM4 (YouTube)

Wednesday, May 5

The full Committee, led by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), will finish the legislative business remaining after the Committee’s April 28 markup, where the Committee passed two bills:

  • H.R. 1884 (Rep. Grijalva), To repeal section 3003 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, and for other purposes. Save Oak Flat Act.
  • H.R. 1492 (Rep. DeGette), To prevent methane waste and pollution from oil and gas operations, and for other purposes. Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2021.

On May 5, the Committee will debate and vote on:

  • H.R. 443 (Rep. Young), To convey land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and for other purposes. Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act.
  • H.R. 1029 (Rep. Steube), To Waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.  Free Veterans from Fees Act.
  • H.R. 1503 (Rep. Levin), To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments in leasing on Federal lands for oil and gas drilling, and for other purposes. Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021.
  • H.R. 1505 (Rep. Lowenthal), To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the regulation of surface-disturbing activities and to protect taxpayers from unduly bearing the reclamation costs of oil and gas development, and for other purposes. Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021. 
  • H.R. 1506 (Rep. Lowenthal), To provide for the accurate reporting of fossil fuel extraction and emissions by entities with leases on public land, and for other purposes. Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2021.
  • H.R. 1517 (Rep. Porter), To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the fiscal terms for fossil fuel development and to make other reforms to improve returns to taxpayers for the development of Federal energy resources, and for other purposes. Ending Taxpayer Welfare for Oil and Gas Companies Act of 2021.
  • H.R. 2348 (Rep. Stewart), To maximize land management efficiencies, promote land conservation, generate education funding, and for other purposes. Advancing Conservation and Education Act.

When: 11:00 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://bit.ly/2PDfNZr (Facebook) or https://youtu.be/5KNTRPoKfG4 (YouTube)

Thursday, May 6

The full Committee, led by Chair Grijalva, will hold a Member Day hearing on specific Committee-referred legislation or other priorities as they relate to the Committee’s jurisdiction. The hearing will include testimony from members of the House of Representatives on and off the Natural Resources Committee.

More information about the agenda for this hearing will be released as it becomes available.

When: 11:00 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://bit.ly/3eHWQxe (Facebook) or https://youtu.be/X_gQ-_L8AxA (YouTube)

Press Contact

Media Contact: Adam Sarvana

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 578-6626 mobile