05.06.22

LIVESTREAMS NEXT WEEK: Public Lands Bills on Wednesday; Mining Reform, Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools, Big Cats, and Water Bills on Thursday

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, led by Chair Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

  • H.R. 279 (Gallego), To provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System. Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2021.
  • H.R. 7329 (Huffman), To amend the Smith River National Recreation Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes. Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act.
  • H.R. 7399 (Comer), To amend the Land Between the Lakes Protection Act of 1998 to clarify the administration of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, and for other purposes. Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act or the LBL Recreation and Heritage Act.
  • H.R 7665 (Blumenauer), To provide for conservation and recreation enhancement for Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and for other purposes. Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Recreation Enhancement and Conservation (REC) Act of 2022.

Witnesses

Panel I: Congressional Panel

  • Rep. Ruben Gallego, Arizona, 7th District
  • Rep. Jared Huffman, California, 2nd District
  • Rep. James Comer, Kentucky, 1st District
  • Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon, 3rd District

Panel II: Administration Panel

  • Mr. Chris French, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

Panel III: Expert Witness Panel

  • Dr. Thomas O’Keefe (H.R. 279), Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director, American Whitewater
  • Mr. Grant Werschkull (H.R. 7329), Co-Executive Director, Smith River Alliance
  • Mr. Robert Brunoe (H.R. 7665), General Manager Branch of Natural Resources & Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
  • Mr. Richard Lunt (H.R. 279), Chairman and Supervisor, District 3, Greenlee County, Arizona

When: 2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/CLSd9IFdRv8

 

THURSDAY, MAY 12

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, led by Chair Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), will hold a legislative hearing on the following bill:

  • H.R. 7580 (Grijalva), To modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands, consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims, and for other purposes. The Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act.

Witnesses

Panel I

  • Dr. Steven H. Feldgus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior

Panel II

  • The Honorable Jeffrey Stiffarm, President, Fort Belknap Indian Community
  • Mr. Sam Kalen, William T. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Wyoming College of Law
  • Mr. James Chen, Vice President of Public Policy, Rivian Automotive, LLC
  • Ms. Debra Struhsacker, Co-founder and Director, Women’s Mining Coalition, (Minority Witness)

When: 10:00 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/03dKgUiDZqE

 

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. 5444 (Davids), To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes. Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act.

Witnesses

  • Mr. Matthew War Bonnet, Boarding School Survivor, Oglala Sioux Tribe
  • Dr. Ramona Charette Klein, Boarding School Survivor, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
  • Mr. James LaBelle, Sr., 1st Vice President, and Boarding School Survivor, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
  • The Honorable Ben Barnes, Chief, Shawnee Tribe
  • Ms. Deborah Parker, Chief Executive Officer, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
  • Minority Witness to be announced

When: 1:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/lFeCr0gDopU

 

Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife

The Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, led by Chair Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

  • H.R. 263 (Quigley), To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and for other purposes. Big Cat Public Safety Act.
  • H.R. 3081 (Armstrong), To make certain irrigation districts eligible for Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program pumping power, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 5880 (O’Halleran), To amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to modify the enforceability date for certain provisions, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 6238 (Stansbury), To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to increase Tribal access to water conservation and efficiency grants, and for other purposes. WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act.
  • H.R. 7612 (Mike Levin), To advance desalination research and technological innovation, and for other purposes. Desalination Research Advancement Act.
  • H.R. 7632 (Neguse), To provide access to reliable, clean, and drinkable water on Tribal lands, and for other purposes. Tribal Access to Clean Water Act.
  • H.R. 7633 (O’Halleran), To approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Hualapai Tribe and certain allottees in the State of Arizona, to authorize construction of a water project relating to those water rights claims, and for other purposes. Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022.

Witnesses

Panel I: Congressional Panel

  • Rep. Mike Quigley, Illinois, 5th District
  • Rep. Tom O’Halleran, Arizona, 1st District
  • Rep. Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico, 1st District

Panel II: Government Witnesses

  • Dr. David Raff (H.R. 3081, H.R. 6238, H.R. 7612, and H.R. 7632), Chief Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation
  • The Honorable Dr. Damon R. Clarke (H.R. 7633), Chairman, Hualapai Tribe
  • The Honorable Jonathan Nez (H.R. 6238 and H.R. 7632), President, Navajo Nation
  • The Honorable Kasey Velasquez (H.R. 5880), Chairman, White Mountain Apache Tribe

Panel III: Expert Witnesses

  • Ms. Sandy L. Kerl (H.R. 7612), General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority
  • Mr. Matt Lutz (H.R. 263), Sheriff, Muskingum County, Ohio
  • Minority Witness to be announced

When: 2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/SSlBurLA9aE

Press Contact

Media Contact: Lindsay Gressard

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 740-4715 mobile