02.07.20

NEXT WEEK: Full Committee Oversight Hearing to Address Insular Territories Budget Requests, Vote to Authorize Water Bills, Issuance of Subpoenas

Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Natural Resources will hold a full Committee oversight hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 11, on the Department of the Interior’s fiscal year 2021 budget request for the insular territories. Insular budgeting has remained stagnant for decades, which is increasingly untenable as damage from catastrophic natural disasters and the impacts of a stagnant economy demand increased resources.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Committee will hold a markup on several water bills and on a resolution granting Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) the authority to issue subpoenas. The vote follows more than a year of Trump administration stonewalling on more than two dozen requests for information. 

The Committee’s full schedule and witness lists are available below. As with all hearings and markups, these events are open to media and the public. The events will be livestreamed at http://facebook.com/nrdems.

 

Full Committee Hearing

Hearing: Policy Priorities for the Administration’s FY 2021 Budget for the Insular Areas

When: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

 Witness List

The Hon. Lou Leon Guerrero 

Governor 

Guam

The Hon. Ralph DLG Torres 

Governor 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Hon. Albert Bryan Jr. 

Lt. Governor 

U.S. Virgin Islands

 

Full Committee Markup

When: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Bills Considered

  • H.R. 644 (Rep. Rob Bishop), To approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Navajo Nation in Utah, and for other purposes. “Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2019.” 
  • H.R. 1904 (Rep. Grijalva), To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to make the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund permanent. “Indian Water Rights Settlement Extension Act.” 
  • H.R. 4444 (Rep. Gosar), To require the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration to establish a pilot project to provide increased transparency for customers, and for other purposes. “Western Area Power Administration Transparency Act.”
  • H.R. 5316 (Rep. Cox), To provide for the restoration of the original carrying capacity of canals impacted by land subsidence, and for other purposes. “Move Water Now Act.”
  • H.R. 5347 (Rep. Cox), To require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to close gaps in access to safe drinking water in disadvantaged communities, and for other purposes. “Disadvantaged Community Drinking Water Assistance Act.”
  • S. 832 (Sen. Merkley), A bill to nullify the Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, concluded on November 15, 1865.
  • Committee resolution authorizing issuance of subpoenas related to mismanagement, waste, fraud, abuse, and wrongful conduct in relation to functions within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources.

Press Contact

Adam Sarvana

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