Committee Republicans Hold Another Hearing that Aims to Give Away Our Public Lands to Big Oil

Washington, D.C. – Committee Republicans are returning to Washington D.C., after a five week recess with a clear message to the public – they value the interests of their allies in the oil and gas industry over fulfilling their duty to protect and preserve our public lands. At 10:00 a.m. this morning, Committee Republicans are holding an Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee hearing on three Republican-backed bills that would ultimately waive bedrock environmental laws, hand over our public lands to oil and gas companies, and silence the public’s voice in federal land management.

The most egregious bill – H.R. 3565 – raises significant concerns because it would ultimately hand public land management over to oil and gas companies in each state. The bill eliminates the public comment process by waiving the Administrative Procedures Act and National Environmental Policy Act for all oil and gas leasing and permitting decisions on public land.

Last month, Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released a report that documents the strong influence of the energy and mining industries over the Trump administration’s “review” of 27 national monuments around the country, and criticizes Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for his lack of public transparency throughout that monument review. Today’s hearing further proves that the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are single-mindedly focused on the wishes of the oil and gas industry, while working to silence the public so they can make it easier to give away control of our public lands to big corporate interests.

Press Contact

Diane Padilla                                                                     

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 306-1333      

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