09.20.19

NEXT WEEK: Full Committee Markup, Full Committee Joint Hearing, Several Legislative and Oversight Hearings

Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Natural Resources is hosting five hearings next week, including a joint hearing between the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Foreign Affairs on Sustaining U.S. Pacific Insular Relationships.

 

Energy and Mineral Resources 

Legislative Hearing: Fossil Fuel Development: Protecting Taxpayers and Eliminating Industry Giveaways

When: Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Bills Considered

  • H.R. 2711 (Rep. DeGette), To amend the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to reduce and prevent gas waste and to enhance gas measuring and reporting, to codify a final rule of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding certain emission standards for the oil and natural gas sector, and for other purposes. “Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2019”
  • H.R. 4346 (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 2019”
  • H.R. 4435 (Rep. McAdams), To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the fiscal terms for fossil fuel development and to make to make other reforms to improve returns to taxpayers for the development of Federal energy resources, and for other purposes. “Taxpayer Fairness for Resource Development Act of 2019”
  • H.R. 4435 (Rep. Cartwright), To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to protect taxpayers from liability associated with the reclamation of surface coal mining operations, and for other purposes, “Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act”

Witness List 

Panel I 

Rep. Diana DeGette (H.R. 2711) 

Colorado, 1st District

 Rep. Ben McAdams (H.R. 4346)

Utah, 4th District

Rep. Matt Cartwright (H.R. ___)

Pennsylvania, 8th District

Panel II

Mr. Frank Rusco

Director

Natural Resources and Environment

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC

Mr. John Putnam

Director of Environmental Programs

CO Dept. of Public Health & Environment

Denver, CO

Mr. Dan Bucks

Former Director

Montana Dept. of Revenue (2005-2013)

Former Executive Director

Multistate Tax Commission (1988-2004)

Milwaukee, WI

Ms. Ryan Alexander

President, Taxpayers for Common Sense

Washington, DC

Ms. Kathleen Sgamma

President, Western Energy Alliance

Denver, CO

 

Water, Oceans and Wildlife 

Legislative Hearing: Hearing on several bills

When: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Bills Considered

  • H.R. 925 (Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA) A bill to extend the authorization of appropriations for allocation to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2024. “North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act” or “NAWCA”
  • H.R. 1747 (Rep. Rob Wittman, R-VA) A bill to encourage partnerships among public agencies and other interested persons to promote fish conservation. “National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act”
  • H.R. 2748 (Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-PA) A bill to establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal Governments and other entities.“Safeguarding America's Future and Environment Act”
  • H.R. 2854 (Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-NY) A bill to amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to prohibit the use of neonicotinoids in a National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes. “Protect Our Refuges Act of 2019”
  • H.R. 2918 (Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-AZ) A bill to create dedicated funds to conserve butterflies in North America, plants in the Pacific Islands, freshwater mussels in the United States, and desert fish in the Southwest United States, and for other purposes. “Extinction Prevention Act”
  • H.R. 2956 (Rep. Ken Calvert, R-CA) To provide for the establishment of the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge.
  • H.R. 3399 (Rep. Josh Harder, D-CA) A bill to amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 to include California in the program, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 4340 (Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY) A bill to assist in the conservation of highly endangered amphibians in foreign countries and territories of the United States. “Supporting Activities & Leadership Abroad to Move Amphibians Nearing Decline or Extinction to Recovery Act of 2019” or the “SALAMANDER Act of 2019”
  • H.R. 4341 (Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA) A bill to assist in the conservation of critically endangered species in foreign countries, and for other purposes. “Critically Endangered Animals Act of 2019”
  • H.R. 4348 (Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-AZ) A bill to terminate certain rules issued by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce relating to endangered and threatened species, and for other purposes. “Protect America’s Wildlife and Fish in Need of Conservation Act of 2019” or “PAW and FIN Conservation Act of 2019.”

Witness List 

Panel I: Congressional Panel

Representative Mike Thompson

Representative Rob Wittman

Representative Josh Harder

Representative Nydia Velazquez

Other Members of Congress to be announced

Panel II: Administration Panel

Mr. Stephen Guertin

Deputy Director for Policy

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC 

Panel III: Wildlife bills 

Mr. David G. Smith

Administrator

State of Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Honolulu, HI

Ms. Marjorie Mulhall

Legislative Director, Lands, Wildlife Oceans

Earthjustice

Washington, DC 

Ms. Aimee Delach

Senior Policy Analyst, Climate Adaptation

Defenders of Wildlife

Athens, OH 

Mr. Brian Seasholes

Executive Director

Southwest Communities Coalition

 

Full Committee Markup 

Hearing: Multiple bills

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Bills Considered 

  • H.R. 729 (Rep. Kilmer), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to further achievement of Tribal coastal zone objectives, and for other purposes. “Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act.”
  • H.R. 925 (Rep. Mike Thompson), To extend the authorization of appropriations for allocation to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2024. “North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act.”
  • H.R. 1472 (Rep. Adrian Smith), To rename the Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Nebraska, as the Homestead National Historical Park.
  • H.R. 1487 (Rep. Lieu), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of portions of the Los Angeles coastal area in the State of California to evaluate alternatives for protecting the resources of the coastal area, and for other purposes. “Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Study Act.”
  • H.R. 1492 (Rep. Tipton), To update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Yucca House National Monument. “Yucca House National Monument Boundary Revision Act.” Amendments to H.R. 1492 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice.
  • H.R. 1747 (Rep. Wittman), To encourage partnerships among public agencies and other interested persons to promote fish conservation. “National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act.”
  • H.R. 2185 (Rep. Norton), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to allow the District of Columbia to receive Federal funding under such Act, and for other purposes. “District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act of 2019.”
  • H.R. 3115 (Rep. Pallone), To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make grants to State and local governments and nongovernmental organizations for purposes of carrying out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal communities by supporting ecosystem functions and habitats with the use of natural materials and systems, and for other purposes. “Living Shorelines Act of 2019.”
  • H.R. 3541 (Rep. Carbajal), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a coastal climate change adaptation preparedness and response program, and for other purposes. “Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act of 2019.”
  • H.R. 3596 (Rep. Pingree), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to establish a Working Waterfront Task Force and a working waterfronts grant program, and for other purposes. “Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act.” Amendments to H.R. 3596 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice.

 

Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States

Legislative Hearing: Advance Appropriations: Protecting Tribal Communities from the Effects of a Government Shutdown

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Bills Considered 

  • H.R. 1128 (Rep. Betty McCollum), To provide advance appropriations authority for certain accounts of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education of the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services, and for other purposes. “Indian Programs Advanced Appropriations Act”
  • H.R. 1135 (Rep. Don 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 of 2019”

Witnesses to be announced 

 

Full Committee Joint Hearing  

Hearing: Joint hearing on Sustaining U.S. Pacific Insular Relationships with the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Foreign Affairs

When: Thursday, Sept. 26, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time

Where: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Panel I

The Honorable Randall G. Schriver

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs

U.S. Department of Defense 

Ms. Sandra Oudkirk

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

U.S. Department of State

Mr. Nikolao Pula

Director

Office of Insular Affairs   

U.S. Department of the Interior  

David Gootnick, Ph.D.

Director of International Affairs and Trade

U.S. Government Accountability Office 

Panel II

His Excellency Gerald M. Zackios

Ambassador to the United States

Republic of the Marshall Islands

His Excellency Akillino H. Susaia

Ambassador to the United States

Federated States of Micronesia

 

Full Committee Oversight Hearing

Hearing: The Department of the Interior’s Failure to Cooperate with Congressional Oversight Requests

When: Thursday, September 26, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Where: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Witnesses to be announced 

Press Contact

Adam Sarvana

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