Press Releases
Historic Environmental Justice For All Act Passes Committee, One Step Closer to Becoming Law
Washington, D.C. – Today, in a full committee markup, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 2021, the Environmental Justice For All Act, by a vote of 26-21. The legislation, introduced by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) on March 18, 2021, is the most comprehensive environmental justice bill in history and the first major environmental justice bill to pass through a congressional committee. A fact sheet on the bill is available in… Continue Reading
07.27.22
House to Vote on Package of Bills to Address Wildfire and Drought Resiliency This Week
Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow, Thursday, July 28, the House is expected to consider and vote on H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act (WRDR Act), led by National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee Chair Joe Neguse (D-Colo.). The legislative package includes text from 49 bills and will provide much-needed investments to improve fire-adapted ecosystems, protect communities against catastrophic wildfires, enhance drought resiliency, expand science programs, modernize … Continue Reading
07.27.22
ICYMI: Environmental Justice for Standing Rock, Environmental Justice for All
In advance of this morning's Natural Resources Committee markup on the Environmental Justice For All Act, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire published the following opinion piece in The Hill: Environmental Justice for Standing Rock, Environmental Justice for All - July 27, 2022 As he leaves for work each day, Jeff Kelly, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Fish and Game Department director looks out at the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) cross… Continue Reading
07.25.22
First-Ever Full Committee Markup of the Environmental Justice For All Act This Wednesday, July 27
Washington, D.C. - This Wednesday, July 27 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, H.R. 2021, the Environmental Justice For All Act, will go before the full House Natural Resources Committee for markup for the first time in the bill's legislative history. The livestream of the markup will be available here: https://youtu.be/-0PPYEY33PE A short video about the bill is available here: https://bit.ly/3PP0LJw A fact sheet on the bill is available here: https://bit.ly/3PRmhNH Una hoja informativa del proyecto … Continue Reading
07.22.22
Natural Resources Chair Grijalva, Agriculture Chair Scott Issue Statements on Biden Administration Emergency Actions for Giant Sequoias
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott (D-Ga.) released the following statements on the U.S. Forest Service's announcement of emergency actions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to protect giant sequoias. Over the past several years, wildfires have destroyed nearly one-fifth of the nation's giant sequoias. On the announcement, Chair Grijalva said, "Today's emergency action is… Continue Reading
07.20.22
Natural Resources Committee Passes Puerto Rico Status Act, Makes History
Washington, D.C. - Today, in a full committee markup, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 8393, the Puerto Rico Status Act, by a bipartisan vote of 25-20. The legislation, introduced by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) with original cosponsors Small Business Committee Chair Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), represents an offer… Continue Reading
07.19.22
Chair Grijalva, Ranking Member Westerman Cheer House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Address Human Rights Abuses in International Conservation, Eight Other Bills
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) today issued the following joint statement on House passage of H.R. 7025, the Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act, by a bipartisan vote of 379-43. This legislation, led by the two lawmakers, will strengthen human rights standards for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s international conservation grants… Continue Reading
07.15.22
Chair Grijalva Introduces Historic Puerto Rico Status Act | Presidente de Comité Grijalva presenta Histórica Ley del Estatus de Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced the introduction of H.R. 8393, the Puerto Rico Status Act, with original co-sponsors Small Business Committee Chair Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). The bill is a historic proposal that lays out a process for the people of Puerto Rico to make an… Continue Reading
07.15.22
Chair Grijalva Statement on Sen. Manchin Decision to Halt Climate Plan Negotiations
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on Senator Joe Manchin's (D-W.V.) decision to halt negotiations on energy and climate-related investments in Democrats' reconciliation package: "Like most Americans right now, I am sickened that the changing whims of one man could put the very near future of our country, our planet, and our health and safety on the brink. I think it's shortsighted at best, reckless endang… Continue Reading
07.13.22
Chair Grijalva, Reps. Velázquez, González-Colón, Soto Release Statement on Puerto Rico Status Act
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Small Business Committee Chair Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y), Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), and Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) today released the following joint statement on the Puerto Rico Status Act: "Puerto Rico's territory status has stifled the island's development and potential for prosperity for far too long. The people of Puerto Rico deserve a resolu… Continue Reading
07.01.22
Chair Grijalva to Visit Southern California Next Week, Seek Community Input on Environmental Justice For All Act
Washington, D.C. - Next week, Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 10, 2022, Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will be joined by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), other members to-be-announced, and local environmental justice leaders to visit several communities in southern California-Wilmington, Commerce, Highland, and Bloomington-that have been impacted by environmental injustices. The visit to California is part of Chair… Continue Reading
07.01.22
Chair Grijalva Statement on Interior Department’s Proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) took the next step in finalizing a new five-year National Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program by proposing no more than 11 lease sales between 2023 and 2028 in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Alaska. "Holding any new offshore oil and gas lease sales over th… Continue Reading
06.30.22
Chair Grijalva Statement on SCOTUS Decision in Castro-Huerta v. Oklahoma
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on yesterday's U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Castro-Huerta v. Oklahoma. The Court ruled 5-to-4, with Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Neil Gorsuch dissenting. "The majority decision in Castro-Huerta v. Oklahoma is outright colonialism. It brazenly overwrites foundational Federal Indian law that has consistently reinforced tribal governments' in… Continue Reading
06.30.22
Chair Grijalva Statement on SCOTUS Decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency. "In the span of just a week, all of Republicans' dreams for their extremist political hijack of the Supreme Court have come true. They've killed abortion rights. They've killed gun control. They've killed separation of church and state. They've killed fair voting districts. They've… Continue Reading
06.23.22
ESA Caucus Co-Chairs Grijalva, Dingell, and Beyer Applaud Repeal of Harmful Trump-Era Rule to Weaken the Endangered Species Act
Washington D.C. - Today, the Co-Chairs of the Endangered Species Act Caucus-Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.)-issued the following joint statement on the Biden administration's announcement to rescind a rule issued by the Trump administration that weakened the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Trump-era rule, finalized in December 2020, narrowed the definition of "habitat" under ESA, excluding ecosystems… Continue Reading
06.23.22
Chair Grijalva to Receive The Wilderness Society’s Prestigious Ansel Adams Award
Washington D.C. - At a reception this evening, The Wilderness Society will present its highest honor, the Ansel Adams Award, to Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.). The award is presented to a current or former federal official who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to conservation and public lands, especially in the current context of the accelerating climate crisis. Past recipients of the Ansel Adams Award include Jimmy Carter (1981), Stewart Udall (1986… Continue Reading
06.21.22
Chair Grijalva Celebrates Historic Tribal Co-Management Agreement for Bears Ears National Monument
Washington D.C. - At a ceremony today, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the five tribes that make up the Bears Ears Commission-the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and the Pueblo of Zuni-signed an inter-governmental cooperative agreement to formalize their partnership to manage the 1.36 million acres of the Bears Ears National Monument. The five tribes have inhabited the region since ti… Continue Reading
06.21.22
Chair Grijalva Cheers New Biden Administration Actions to Support Federal Wildland Firefighters
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the Biden administration's announcement of several new actions to support wildland firefighters, including taking additional steps to increase firefighter pay, creating new mental health and wellness services, and streamlining the federal hiring process for firefighters. These new initiatives-supported in part by $600 million in dedicated funding from the Bipartisan Infra… Continue Reading
06.21.22
Chair Grijalva Cheers the Appointment of Chief Lynn Malerba as U.S. Treasurer
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on President Biden's appointment of Chief Lynn Malerba of the Mohegan Tribe as Treasurer of the United States. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen made the announcement during a visit with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Secretary Yellen's visit, which is focused on the Tribe's economic recovery since the pandemic and use of American Rescue Plan funds, marks the … Continue Reading
06.16.22
Chair Grijalva, Sen. Heinrich Introduce Two Bills to Elevate the Role of Tribal Nations, Protect Tribal Cultural Sites in Public Land Management
Washington D.C. – Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today announced the introduction of two House and Senate companion bills to advance Tribal management of public lands and to improve protection of sacred and cultural sites: The Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act and the Tribal Cultural Areas Protection Act. The full text of the Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act is available here and the section-by-section is available here. A f… Continue Reading