Press Releases
ICYMI: “Here Comes the Climate Deal’s Other Shoe”
New Opinion Piece in Newsweek by Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.): Watch Out! Here Comes the Climate Deal's Other Shoe. - Aug. 17, 2022 The Democrats' health, climate, and corporate tax plan-the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-was just signed into law by President Biden. If projections are accurate, this legislation will not only drive down prescription drug costs for millions of Americans, it could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an unprecedented 40 pe… Continue Reading
08.16.22
Chair Grijalva Statement on Interior’s Announcement of New Actions to Protect Colorado River System in Light of Historic Climate Change-Induced Drought Conditions
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) announced response to severe drought conditions in the Colorado River System. These actions include unprecedented reductions in water allocations to Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico beginning in January 2023, given the first-ever Tier 2 shortage conditions for Lake Mead. "Interior is making the right move by putting crit… Continue Reading
08.16.22
Chair Grijalva Introduces Bill to Protect Tribal Cultural, Historical, and Natural Resources of Great Bend of the Gila in Southern Arizona
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act to protect one of the most culturally significant and ecologically fragile landscapes in the southwestern United States. The bill will establish the 330,000-acre Great Bend of the Gila National Conservation Area, the 47,000-acre Paolo Verde National Conservation Area, and nearly 60,000 acres of new wilderness. The full text of the bill is availa… Continue Reading
08.12.22
Chair Grijalva Commends House Passage of Inflation Reduction Act, Blasts Side Deal on So-Called Permitting Reform
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, by a vote of 220-207. The legislation, which has already passed the Senate and will now advance to President Biden's desk for signing into law, will invest $370 billion towards addressing climate change-the United States' most significant climate investment in history. In addition to lowering Americans' energy costs and creat… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Chair Grijalva Statement on Senate Republicans’ Vote to Undo New NEPA Regulations
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) issued the following statement on Senate passage of a Republican-led resolution to invoke the Congressional Review Act to undo the Biden administration's recent finalization of Phase One rulemaking on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The rulemaking restored NEPA regulatory protections that were eliminated by the Trump administration in 2020. "It seems as though the GOP will stop at nothing to wage their nonsensical war agai… Continue Reading
07.29.22
Chair Grijalva Celebrates Bipartisan House Passage of Big Cat Public Safety Act, Other Natural Resources Bills
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on House passage of H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, by a bipartisan vote of 278-134. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) on January 11, 2021, will prohibit private possession and breeding of big cats (e.g., lions and tigers) and restrict direct contact between the public and big cats. A fact sheet on … Continue Reading
07.29.22
Chair Grijalva Cheers House Passage of Legislation to Address Wildfire and Drought
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on House passage of H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency (WRDR) Act, by a bipartisan vote of 218-199. This legislation, led by National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee Chair Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), will build on the investments made by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help communities respond to wildfire and droug… Continue Reading
07.29.22
Chair Grijalva and Territorial Delegates Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Disparities in Data Collection for U.S. Territories
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and the delegates of the five U.S Territories-Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam), Rep. Jenniffer González Colón, (R-Puerto Rico), and Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett (D-USVI)-introduced the bipartisan H.R. 8593, the Territories Statistics Collection Equity Act, today to address disparities in available data … Continue Reading
07.27.22
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