Press Releases
Chair Grijalva: Biden Administration Right to Pause Fossil Fuel Leasing on Public Lands – Equating Constant Drilling With a Strong Economy Isn’t Serious
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on the Bureau of Land Management's announcement that it will not hold oil and gas lease sales on public lands for the second quarter of the year, pending the results of Biden administration's ongoing review of climate policy: "The Biden administration is right to put fossil fuel leasing on pause while it finishes its review, just as anyone would do during any similar review period. Treating constant fossi… Continue Reading
04.20.21
Chair Grijalva: Long-Delayed Biological Opinion Makes Clear That the EPA Must Ban Malathion As Soon as Possible to Protect Endangered Species
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said today that the draft biological opinion the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the pesticide malathion makes it clear that the EPA must ban the substance as soon as possible. The draft opinion says the continued use of malathion would jeopardize the continued existence of 78 species around the country and would cause adverse effects to many others, marking the most seve… Continue Reading
04.19.21
Chair Grijalva Cheers Biden Administration Decision to Release Billions in Long-Delayed Federal Funding for Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico
Washington D.C. - Today House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) cheered the announcement that the Department of Housing and Urban Development would obligate $8.2 billion in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds that were allocated for Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The Department will also remove onerous restrictions blocking Puerto Rico's access to Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief funds for long-term recov… Continue Reading
04.19.21
Chair Grijalva, Rep. Lowenthal Release GAO Report Showing Offshore Pipeline Oversight Failures; New Bill From Rep. Brownley Addresses Findings
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Alan S. Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, today released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that found the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) does not provide adequate oversight of thousands of miles of active offshore oil and gas pipelines and that BSEE does not have a robust process to ensure obsolete pipelines left on the seafloor follow federal sa… Continue Reading
04.16.21
Chair Grijalva Hails Climate Orders From Interior Secretary Haaland: “Real Solutions Require Long-Term Engagement, And This Is a Smart Approach”
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on the two new orders signed by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland today to prioritize action on climate change and make policy decisions more transparent. "This administration understands that preventing climate collapse and putting our economy on a more sustainable path takes a lot of work and meaningful consultation with people impacted by federal policies. Today's secretarial orders set up our country fo… Continue Reading
04.12.21
Chair Grijalva, Vice Chair Sablan Hail White House Announcement of Gretchen Sierra Zorita as Associate Director for Puerto Rico and Territories
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Vice Chair Gregorio Sablan (D-CNMI) today praised President Biden's hiring of Gretchen Sierra Zorita to the newly created position of White House Associate Director for Puerto Rico and Territories, which will coordinate with Congress to better address longstanding issues of importance to the millions of citizens and nationals living in U.S. territories. "The Biden administration's choice to create this position and staff it with such an ex… Continue Reading
04.08.21
Chair Grijalva, Territorial Delegates Send Bipartisan Letter Urging OMB to Support Expanding Access to Federal Programs in U.S. Territories
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and the five territorial delegates wrote to Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young today urging the office to support expanding access to federal programs in U.S. Territories, including Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This request is in line with President … Continue Reading
04.02.21
Chair Grijalva Hails Sec. Haaland’s Announcement of New Federal Unit to Investigate and Protect Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today praised Sec. Deb Haaland's newly announced Missing & Murdered Unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, which will coordinate federal resources to investigate the long overlooked and widespread cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. "As Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Haaland played a leading role in two hearings of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States… Continue Reading
03.29.21
Chair Grijalva Will Lead April 14 Hearing on Two Different Legislative Efforts to Resolve Puerto Rico’s Political Status
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) announced today that he will lead a full Natural Resources Committee hearing at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on April 14 to consider two different pieces of legislation - H.R. 1522 by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) and H.R. 2070 by Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) - to resolve Puerto Rico's political status, an issue on which Grijalva said the Puerto Rican people deserve "clarity and closure." More information about the hearing, including a full witn… Continue Reading
03.29.21
Chair Grijalva Hails Major New Biden Administration Investments in Offshore Wind
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed the Biden administration's announcement of wide-ranging investments to support responsible expansion of the offshore wind industry and prioritize the construction of 30 gigawatts of new offshore wind power by 2030, an effort expected to put tens of thousands of Americans to work in good-paying unionized jobs and make the nation's energy grid more climate-compatible. The moves announced today, Grijalva said, are another sign … Continue Reading
03.29.21
Chair Grijalva, Rep. McEachin – Sponsors of Environmental Justice for All Act – Applaud White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council Members
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), sponsors of the Environmental Justice for All Act, today hailed the announced membership of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) and called for broad action by the executive branch to implement a strong environmental justice agenda at all levels of the federal government. Pointing to President Biden's Jan. 27 executive order - which begins by committing to the pursuit of en… Continue Reading
03.29.21
Chair Grijalva, Territorial Delegates Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Rejecting Insular Cases as Racist and Contrary to the Constitution
This release has been updated from its original version to include a statement from Reps. Stacey Plaskett and Michael San Nicolas, and additional support. Washington D.C. - Last Friday, in a previously unannounced move, Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced a bipartisan resolution with Rep. Gregorio Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI), Rep. Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam), Rep. Jenniffer González-Colon (R-P.R.), Rep. Nydia Velázque… Continue Reading
03.18.21
Chair Grijalva, Rep. McEachin Reintroduce Environmental Justice for All Act – Widely Supported Effort Comes as Congress Eyes New Investments
This release has been updated from its original version to reflect Rep. Yvette Clarke's (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández's (D-N.M.) status as original cosponsors of the House bill. Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) reintroduced their landmark Environmental Justice for All Act today, supported by a wide array of grassroots groups and environmental advocates from across the country. The bill, available online at http://bi… Continue Reading
03.17.21
In Test for Environmental Justice, Chair Grijalva and Rep. McEachin Urge Biden to Revoke Permits for Proposed Plastics Plant in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), authors of the landmark Environmental Justice for All Act, wrote to President Biden today urging him to revoke Army Corps of Engineers permits for the proposed Formosa Plastics petrochemical complex located in St. James Parish. The site is in the heart of Louisiana's Cancer Alley corridor, one of the most heavily polluted regions of the United States, and the community residents have expressly asked t… Continue Reading
03.16.21
Chair Grijalva, Rep. Neguse, Sens. Blumenthal and Luján Lead Bicameral Letter to Biden Urging Stakeholder-Driven Process to Meet Conservation Goals
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) today sent a bicameral letter, cosigned by 99 House and 17 Senate Democratic colleagues, to President Biden urging him to adopt a transparent, stakeholder-driven process in deciding how best to preserve American lands and waters as part of the administration's "30 by 30" initiative. Choosing which areas to preserve, the lawmakers write, sh… Continue Reading
03.15.21
Chair Grijalva on Confirmation of Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary: “A Historic Step Toward Redeeming Our Nation’s Relationship With First Americans”
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today released the following statement on the confirmation of Deb Haaland to be Secretary of the Interior. "The confirmation of Sec. Deb Haaland is a historic step toward redeeming our nation's relationship with first Americans. Sec. Haaland will bring to the Interior Department and the Biden administration a profound responsibility and commitment to climate change, equity, and public actions that all Americans will benefit from. Sec. H… Continue Reading
03.15.21
Chair Grijalva Introduces “Save Oak Flat Act” to Permanently Protect Tribal Sacred Site in Central Arizona From Destructive Mining
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Save Oak Flat Act to permanently protect the Oak Flat area of Tonto National Forest from destructive mining proposals. Oak Flat, or Chi'chil Bildagoteel, is of significant cultural importance and considered sacred by many tribal communities in Arizona, including the San Carlos Apache Tribe, which has resisted a years-long effort by Resolution Copper - owned by international mining conglomerates BHP and Rio Tinto - to… Continue Reading
03.11.21
Chair Grijalva leads Bipartisan Letter Urging DOJ to Stop Defending the Exclusion of U.S. Citizens Who Live in U.S. Territories from National Social Safety Net Programs
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and twelve Members of Congress wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Acting Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar yesterday urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop defending the exclusion of millions of U.S. citizens who reside in U.S. Territories from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicare Part D low-income subsidies (LIS). The lawmakers ask DOJ to with… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Chair Grijalva Hails Passage of American Rescue Plan – Highlights Funding Addressing Coronavirus in Indian Country, Tracking Wildlife-Borne Diseases
This release has been edited from its initial version to more accurately reflect approved funding totals for IHS. Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed House passage of the American Rescue Plan, which already passed the Senate and which now heads to President Biden's desk. The bill includes increased funding for coronavirus response in Indian Country, new federal resources to track and control the sources of wildlife-borne diseases, and the ability to enforce s… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Chair Grijalva Highlights GAO Report He Requested Finding U.S. Coasts at Risk Without Fish & Wildlife Service Consultation on Dredging, Other Projects
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today highlighted new findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that a 2019 Trump administration order to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) not to consult with federal stakeholders on many coastal preservation projects has led to unjustified coastal damage, excessive dredging and other harmful consequences. The findings come in a report, which Grijalva requested and which GAO published today, titled Fish and Wildlife … Continue Reading