Press Releases
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
03.09.21
Chair Grijalva Hails DOI Announcement of March 25 Forum on Federal Fossil Fuel Policy – Highlights Today’s Hearing Identifying Badly Needed Reforms
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed the announcement of a March 25 Department of the Interior forum with a variety of labor, economic justice, and environmental advocates on the future of federal fossil fuel policies. The event, which will also include industry representatives, will help chart a course for the development of an interim Biden administration report on proposed reforms to fossil fuel laws and regulations that will likely be published this summer.… Continue Reading
03.03.21
Grijalva Supports HR 1, Highlights Many Ways it Increases Justice and Democracy in U.S. Territories Long Denied Political Representation
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced his support of the For The People Act (H.R. 1) ahead of House passage of the bill, cheering the inclusion of hard-fought provisions to increase voting rights, justice and democracy in the U.S. Territories. "The For The People Act is a transformational clean elections reform package that protects our access to the ballot box, reduces the influence of big money in politics, strengthens ethics rules for p… Continue Reading
03.02.21
Chair Grijalva Welcomes Introduction of Clean Future Act, Hails Inclusion of Environmental Justice Measures, Looks Forward to Upcoming Collaboration
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today welcomed the introduction of the Clean Future Act by Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill includes several environmental justice measures consistent with the approach outlined by Grijalva's and Rep. A. Donald McEachin's (D-Va.) Environmental Justice for All Act in the 116th Congress, including an effort to address the cumulative impacts of multiple pollution sources on environmental j… Continue Reading
03.01.21
Chair Grijalva, After Years of Highlighting Need for Tribal Consultation, Cheers Withdrawal of Key Federal Analysis for Exploitative Oak Flat Mining Project
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who has for many years highlighted the need for federal tribal consultation before moving forward with the Resolution Copper mining project in central Arizona, today hailed the news that the U.S. Forest Service is withdrawing its final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision issued on Jan. 15 and will conduct a thorough review before proceeding any further with the preparation of new analyses at the site. Grijal… Continue Reading
02.26.21
Grijalva Cheers House Passage of Amendment to PROMESA, Calls for Additional Reforms to Improve Quality of Life for Puerto Ricans
Washington D.C. - This week the House of Representatives passed the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021 (PRRADA), an amendment to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). The legislation - introduced by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and passed by the House during the 116th Congress - mandates financial disclosures by professionals working on PROMESA debt rest… Continue Reading
02.26.21
Chair Grijalva Hails Passage of Public Lands Bills, Looks Forward to Senate Action on Grand Canyon Protection Measure, Other Major Conservation Goals
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed passage of the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, a package of Natural Resources Committee bills that includes Grijalva's Grand Canyon Protection Act; Rep. Joe Neguse's (D-Colo.) Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act; and a collection of bills introduced in the last Congress as a package by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) under the heading Protecting America's Wilderness Act. The Protecting America's W… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Following Years-Long Oversight, Chair Grijalva Welcomes Announcement That U.S. Park Police Chief Will Require Body-Worn Cameras for Officers
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed the announcement that incoming U.S. Park Police Chief Pamela Smith will require officers to wear body cameras as a means of enhancing accountability and increasing public trust in the agency. The issue was the centerpiece of a Sept. 29, 2020, hearing in the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations titled Police Cameras at the Department of the Interior: Inconsistencies, Failures, and Consequences. Smith replaces acting … Continue Reading
02.22.21
Chair Grijalva Leads Letter to Acting Sec. of Agriculture Urging Withdrawal of Flawed Analysis of Oak Flat Mining Project Rushed Out by Trump Admin
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) sent a previously unannounced letter on Friday to acting Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Shea, signed by 21 House Democratic colleagues, urging the withdrawal of the U.S. Forest Service final environmental impact statement (FEIS) assessing the likely impacts of the proposed Resolution Copper mining project in central Arizona. The Trump administration rushed the document to publication on Jan. 15, just days before President Biden took offi… Continue Reading
02.17.21
Chair Grijalva Announces Vice Chairs, Subcommittee Chairs for 117th Congress, Looks Forward to Climate and Environmental Justice Collaboration
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced the vice chairs and subcommittee chairs for the 117th Congress. The positions were chosen by the Democratic members of the Committee during their recently concluded organizing meeting. The full Committee organizing meeting will be livestreamed tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. Vice Chair: Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-Ill.) Vice Chair for Insular Affairs: Rep. Gregorio Sablan (D-CNMI) Subcommittee on En… Continue Reading
02.16.21
Chair Grijalva Hails Public Lands Package for Floor Consideration Next Week – Includes His “Grand Canyon Protection Act,” Wilderness Measures
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced that the House Rules Committee will consider a package of Natural Resources Committee bills early next week ahead of a full House vote on Wednesday, Feb. 23. The package includes Grijalva's Grand Canyon Protection Act, which was introduced as a standalone bill on Monday; Rep. Joe Neguse's (D-Colo.) Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act; and a collection of bills introduced in the last Congress as a package by Rep. D… Continue Reading
02.12.21
Natural Resources Committee Releases Report Reviewing Accomplishments in 116th Congress, Announces Feb. 18 Organizing Meeting for 117th Congress
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced the Natural Resources Committee will hold its organizing meeting for the 117th Congress at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Feb. 18. The event, which will be livestreamed at http://bit.ly/2ZbBmRZ (Facebook) and https://bit.ly/3tWlqRJ (YouTube), will include a vote on the full Committee rules package for the upcoming Congress. The meeting comes as President Biden begins to implement a series of executive orders streng… Continue Reading
02.12.21
Chair Grijalva: Trump’s Impeachment Defense Lawyers Just Lied About Events at Lafayette Square – Comparison to Jan. 6 Attack is Offensive and Inaccurate
Washington, D.C. – Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on Trump impeachment lawyers’ false claims just now that the violent law enforcement crackdown against unarmed civilians at Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020, was a response to violence among the protesters. “What we saw on Jan. 6 was a well-armed violent insurrection against our form of government. As Mr. Trump’s lawyers well know, the premeditated violence and murder that took plac… Continue Reading
02.05.21
Dingell, Markey, Grijalva Reintroduce THRIVE Resolution to Build Back Economy Following Coronavirus Pandemic
As the Biden administration begins to take immediate action to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic depression, Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today reintroduced the Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Agenda. The resolution outlines a framework for a bold economic renewal plan that addresses the four current ongoing and intersecting crises: the public health disaster, racial injustice, the cl… Continue Reading
02.04.21
Chair Grijalva: Trump-Era Rewrite of Migratory Bird Treaty Act Rule “Wasn’t Worth the Paper it’s Printed On,” Biden Right to Pause and Seek Public Input
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today praised the Biden administration pause for a 30-day public comment period before finalizing any rewrite of a regulation implementing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Trump administration published a final rule last month attempting to limit the scope of the law and eliminating penalties for the incidental - rather than intentional - injury or death of migratory birds. The rule, which would have had an effective date of Feb. 8, i… Continue Reading
02.03.21
Chair Grijalva: Biden Admin is Right to Release $1.3 Billion for Housing Relief in Puerto Rico – Hearing on Access to Federal Aid Coming This Spring
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today praised the Biden administration's swift release of $1.3 billion in Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help Puerto Rico rebuild infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Maria and the removal of restrictions on another $4.9 billion established by the Trump administration. Grijalva said the Natural Resources Committee plans to hold a hearing this spring on the impacts of terri… Continue Reading