Press Releases
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://bit.ly/3eSMKLz, … 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
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