Press Releases
Ranking Member Grijalva Applauds Launch of President Biden’s American Climate Corps
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today released the following statement on the Biden-Harris administration’s launch of the American Climate Corps. The new workforce training and service initiative will employ more than 20,000 young people, putting them on the path to careers in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience. The Biden administration also announced $15 million for the Indian Youth Service Corps yesterday. “Young p… Continue Reading
09.12.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Applauds Biden Administration Recommendations for Reforming Severely Outdated Mining Law of 1872
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior-led (DOI) Interagency Working Group on Mining Laws, Regulations, and Permitting released a new report outlining 65 recommendations for modernizing the country’s severely outdated mining system. The report was informed by tens of thousands of public comments, as well as dozens of working group meetings with external stakeholders. Upon release of the report, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) iss… Continue Reading
09.07.23
Government Watchdog: Trump's Border Wall Damaged Environment, Hurt Wildlife & Destroyed Indigenous Sacred Sites
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan government watchdog agency, issued a new report detailing the damage wrought by former President Trump’s border wall on the country’s natural and cultural resources. The report was requested by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) in May 2021. CLICK HERE to read GAO’s full report. According to the report, Trump’s border wall and border wall construction have: dest… Continue Reading
09.06.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Commends Cancellation of Oil and Gas Leases in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to cancel the seven remaining 2021 oil and gas leases sold under the Trump administration’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) leasing program. The leases were previously suspended due to multiple legal flaws in the Trump administration’s leasing program, including a failure to adequately analyze a reasonable ran… Continue Reading
08.14.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Welcomes Outcome for Montana Youth in Climate Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today welcomed the ruling in favor of Montana youth challenging harmful fossil fuel policies that threaten the health and safety of Montana residents. “Montana youth prevailed against overwhelming odds to strike down a law barring state regulators from considering the climate change impacts of fossil fuel projects, in violation of the constitutional right to clean air… Continue Reading
08.08.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Delivers Remarks at Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument Designation
Red Butte Airfield, Ariz. – This afternoon, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) delivered remarks at President Biden’s designation of nearly 1 million acres as the new Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in the Red Butte Airfield in Arizona. CLICK HERE for Ranking Member Grijalva’s earlier statement on the announcement of the new national monument. Transcript of Ranking… Continue Reading
08.08.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Hails New Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, Thanks Tribes for Tireless Efforts
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today celebrated news that President Joe Biden will use his authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate public lands in the Grand Canyon region as the new Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The designation is the result of a decades-long effort by the tribes of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, with the support of en… Continue Reading
07.31.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Applauds Secretary Granholm for Announcing $450 Million for Rooftop Solar and Storage in Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Granholm’s announcement of up to $453.5 million in funding opportunities from the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF). The funding is part of the $1 billion that Ranking Member Grijalva proposed and helped secure in last year’s omnibus funding bill for rooftop solar and battery storage for l… Continue Reading
07.31.23
Grijalva, Congressional Delegation Representing U.S. Territories Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Place Insular Areas Advisors in Federal Agencies
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and congressional representatives for the U.S. Territories—Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. Jim Moylan (R-Guam), Rep. Jenniffer González Colón (R-Puerto Rico), and Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett (D-USVI)—announced the introduction of H.R. 5001, the bipartisan Special Advisors for Insular Areas Act, which would establish a Special Advisor for Insular Ar… Continue Reading
07.27.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Blasts GOP’s Pro-Polluter Resolutions to Bully Bats & Chickens, Highlights Republican Inaction on Climate Crisis
Washington, D.C. – On the House floor today, House Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) spoke in opposition of S.J. Res 9 and S.J. Res 24, two joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to cut Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for the lesser prairie chicken and Northern long-eared bat. The American people are facing many pressing issues right now, including record-breaking heat waves across the country fueled by climate change. B… Continue Reading
07.26.23
Reps. Kamlager-Dove, Ocasio-Cortez, and Ross Introduce CLEAN Energy NOW Acts
Washington, D.C. – Top Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee today introduced the CLEAN Energy NOW Acts to advance clean energy development on our public lands and waters by repealing ties to fossil fuel leasing requirements mandated by last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA includes $369 billion for climate and clean energy, the biggest investment in history. However, provisions that tie clean energy to fossil fuel development increase harmful carbon polluti… Continue Reading
07.25.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Statement on Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today released the following statement on President Biden’s designation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. Today would have been Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday. “The brutal murder of Emmett Till and the acquittal of his murderers was an injustice of the most unthinkable kind. But even worse, it was no anomaly,” said Ranking Member Grijalva. R… Continue Reading
07.20.23
Ranking Member Grijalva, Reps. Huffman, Porter, Susie Lee, Levin Commend Biden Administration’s Proposed Oil and Gas Rule, Highlight Democrats’ Efforts
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) today issued the following statements on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) newly proposed rule for onshore oil and gas leasing on public lands. The proposed rule reflects long overdue reforms to the leasing program th… Continue Reading
07.19.23
Ranking Member Grijalva, Rep. Gallego Celebrate Growing Momentum for Tribes’ Proposed Grand Canyon National Monument
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) issued statements heralding continued progress on the tribal-led effort to ensure permanent protection of more than 1 million acres of public lands by designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. This past April, the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition—leadership representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapa… Continue Reading
06.29.23
READOUT: Ranking Member Grijalva Visits Puerto Rico, Discusses Puerto Rico Status Act and $1 Billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund
Washington, D.C. – This week, June 26-28, 2023, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) visited Puerto Rico to discuss the Puerto Rico Status Act, the $1 billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, and other federal legislative and oversight priorities, including Puerto Rico’s reconstruction, access to federal programs and resources, and the implementation of Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). CLICK HERE … Continue Reading
06.22.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Statement on Arizona v. Navajo Nation SCOTUS Decision
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Arizona v. Navajo Nation. In the 5-4 decision, with a majority opinion authored by Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the court ruled that the U.S. government’s treaty promise of providing a permanent homeland to the Navajo Nation doesn’t require the U.S. government to take modest steps to secure w… Continue Reading
06.21.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Statement on Biden Administration’s Proposed Updates to Endangered Species Act Regulations
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s newly proposed revisions to the three implementing regulations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that were issued under the Trump administration in 2019. The Trump-era regulations significantly weakened implementation of the ESA, a longstanding industry request. “With the dual threats of the climate crisis and … Continue Reading
06.15.23
Ranking Members Grijalva and Leger Fernández Celebrate SCOTUS Decision to Uphold Indian Child Welfare Act, Protect Native Families
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee Ranking Member Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) today issued the following statements on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case that challenged the constitutionality of the bipartisan Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). ICWA has been instrumental in protecting the well-being and best interests of Native children and… Continue Reading
06.14.23
Ranking Member Grijalva Announces New Subcommittee Staff Director for Indian Affairs
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced Bobby Ahern as the new Subcommittee Staff Director for Indian Affairs on the Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee. Brian Modeste remains the Subcommittee Staff Director for Insular Affairs. Ahern, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon, comes to the Committee from Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-Ore.) office, where he has served as Senior Policy Adviso… Continue Reading
06.07.23
Committee Announces Bipartisan Task Force Combatting Chinese Government's Influence in the Indo-Pacific
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) announced the formation of a bipartisan task force that will conduct oversight on issues facing the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States (FAS) in the Indo-Pacific region. “Our relationships with the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States in the Indo-Pacific region are critical to our national security, especially as we fa… Continue Reading