Press Releases
Chair Grijalva: More Federally Protected Areas at Risk as Trump Admin Destroys Whole Communities, Public Lands to Build Unpopular Border Wall
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today released the following statement on the news that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to build or extend bollard fencing along the vast majority of the southern boundaries of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge - three federally protected sites - as part of its plan to construct President Trump's unpopular, needlessly destructive border … Continue Reading
05.07.19
Chair Grijalva Introduces “Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Bear Protection Act” Ahead of Expected Federal Ruling on Endangered Species Act Protections
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Bear Protection Act, which ensures that grizzly bears are permanently protected for their ecological and cultural value and guarantees Native American tribes a role in conserving and managing the species. Grizzly bears are considered sacred by many tribes, but only a small fraction of historic grizzly populations now exist in the lower 48 states. The bill, listed as H.R. 2532, is availabl… Continue Reading
05.06.19
In First Joint Request, Chair Grijalva, Ranking Member Bishop Seek GAO Report on Potential Human Rights Violations by International Anti-Poaching Units
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Rob Bishop (R-Utah) today sent a joint letter requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of whether federal funding of anti-poaching efforts has supported human rights abuses. The request comes in the wake of reports that anti-poaching and anti-wildlife organizations have allegedly engaged in severe human rights abuses. The full letter is available at http://bit.ly/2Lox0TD. As the lawmakers point out… Continue Reading
05.06.19
In First Joint Request, Chair Grijalva, Ranking Member Bishop Seek GAO Report on Potential Human Rights Violations by International Anti-Poaching Units
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Rob Bishop (R-Utah) today sent a joint letter requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of whether federal funding of anti-poaching efforts has supported human rights abuses. The request comes in the wake of reports that anti-poaching and anti-wildlife organizations have allegedly engaged in severe human rights abuses. The full letter is available at http://bit.ly/2Lox0TD. As the lawmakers point out,… Continue Reading
05.03.19
Chair Grijalva: Hearing Demonstrates That Austerity Is Destroying Puerto Rico, Fiscal Board Doesn’t Respect Needs of Puerto Rican People
Washington, D.C. - In the wake of yesterday's hearing on the economic future of Puerto Rico, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva today questioned the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico's one-sided focus on punishing austerity measures and service cuts to the island's already shattered economy and questioned Executive Director Natalie Jaresko's assertion that Puerto Ricans are unwilling to work if they receive government financial assistance. If the Board intends to maintain its c… Continue Reading
05.03.19
In Letter to Key Senators, Chair Grijalva Flags Ethical Concerns With Trump Nomination to Head NOAA – Calls for Committee Hearing Prior to Senate Vote
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) yesterday sent a letter to Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the chairman and ranking member respectively of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, urging them to hold a hearing on President Trump’s nomination of Barry Myers to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before the full Senate holds a vote. Among other issues, Grijalva flags Myers’ financial conflicts of interest and… Continue Reading
05.03.19
In Letter to Key Senators, Chair Grijalva Flags Ethical Concerns With Trump Nomination to Head NOAA – Calls for Committee Hearing Prior to Senate Vote
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) yesterday sent a letter to Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the chairman and ranking member respectively of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, urging them to hold a hearing on President Trump’s nomination of Barry Myers to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before the full Senate holds a vote. Among other issues, Grijalva flags Myers’ financial conflicts of interest and… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Chair Grijalva Shares Climate Stories From Across the Country as Democrats Pass Climate Change Bill, Look Ahead to Further Action
Washington D.C. - As House Democrats today approved H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) highlighted climate impact stories that Americans across the country have sent the House Natural Resources Committee. Grijalva said the passage of H.R. 9 was a good step for climate action and that he looks forward to continuing to produce strong climate policy both in the Committee and through the House Democratic Caucus. Since the beginning of the 116th Congress, Hou… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Leading Democrats: Once Again, Interior Acts at Behest of Oil and Gas Interests to Weaken Rules and Increase Risks to America’s Coasts
Washington, D.C. - Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.); Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources; and Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) released the following joint statement on today's announcement that the Trump administration has finalized revisions weakening the Well Control Rule, which instituted safety standards designed to make offshore oil and gas dri… Continue Reading
05.01.19
First Markup of 116th Congress Showcases Dem Priorities: Ending Arctic Refuge Drilling, Supporting Tribes, Reclaiming Abandoned Mine Lands
Washington, D.C. - The first House Natural Resources Committee markup of the 116th Congress, which concluded moments ago, showcased a wide range of Democratic priorities and sometimes offered a stark contrast with Committee Republicans' environmental thinking. Among other bills, the Committee passed Rep. Jared Huffman's (D-Calif.) bipartisan proposal to cancel the oil and gas program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which was opened thanks to an amendment by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Chair Grijalva Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Submit Members of Puerto Rico Financial Oversight Board for Senate Consideration
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on President Trump's recently announced decision to nominate the seven members of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico for Senate approval. The decision comes in the wake of a First Circuit Court of Appeals ruling invalidating the direct appointment of the Board's membership. The Board was created by thePuerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) of 2016… Continue Reading
04.29.19
After Months of Delay, Chair Grijalva Presses Interior Sec. Bernhardt to Testify on the Record – New Letter Outlines Pattern of Stonewalling
Washington, D.C. - In a letter today, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) pressed Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee on May 15 as previously requested. The letter comes after months of stonewalling and failed staff-level outreach to Bernhardt, who has only indicated an interest in private, off-the-record, one-on-one meetings with individual lawmakers on the Committee. The full letter is available at http://bit.ly/2GGBRde. Several week… Continue Reading
04.25.19
Chair Grijalva: Administration Withdrawal of Five-Year Drilling Plan Shows Power of Bipartisan Opposition – Permanent Protections Are the Next Step
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on the Trump administration's decision to halt development of the five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing, which has been in development since the spring of 2017. The news, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes in the wake of a federal ruling in Alaska reinstating a ban on oil and gas drilling across much of the Arctic Ocean. "This administration has treated public waters like a botto… Continue Reading
04.24.19
The Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, Explained – Read More on How Chair Grijalva’s Recently Enacted Bill Helps the West
Washington, D.C. - Last week, President Trump signed Chair Raúl M. Grijalva's (D-Ariz.) Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act into law, marking a new chapter for 40 million western water users who rely on the Colorado River to support their communities, farms and economies. In a new Medium post, the House Natural Resources Committee lays out the many ways in which the plan improves prospects for the seven Colorado River Basin states and makes it possible to begin the e… Continue Reading
04.16.19
After Democratic Site Tour of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Chair Grijalva Declares “No Compromise” on Protecting Sacred Sites From Trump Agenda
Santa Fe, N.M. - After touring Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which included hearing from tribal and elected leaders about the risks to the site from nearby oil and gas drilling, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) vowed aggressive, continuous oversight of the Trump administration's industry dominance agenda and its impact on sacred Native American sites around the country. The visit, Grijalva said, underscored the need for the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, which wi… Continue Reading
04.15.19
Chair Grijalva Invites Secretary Bernhardt to Testify by May 15 on Interior Policies and Ethical Concerns, Says Delays No Longer Acceptable
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today sent a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt inviting him to testify before the Committee on May 15 on the Department of the Interior's (DOI) policies and priorities, as well as issues raised by recent revelations regarding the Secretary's schedule and record-keeping. The letter comes after several months of correspondence and staff-level discussion between the Committee and Bernhardt's office. "Secretary Bernhardt has bee… Continue Reading
04.15.19
After New Mexico Witnesses Speak Out Against Health, Environmental Impacts of Runaway Oil and Gas Industry, Chair Grijalva Eyes New Federal Limits
Santa Fe, N.M. - Following a recently concluded public hearing at which New Mexicans from all walks of life testified to the severe health and environmental damage being done by fossil fuel companies, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said new federal restrictions on oil and gas may be necessary given the industry's wasteful practices and continued appetite for extraction at any cost. As Chair Grijalva, Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Committee Vice Chair Deb Haaland (D-N.… Continue Reading
04.11.19
As Questions Mount on Interior Handling of FOIA Requests, Grijalva and Cummings Lead Letter to Appropriators Pushing for More DOI FOIA Staff
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) today sent a letter with Rep. TJ Cox (D-Calif.), chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Rep. Harley Rouda (D-Calif.), chair of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on the Environment, to top House appropriators urging a funding increase sufficient to hire at least 10 new full-time employees dedicated to FOIA response. The… Continue Reading
04.11.19
Livestream Link Available for April 15 New Mexico Field Hearing on Air Quality, Public Health, Sacred Sites Impacts of Oil and Gas Development
Washington, D.C. - The livestream link for the April 15 field hearing in Santa Fe, N.M. - Oil and Gas Development: Impacts on Air Pollution and Sacred Sites - is now available. Watch live at 10:00 a.m. local time at http://bit.ly/2U6kCXy. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) will be among those testifying at theSubcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources field hearing. Ahead of the hearing, Committee lawmakers will meet with local environmental advocates, tour Chaco Culture National Historical Par… Continue Reading
04.10.19
Grijalva, Huffman Push Interior Dept. on Refusal to Cooperate With GAO Inquiry on Water Issue Dating to Acting Secretary Bernhardt’s Previous Tenure
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who chairs the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today calling for immediate cooperation by the Department of the Interior (DOI), which has refused to discuss unusual financial transactions between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; Westlands Water District, a former lobbying client of Bernhardt’s; and several other California water dist… Continue Reading