Press Releases
Grijalva on Latest Legislation on Puerto Rico Debt Crisis and Potential Committee Action
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on the latest version of legislation (H.R. 5278) to address the ongoing debt crisis in Puerto Rico: "This is not the bill I would write and we are well aware that an oversight board will never be the first choice of many in Puerto Rico. This legislation is a compromise, so of course there are aspects that cause me concern," Grijalva said. "But I am even more con… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Grijalva Works With Tribes to Protect Grand Canyon, Create New National Monument
On Nov. 3, 2015, Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Act - a bill establishing a new national monument to the north and south of the Grand Canyon that protects a vital watershed and celebrates the long local history and deep cultural roots of the region's Native American Tribes. A map of the proposed Monument is available here. What Would Creating a National Monument Mean? This summary briefly explains how the Monument… Continue Reading
05.13.16
Dems Urge Protection of the Antiquities Act in FY2017 Budget
Washington, D.C. - House Democrats sent a joint letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies today to urge the subcommittee to refrain from including any provisions that would undermine the Antiquities Act, a law that authorizes the president to designate national monuments on existing federal land, in the Fiscal Year 2017 bill. Republicans have repeatedly tried to undermine the Antiquities Act and worked to block des… Continue Reading
05.11.16
Grijalva on the Delay of the Puerto Rico Draft Legislation
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva commented on Chairman Rob Bishop's (R-Utah) decision to delay release of a new draft of legislation addressing Puerto Rico's $72 billion debt crisis. "We are making progress, but we are not there yet. The situation in Puerto Rico is dire, but a bill that doesn't solve the problem, or doesn't pass, won't help anyone," Grijalva said. "Families on the island need relief from the disastrous cuts to public se… Continue Reading
05.09.16
Grijalva Travels to Puerto Rico
Phoenix, Ariz. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico today to meet with Puerto Rican government elected officials and community leaders on the Commonwealth's $72 billion debt crisis. Grijalva wants to ensure the legislation proposed by Congress later this week will help the families living on the island emerge from the current crisis and offers Puerto Rico a substantive recovery plan that will lead to future grow… Continue Reading
05.04.16
House Natural Resources Committee Democratic Report Shows How Major Spending Cuts in Puerto Rico Have Left the Island Vulnerable to Zika
Tucson, Ariz. - The House Natural Resources Committee staff, led by Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), released a report today showing that devastating budget cuts imposed in the wake of Puerto Rico's $72 billion financial crisis have left Puerto Rico vulnerable to the Zika virus. As Congress considers legislation to help the 3.5 million American citizens living on the island emerge from this humanitarian crisis, it is clear that further cuts could be dangerous and cost more than … Continue Reading
04.29.16
Sen. Markey, Reps. Grijalva and DeFazio Release New GAO Report on Municipal Freshwater Scarcity
Report highlights need for innovation, efficiencies to address decline in reliable, cheap and abundant freshwater due to climate change and other impacts Washington (April 29, 2016) - The view that drinkable water has been generally considered "reliable, cheap, and abundant" is no longer true due to a growing demand and reduction in supply, in part because of climate change impacts, including recurring drought according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. This finding and o… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Hearing Wrap-up: Public Lands Along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Hearing Overview The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing today on public lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. Committee Republicans used the hearing as an opportunity to undermine the Department of the Interior's (DOI) federal land management practices by claiming it hinders the ability of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain adequate security at the U.S. border. Both CBP and DOI have disputed these claims. Witnesses Jon Andrew, Interagency Bo… Continue Reading
04.27.16
Grijalva and New Coalition of Diversity Leaders Call on Obama to Make National Parks More Accessible to all Americans
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and a new coalition of diversity leaders will hold a press conference on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol to urge President Obama to take critical steps toward making national parks and other public lands more accessible to all Americans. The coalition - comprised of diversity leaders from civil rights, environmental justice, conservation and community organizations - echoes a letter spearheaded by … Continue Reading
04.26.16
Military Letters Confirm Sage-Grouse Protections Don’t Compromise Readiness, National Security
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released letters from senior military officials this morning stating clearly that despite Republican claims, conservation activities to protect the greater sage-grouse and its habitat will not adversely impact military readiness. A full Committee markup of the National Defense Authorization Act is scheduled for Wednesday. The lett… Continue Reading
04.22.16
Grijalva and Tribal Leaders Hold Press Conference to Call for Grand Canyon Protections
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will hold a press conference on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to call on the Obama Administration to act on his bill, the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Act. The bill would protect the Grand Canyon from new uranium mining and establish a national monument that reflects the long history and deep cultural roots of the region's Native Ameri… Continue Reading
04.22.16
House Dems Commemorate Earth Day
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee are commemorating Earth Day by renewing their pledge to ensure all Americans have access to clear air, clean water, and public lands, today and for generations to come. Democrats on the Committee take a strong stand every day in favor of legislation that protects our planet. “We are beginning to see the real effects of man-made climate change in this country,” Ranking Member Gri… Continue Reading
04.19.16
CBO Report Shows Taxpayers Losing Out on Potentially $1.2 Billion in Oil & Gas Revenue
Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today released a report requested by Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and senior Democratic members of the House Natural Resources Committee on the potential revenue effects of reforming royalty rates and leasing rules for oil and gas on public lands and waters. The report examined eight options and concluded that the combined revenue impacts of the reforms could be $1.2 billion - over 10 years, with considerably greater re… Continue Reading
04.18.16
Grijalva, Hastings Lead Letter with 34 Democrats Urging NPS to Focus on Diversity and Inclusion
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.) sent a letter today urging the National Park Service (NPS) to focus on diversity and inclusion as they prepare for NPS's 100th anniversary celebration. The letter comes as we commemorate National Park Week (April 16-24, 2016), the nationwide celebration of our national parks, to remind NPS Director Jon Jarvis that our park system needs to better reflect… Continue Reading
04.14.16
Ranking Member Grijalva Applauds the Release of the Well Control Rule
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) hailed the release of the final Well Control Rule today, an offshore drilling safety regulation nearly five years in the making. The Rule is a direct result of the BP oil spill that contaminated marine and wildlife habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and many deem the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. "This long-overdue rule is an important step forward for offshore drilling safety in th… Continue Reading
04.13.16
Grijalva on the Postponement of the Puerto Rico Bill Markup
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement after Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and the Committee elected to postpone the markup on H.R. 4900: The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act. "The Chairman and I elected to postpone the markup on Puerto Rico and keep working on the bill," Grijalva said. "This is too important to rush through and make a mistake. The legislation continues to be a work in progress, with all s… Continue Reading
04.13.16
Ranking Member Grijalva’s Remarks on the Debt Crisis in Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) delivered the following opening statement this morning at the Natural Resources Committee hearing on the “Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act,” also known as PROMESA Act (H.R. 4900), the Republican led bill that aims to address the island’s debt crisis. “Thank you Mr. Chairman. Today we are continuing the process towards passing legislation to help the people of Puerto Rico deal with a humanitarian crisi… Continue Reading
04.06.16
Grijalva Statement on Hearing to Address Debt Crisis in Puerto Rico
Tucson, Ariz. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on Chairman Rob Bishop's (R-Utah) announcement that a hearing on a draft Puerto Rico debt restructuring bill will be held on April 13, followed by a markup on April 14. An earlier version of a draft bill was released last week by Natural Resources Committee Republicans. "Everyone is working hard and in good faith on the Puerto Rico bill, and it's still a work in progress," Grijalva said. "I look fo… Continue Reading
03.29.16
Grijalva on the Puerto Rico Discussion Draft: “Hopeful the Draft Bill Will Lead to a Substantive Bipartisan Discussion”
Tucson, Ariz. - Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on Chairman Rob Bishop's (R-Utah) Puerto Rico discussion draft bill. The draft legislation aims to address the Commonwealth's debt crisis. "I remain hopeful that the Puerto Rico discussion draft can lead to a substantive bipartisan discussion," Grijalva said. "As we begin negotiations, I urge my Republican colleagues to put the needs of American families first - children… Continue Reading
03.24.16
Dems Request Hearing on Abandoned Mine Legislation
Tucson, Ariz. - In an attempt to spur action to begin meaningfully addressing the nationwide problem of abandoned hardrock mines, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and five Democrats on the Committee sent a letter this morning to Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Chairman Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) to request a hearing on two bills that would allow these abandoned mines to be tackled head-on. It's estimated that 500… Continue Reading