Press Releases
Ranking Member Grijalva Hails Tougher Ivory Trafficking Standard – House Republicans Trying to Overturn It Despite Public Opinion
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva today hailed the newly announced U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule prohibiting most forms of domestic commercial ivory trading. The rule is the finalization of a July 2015 administration proposed rule under the Endangered Species Act. The regulation, which received more than 1.3 million public comments during the drafting process, according to FWS - most of them overwhelmingly positive - will go into effect in 30 days unless a pe… Continue Reading
05.25.16
PROMESA Act Advances to the House Floor
Washington, D.C. - The PROMESA Act (H.R. 5278), the bill aimed to address Puerto Rico's debt crisis, passed in the House Natural Resources Committee today with bipartisan support. Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) voted in favor of the bill, but was clear in his opening statement yesterday that this is not the bill he would have drafted. "The Puerto Rico bill is flawed, but after months of working with Republicans and the Administration, I realized that compromise was necessary t… Continue Reading
05.24.16
Ranking Member Grijalva's Opening Statement on the PROMESA Act to Help Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) delivered the following opening statement this evening at the House Natural Resources Committee markup of the bipartisan bill that addresses the debt crisis in Puerto Rico, the PROMESA Act (H.R. 5278): “The flag of the United States has flown over Puerto Rico for more than a century. “Those born on the island are American citizens, and more than 200,000 have served in the United Sates military and their nation, including roughly 10… Continue Reading
05.20.16
Grijalva Celebrates Endangered Species Day by Telling GOP to Stop Attacks on Imperiled Wildlife
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) issued the following statement recognizing today as the 11th annual Endangered Species Day: "The Endangered Species Act is one of our most powerful, successful, and popular conservation laws. It has prevented the extinction of nearly every species that has received its protections. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans insist on continuing their crusade to drive the extinction of American wi… Continue Reading
05.19.16
After Months of Urging, Dingell, Grijalva and Cartwright Hail Office of Surface Mining Revisiting of Anti-Taxpayer Coal Bonding Rules
Washington, D.C. - After months of urging, Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) - the ranking members of the House Natural Resources Committee and the committee's oversight panel, respectively - and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) hailed the newly announced Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) decision to reconsider "self-bonding" rules that allow coal companies with weak balance sheets to transfer millions of dollars in cleanup costs to taxpa… Continue Reading
05.19.16
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