Press Releases
Grijalva on EPA Oil and Gas Impact Analysis: “Industry Will Spin This as Clean Bill of Health – Nothing is Further From the Truth”
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement on the EPA's announcement that oil and gas development presents risks to water quality. "Today's announcement will be spun by industry lobbyists as a clean bill of health for oil and gas developers around the country. Nothing could be further from the truth, as EPA's own findings have shown. Irresponsible oil and gas development puts water quality at risk for millions of Americans, and no amount of spin c… Continue Reading
06.02.15
Ranking Member Grijalva Applauds Obama Administration’s Efforts to Protect the Greater Sage-Grouse
This press release was distributed May 28. Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) issued the following statement following the Obama Administration's announcement of the completed environmental reviews for Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land management plans in the core habitat of the greater sage-grouse: "I applaud the Administration and the states for working together to revise these plans in an attempt to conserve the greater sage-grouse. This… Continue Reading
06.02.15
Ranking Member Grijalva Praises New Clean Water Rule
This press release was distributed May 27. Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement today after news that the Obama Administration has finalized the Clean Water Rule, ending years of regulatory uncertainty and establishing clear protections for streams and wetlands that supply drinking water for millions of Americans. "I congratulate the Obama Administration for bringing long-overdue clarity to the vital issue of clean water. One in t… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Ranking Member Grijalva: Both Coasts, Alaska Can Expect California-Style Pipeline Disasters if Offshore Drilling Expands
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement today on the recent pipeline spill in California, which is now estimated to have spread more than 100,000 gallons of oil. "This is what we can look forward to - up and down both coastlines, from Florida to California to Alaska - if we start opening up more unnecessary areas to offshore drilling. The oil industry and its Republican friends in Washington never stop telling us we need to drill more, deregula… Continue Reading
05.19.15
In Wake of Canadian Disaster, Grijalva and Lowenthal Request Federal Information on Mine Tailings Dams Safety and Inspections
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, sent a letter today to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze requesting detailed information on tailings dam safety on public lands and highlighting the recent environmental disaster from a collapsed dam in British Columbia. The letter is prompted in part by the August 2014 failure of the Mount P… Continue Reading
05.18.15
Protecting Our Fisheries: Public Opposition to the 'Empty Oceans Act'
On June 1, the House Republican majority passed an unpopular, overreaching update to our nation's fisheries law that would allow severe overfishing and put our natural resources at risk. Much more information about why this bill is misguided - and why it's opposed by so many business, environmental and scientific leaders - is available on this page. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) has come a long way since the law was first enacted in 1976 to secure viable fis… Continue Reading
05.14.15
Democrats, Sportsmen Organizations Hold Major Roundtable on the Future of Public Lands Conservation, Fate of Land and Water Fund
Washington, D.C. - As part of Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva's ongoing efforts to diversify the environmental movement and establish new conservation alliances, Democratic House Natural Resources Committee lawmakers and members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus held a major roundtable yesterday with national hunting, fishing, wildlife and conservation organizations to discuss potential collaboration on public lands issues, habitat protection, wildlife conservation and access to public lan… Continue Reading
05.11.15
Grijalva Letter to Bishop for Travel Request to Cuba on 5/11
05.06.15
Bicameral Lawmakers Call on Interior Department to Stop Natural Gas Waste: GAO Reports Show Outdated Policies Are Wasting Millions of Taxpayer Dollars and Endangering the Environment
Washington, D.C. - A group of House and Senate lawmakers today asked the Interior Department to limit the unnecessary releases of natural gas from oil and gas wells on public lands in light of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finding that federal officials have not improved natural gas capture standards despite two previous reports urging reforms. In a letter sent today, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., asked Interior Sec… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Grijalva, Udall Introduce Major Bill to Recruit Veterans, Underserved Communities for Environmental Conservation Programs
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, today introduced the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2015. The bill expands the pool of Public Lands Corps participants to include many veterans, encourages recruitment among minority and underserved communities, makes it easier for Corps members to finish a degree before s… Continue Reading
04.29.15
Ranking Member Grijalva Questions Legal Basis of Campaign by New Republican Group to Take Away Federal Control of Public Lands
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement on the recent formation of the House Republican "Federal Land Action Group." "Building on the ideas of extremists like Cliven Bundy, House Republicans have formed a group to explore the idea that if you see a federal resource you like, maybe you can just take it. Hopefully I can save them some time and spare the State of Utah the $12 million the Legislature wants to spend on thi… Continue Reading
04.29.15
Ranking Member Grijalva Questions Need for Unpopular, Partisan Republican Bill Weakening Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Law
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement ahead of tomorrow's Committee consideration of amendments to H.R. 1335, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act. The Republican bill would weaken the successful Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. "This bill is an overreaching, unpopular overhaul of a law that doesn't need it. Scientists, conservationists… Continue Reading
04.28.15
What Natural Resources Committee Democrats Are Doing for Earth Week
House Natural Resources Committee Democrats have been actively promoting a conservation message every day during Earth Week, and we wanted to share the highlights with you. So far we've seen. . . Bills Introduced Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) Introduces Bill to Halt Offshore Fracking and Require Environmental Review Reps. Jared Polis (CO-2) and Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-36) Introduce Legislation Aimed at Employing Veterans in Restoration and Protection of Our Public Land and Waters Reps. Mark Takai (HI-1… Continue Reading
04.15.15
Ranking Member Grijalva, Rep. Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Permanently Establish Land and Water Conservation Fund, Prevent Sept. Expiration
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act. Over its 50-year history, the LWCF has come to be recognized as America's most important conservation program. Without congressional action, the program's current authorization will expire at the end of September. LWCF is the only federal program dedicate… Continue Reading
04.13.15
Ranking Member Grijalva Hails “Long Overdue” Proposed Oil Rig Blowout Preventer Rule, Calls Worker Health and Safety “Non-Negotiable”
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement on the Interior Department's newly announced Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement proposed rule on blowout preventers. "The worst oil spill in our nation's history, which is still damaging our families and our economy five years later, happened because of weak safety standards and a lack of industry oversight. This long overdue proposed rule helps bring drilling safety… Continue Reading
03.31.15
House Natural Resources Committee Democrats and Ranking Member Grijalva Holding Forum on Environmental Justice in Los Angeles April 8
Washington, D.C. - Democratic members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources will host a public Forum on Environmental Justice in Los Angeles on April 8 as part of a series of roundtables convened by Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva that include stakeholders traditionally left out of climate and environmental policy discussions. Grijalva will moderate the forum and hear from members of Congress, state and local officials, community and business leaders and environmental advocates. The … Continue Reading
03.25.15
Natural Resources Committee Democrats Host Roundtable on Women and the Environment – Part of an Ongoing Committee Series
Washington, D.C. - Democratic members of the House Committee on Natural Resources met with national women conservation leaders today to discuss the invaluable role women play in improving national policy on climate change, clean air and water, wildlife preservation, and environmental justice. The meeting is the second in a series of roundtables Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva is convening to bring in stakeholders traditionally left out of climate and environmental policy discussions. Grijalva h… Continue Reading
03.24.15
Ranking Member Grijalva, Natural Resources Democrats Call on Appropriators to Fund Sage-Grouse Conservation to Avoid ESA Listing
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva and 20 other House Democrats, including 15 Committee members, sent a letter to members of the House Appropriations Committee yesterday urging full funding of the Obama administration's efforts to conserve the greater sage-grouse. The Interior Department must determine by September 30 whether the bird warrants a listing under the Endangered Species Act. The funding, which would support collaborative sta… Continue Reading
03.20.15
House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva Statement on Newly Released Fracking Rule
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement on today's newly announced Bureau of Land Management fracking rule. "We could have avoided years of uncertainty and environmental risk by setting a strong, clear, consistent standard before the fracking boom took off. Now, at this late date, instead of offering clarity and protecting our resources, today's rule lets industry off the hook. Rather than raising the bar, the Bureau … Continue Reading
03.04.15
Grijalva, DeFazio Lead 79 Members in Urging Wolf Protections – Letter Calls on Interior Secretary to Change Course, Use Best Science
This press release has been updated from a previous version that incorrectly listed the total number of signatories as 78. The letter has 79 signatories. Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), joined by 77 other members of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today asking her to support a petition to downlist the… Continue Reading