Press Releases
DeFazio Statement on President Obama’s Designation of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
For Immediate Release: May 21, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DeFazio Statement on President Obama's Designation of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument WASHINGTON, DC--House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today applauded President Obama's designation of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument near Las Cruces, New Mexico. President Obama is establishing the Organ Mountains as a National Monument using powers … Continue Reading
05.20.14
DEFAZIO PUSHES BILL TO EXPAND OREGON CAVES PROTECTIONS
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 *Video Available* DEFAZIO PUSHES BILL TO EXPAND OREGON CAVES PROTECTIONS Oregon Caves expansion would give struggling region an economic boost Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on legislation from Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) that would protect and expand the Oregon Caves National Monument. DeFazio's legislation would expand the monument by… Continue Reading
05.01.14
DeFazio Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Tribal Self-Determination
For Immediate Release: May 1, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DeFazio Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Tribal Self-Determination Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to fix the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) to expand tribal self-governance and streamline the contract and compact process. "This is one of the rarest th… Continue Reading
04.30.14
DeFAZIO REACTS TO COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF MISGUIDED REPUBLICAN ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LEGISLATION
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DeFAZIO REACTS TO COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF MISGUIDED REPUBLICAN ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LEGISLATION Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) responded to four bills that would add layers of bureaucracy, waste limited agency resources, and divert efforts to recover species under the Endangered Species Act. "As with a number of issues before the… Continue Reading
04.15.14
GAO REPORT CONFIRMS NEPA ENCOURAGES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 GAO REPORT CONFIRMS NEPA ENCOURAGES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) responded to a recently released report from GAO about the costs and benefits of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses. The report found that NEPA results in better decision making at federal agencies and … Continue Reading
04.03.14
REPORT: BUDGET CUTS FORCE AGENCIES TO RAID PREVENTION FUNDS TO FIGHT MASSIVE WILDFIRES
For Immediate Release: April 3, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 REPORT: BUDGET CUTS FORCE AGENCIES TO RAID PREVENTION FUNDS TO FIGHT MASSIVE WILDFIRES Over $500 million "borrowed" from fire prevention and restoration programs Washington, D.C. - A new report, released today by Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR), shows that deep budget cuts have hindered efforts by the U.S. Forest Service (Service) and the Department of Inte… Continue Reading
04.03.14
DEFAZIO PUSHES FOR REFORMS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR WEST COAST FISHERMEN
For Immediate Release: April 3, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO PUSHES FOR REFORMS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR WEST COAST FISHERMEN HR 2646 would refinance federal buyback loans to lower costs for fishermen Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR), pushed for bipartisan legislation that would save West Coast fishermen millions by refinancing unfair, expensive federal loans. H.R. 2646, the REF… Continue Reading
03.26.14
DEFAZIO: Republicans Have Turned Their Backs on Teddy Roosevelt’s Conservation Legacy
For Immediate Release: March 26, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 *Video Available* DEFAZIO: Republicans Have Turned Their Backs on Teddy Roosevelt's Conservation Legacy H.R. 1459 would end an era of protections for iconic American landscapes Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) blasted House Republicans for voting to gut Presidential authority to designate new wilderness, National Parks, and National … Continue Reading
03.25.14
DEFAZIO ATTACKS REPUBLICAN BILL THAT WOULD WEAKEN RULES ON MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING
For Immediate Release: March 25, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO ATTACKS REPUBLICAN BILL THAT WOULD WEAKEN RULES ON MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) assailed Republicans for passage of H.R. 2824, legislation that would undermine states' efforts to protect drinking water, the environment, and local communities from destructive mountaintop removal coal mining. Mountai… Continue Reading
03.19.14
DeFazio Applauds U.S. Entry Into Transparency Initiative
For Immediate Release: March 19, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DeFazio Applauds U.S. Entry Into Transparency Initiative WASHINGTON, DC--House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today applauded the acceptance of the United States as a candidate country of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global multi-stakeholder initiative to increase transparency and accountability in natural resources revenue management. The… Continue Reading
03.19.14
DEFAZIO BLASTS PASSAGE OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION THAT UNDERMINES MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS
For Immediate Release: March 13, 2014 Contact:Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO BLASTS PASSAGE OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION THAT UNDERMINES MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) blasted passage of H.R. 3189, the so-called Water Rights Protection Act. This broadly written legislation would undermine critical environmental laws and go after federal agencies that manage our public lands for f… Continue Reading
03.19.14
DeFazio Leads 73 Members on Bipartisan Letter Urging Secretary Jewell to Maintain Critical Gray Wolf Protections
For Immediate Release: March 19, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DeFazio Leads 73 Members on Bipartisan Letter Urging Secretary Jewell to Maintain Critical Gray Wolf Protections Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released a bipartisan letter co-signed by 73 House members urging Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to continue critical protections for endangered gray wolves. The letter comes on the hee… Continue Reading
03.06.14
DEFAZIO STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF THE “RAPID” ACT
For Immediate Release: March 6, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF THE "RAPID" ACT Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after passage of the Republican "RAPID" Act, which will undermine key environmental protections and under the guise of infrastructure streamlining: "The only thing that is 'RAPID' about this bill is how quickly it will be t… Continue Reading
02.28.14
STAKEHOLDERS URGE CONGRESS TO FIX, NOT GUT FEDERAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT LAW
For Immediate Release: February 28, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 STAKEHOLDERS URGE CONGRESS TO FIX, NOT GUT FEDERAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT LAW Washington, D.C. - On Friday, the House Natural Resources Committee held a balanced hearing on the state of fisheries management in the United States. Witnesses were unanimous in their praise of the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Act amendments, and in their call for the reauthorization to not "turn back the clock" by allowing continued … Continue Reading
02.27.14
DeFazio Statement on Atlantic Seismic Exploration
For Immediate Release: February 27, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DeFazio Statement on Atlantic Seismic Exploration Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior's announcement on Atlantic seismic exploration. "Over 25 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico are currently leased and undeveloped by oil companies-and apparently that's not enough f… Continue Reading
02.26.14
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE TO HOLD ADDITIONAL HEARING ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
For Immediate Release: February 26, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE TO HOLD ADDITIONAL HEARING ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT Full committee hearing on Magnuson-Stevens Law scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 Washington, D.C. - On Friday, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a balanced hearing on the state of fisheries management in the United States. The hearing comes after Democrats used Rule XI of the Committee rules to force an add… Continue Reading
02.25.14
DEFAZIO: We Need an All-The-Above Veteran Employment Strategy
For Immediate Release: February 25, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO: We Need an All-The-Above Veteran Employment Strategy Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee on job opportunities for veterans in the energy sector: "Just as we have an all-of-the-above national energy strategy, we need to have an all-of-the-a… Continue Reading
02.14.14
Ranking Member DeFazio Statement on Chairman Doc Hastings' Retirement
For Immediate Release: February 13, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 Ranking Member DeFazio Statement on Chairman Doc Hastings' Retirement Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement on the retirement of Chairman Doc Hastings: "Doc has been a tireless advocate for his district, the state of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest for twenty years. We don't always agree, but in … Continue Reading
02.11.14
Ranking Member DeFazio Statement on Administration Announcement on Illegal Wildlife Trade
For Immediate Release: February 11, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 Ranking Member DeFazio Statement on Administration Announcement on Illegal Wildlife Trade Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to Obama Administration's action items to crack down on illegal wildlife trading: "I commend the Task Force for their hard work and the Administration for taking de… Continue Reading
02.04.14
Natural Resource Democrats Press for Additional Hearing on Fisheries Management
For Immediate Release: February 4, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 Natural Resource Democrats Press for Additional Hearing on Fisheries Management Use Rule 11 procedural move to force additional hearing Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and 11 committee Democrats used a procedural move to ensure a broad range of voices can be heard before fundamental changes are made to our fisheries management regime.… Continue Reading