Press Releases
Ranking Member DeFazio Statement on Republican ESA Report
For Immediate Release: February 4, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 Ranking Member DeFazio Statement on Republican ESA Report Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to the Republican Report on the Endangered Species Act: "As with a number of issues before the committee, there's the potential for balanced, reasonable compromises to modernize the Endangered Species Ac… Continue Reading
02.04.14
House Democrats Request Hearing on Crude Oil Exports
For Immediate Release: February 4, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 House Democrats Request Hearing on Crude Oil Exports Request comes on eve of Republican hearing on energy production on public lands Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) requesting a hearing on the potential economic, consumer, and environmental impacts of lifting the American crude oil export … Continue Reading
02.03.14
Natural Resource Democrats Request Emergency Hearing on Devastating Drought
For Immediate Release: February 3, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 Natural Resource Democrats Request Emergency Hearing on Western Drought Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) led a letter co-signed by over a dozen Democrats to Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) requesting an emergency hearing to discuss the devastating drought plaguing western states. Eleven states have been declared disaster areas due to dro… Continue Reading
01.29.14
DeFazio Reacts To Natural Resource Issues in the State of the Union Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 28, 2014 CONTACT: JEN GILBREATH (RESOURCES), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO REACTS TO NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES IN STATE OF THE UNION WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to natural resource issues included in President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address: "Last week, over 100 Democrats joined together to ask the Obama Administration to use its auth… Continue Reading
01.27.14
DEFAZIO STATEMENT ON APPOINTMENT OF BPA ADMINSTRATOR ELLIOT MAINZER
For Immediate Release: January 27, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO STATEMENT ON APPOINTMENT OF BPA ADMINSTRATOR ELLIOT MAINZER Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to the appointment of Elliot Mainzer as administration of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA): "I am pleased with Elliot's selection to permanently head the BPA. Over the next … Continue Reading
01.24.14
DEFAZIO, GRIJALVA LEAD 109 DEMOCRATS IN URGING INTERIOR TO CONSERVE NATIONAL TREASURES USING ANTIQUITIES ACT
For Immediate Release: January 24, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO, GRIJALVA LEAD 109 DEMOCRATS IN URGING INTERIOR TO CONSERVE NATIONAL TREASURES USING ANTIQUITIES ACT Republican Congress has failed to protect America's treasured landscapes Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Public Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released a letter co-signed by 109 House… Continue Reading
01.23.14
DeFazio to Host Listening Session to Focus on Federal Fishing Legislation, Jobs, Coastal Economy *TODAY*
For Immediate Release: January 23, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 *Audio will be available after the meeting* DeFazio to Host Listening Session to Focus on Federal Fishing Legislation, Jobs, Coastal Economy *TODAY* Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) will host a forum in Coos Bay to discuss the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, critical legislation that impacts the Oregon coast, fishin… Continue Reading
01.17.14
DeFazio Fights to Protect American Jobs, Curb Illegal Timer Trade
For Immediate Release: January 17, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 DEFAZIO FIGHTS TO PROTECT AMERICAN JOBS, CURB ILLEGAL TIMBER TRADE Illegal logging costs American producers nearly $1 billion each year Washington, D.C. -In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Representative Dan Benishek (R-MI) urged increased funding levels for critical measures that combat the illegal… Continue Reading
01.16.14
RURAL COUNTIES CUT OFF FROM CRITICAL PAYMENTS AS REPUBLICANS PLAY POLITICS
For Immediate Release: January 16, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 RURAL COUNTIES CUT OFF FROM CRITICAL PAYMENTS AS REPUBLICANS PLAY POLITICS Republicans reject Democratic bills to restore Secure Rural Schools, PILT, and provide fisheries relief Washington, D.C. - Today, Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee rejected two Democratic bills to restore critical county payments that fund basic government services like public safety, jail beds, schools, a… Continue Reading
12.31.13
Sequestration Will Not Apply to Secure Rural Schools Money
For Immediate Release: December 23, 2013 Contact: Tom Towslee (Wyden), 503-326-7539 or 503-477-0307 Jen Gilbreath (DeFazio) 202-225-6416 Sequestration Will Not Apply to Secure Rural Schools Money Rural Oregon Counties to Receive Millions in Additional Funding; Payments go out in Early 2014 Washington, D.C. -- Rural communities are in line to receive millions in additional Secure Rural Schools funding, after the White House determined that mandatory budget cuts known as "sequestration" will… Continue Reading
12.19.13
Ranking Member DeFazio Responds to the Draft of the Magnuson Stevens Act
WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Peter DeFazio released the following statement on the the draft of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: "Having not previously seen or been consulted on the legislation, I cannot meaningfully comment on the details at this point. However, I do know that most of the stakeholders who have testified before the Committee this year believe that the Magnuson-Stevens Act is working, and that wholesale changes or a total overhaul aren't necessary… Continue Reading
12.18.13
DeFazio and Waxman Call for Hearing on Induced Seismic Activity
For Immediate Release: December 18, 2013 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources), 202-225-4081 Elizabeth Letter (Energy), 202-225-5735 DeFazio and Waxman Call for Hearing on Induced Seismic Activity Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), ranking members on the House Committee on Natural Resources and House Committee on Energy and Commerce, respectively, requested a joint hearing on the issue of seismic activity induced by the underground inj… Continue Reading
11.20.13
Ranking Member DeFazio: "Another Day Wasted with Talking Points Legislation"
H.R. 2728 would open National Parks, Wildlife Refuges to unregulated drilling Washington, DC - Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, blasted Republicans on the House floor for proposing legislation that would strip federal agencies' authority to enforce nearly every public health, safety, and environmental protection related to drilling and drilling impacts. H.R. 2728 would block agency enforcement of the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird T… Continue Reading
11.19.13
Top House Democratic Lawmakers Urge Senate to Preserve Extractive Revenue Disclosure Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the House and Senate work to reconcile differing versions of legislation to implement an Obama Administration deal with Mexico to develop oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico, three leading House Democratic lawmakers called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to reject House Republican efforts to waive a provision in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that requires extractive companies listed on U.S. exchanges to disclose the paymen… Continue Reading
10.24.13
DEFAZIO URGES SECRETARY JEWELL TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR GRAY WOLF
WASHINGTON, DC-Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter Secretary of the Department of the Interior Sally Jewell urging her to extend the gray wolf delisting public comment period, which was impacted by the recent 16-day government shutdown. DeFazio also requested that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reschedule gray wolf public hearings cancelled by the shutdown and urged them to schedule a hearing in Oregon. In June, U.S. Fish and Wildli… Continue Reading
10.10.13
DEMOCRATS PUSH BILL TO HELP DROUGHT PLAGUED COMMUNITIES
Drought Relief legislation moves forward in House Natural Resources Committee WASHINGTON, DC- Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on legislation offered by Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to reauthorize legislation that helps expedite water transfers, move non-project water on federal facilities, and construct temporary structures and wells in communities plagued by extreme drought. H.R. 3176 reauthorizes the 1991 Reclamation States Emergency Act for an addit… Continue Reading
10.07.13
Republican Shutdown Stops Hunting and Fishing on National Wildlife Refuges, Hurts Gateway Communities
WASHINGTON, DC--The Republican government shutdown is depriving Americans of the opportunity to hunt and fish on national wildlife refuges and could cost nearby communities millions of dollars in lost business related to hunting and fishing trips. Normally, hunting would just be starting on the more than 360 national wildlife refuges where it's permitted. The hunting season in most states extends from September to November for big game, September to November or December for small game, and Sept… Continue Reading
09.30.13
DEFAZIO APPLAUDS DECISION TO RESTART REVIEW OF GRAY WOLF DELISTING
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) applauded a recent decision by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to restart the peer review process for the proposed delisting of gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell earlier this month, DeFazio called into question USFWS' management of and improper influence over the independent scientific peer review of the proposed rule. … Continue Reading
09.27.13
Polis, DeFazio Urge Hearing on Oil and Gas Leaks After Colorado Floods
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) asked the House Resources Committee to hold a hearing on oil and gas spills caused by the recent catastrophic floods in Colorado. "Not only have my constituents been dealing with damage to their homes, schools, and roads, they are increasingly concerned about the toxic spills that have occurred from the flooding of nearly 1,900 fracking wells in Colorado," stat… Continue Reading
07.03.13
Wildfires and Climate Change : Memo from Democratic Staff of the House Natural Resources Committee
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Natural Resources Democrats, 202-225-6065 In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of 19 Arizona firefighters on June 30th, concerns about the United States' ability to prevent and contain wildfires have grown. The Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona is one of 22 uncontained large fires that are currently burning across the country. Over 1.6 million acres have burned so far this fire season, with months of summer yet remaining. Below is a summary of the issues surrounding c… Continue Reading