Press Releases
Markey Statement on Nomination of Sally Jewell for Interior Secretary
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 WASHINGTON (February 6, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Interior Department, today released the following statement on the nomination of Sally Jewell to succeed Ken Salazar as the Secretary of Interior: "Sally Jewel has combined her business acumen with her love of the outdoors to become one of America's top CEOs. She is proof positive that com… Continue Reading
02.05.13
Markey Asks Big Oil a $119 Billion Question: Profits Over People?
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Congressman Announces Legislation to End Oil Subsidies, Demands Oil Subsidy Repeal Included in Sequester Deal WASHINGTON (February 5, 2013) -- Today, BP announced a 2012 profit of nearly $12 billion, pushing total profits for the five largest oil companies to $119 billion for the year. As oil company profits approach record levels, drivers across America are facing gas prices that have surged 17 cents per gallon in just the last week, … Continue Reading
01.25.13
Mass. Lawmakers Ask Fishing Regulators to Reconsider Rejection of Relief for Fishermen
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836Alec Gerlach, Sen. John Kerry, 202-224-4159Kathryn Prael, Rep. John Tierney, 202-225-8020Lauren Amendolara, Rep. Bill Keating, 202-225-3111 Call on Fishery Managers to Address Groundfish Disaster WASHINGTON (January 25, 2013) - Massachusetts Democratic Reps. Edward J. Markey, Bill Keating, and John Tierney, joined by U.S. Senators John Kerry and Elizabeth Warren, today sent a letter to John Bullard, the Northeast Regional Administrat… Continue Reading
01.24.13
Markey: Climate Task Force Must Accelerate Action
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Clock is Ticking for More Climatic Catastrophes WASHINGTON (January 24, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today praised the formation of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change. Rep. Markey, who was the Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007-2010, and now an original member of the task force, reinforced the goals of the panel to speed up action to cut the carbon emissions that are heatin… Continue Reading
01.23.13
Natural Resources Democrats Announce Subcommittee Members
WASHINGTON (January 23, 2013) - Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), who was selected to lead the Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee in December, today announced subcommittee leaders and members in the 113th session of Congress. Rep. Markey welcomed back and commended those members returning to the committee for their efforts during the 112th Congress in opposing the Republican effort to roll back environmental protections, provide giveaways to Big Oil and special interests at the… Continue Reading
01.16.13
Markey: Salazar is a Public Lands Patriot
Secretary Protected Grand Canyon, Produced American Clean Energy Including Cape Wind, Resolved Long Standing Challenges for Indian Tribes WASHINGTON (January 16, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the committee that oversees the Interior Department, today praised the leadership of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar following his announcement that he will be leaving the department in March. Under Secretary Salazar's leadership, more renewable energy was permitted on public lands,… Continue Reading
01.16.13
House Members File Amicus Brief Opposing Industry Attack on Resource Extraction Rule
House Members File Amicus Brief Opposing Industry Attack on Resource Extraction Rule WASHINGTON (January 16, 2013) - A contingent of 12 Members of the House of Representatives today filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Resource Extraction Rule. The rule is based on a provision in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The rule is designed to help investors … Continue Reading
01.15.13
Markey, Tierney, Keating: Congressional Republicans Cut Lifeline for New England Fishermen
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Kathryn Prael, Rep. John Tierney, 202-225-8020 Lauren Amendolara, Rep. Bill Keating, 202-225-3111 House Republicans Refuse to Vote on Fishing Aid in Sandy Bill WASHINGTON (January 15, 2013) - Late last night, House Republicans dealt another blow to New England fishermen and to fishing communities around the country, rejecting all amendments offered to a Sandy relief bill that would have provided disaster funding for fishermen. Rep. E… Continue Reading
01.14.13
Markey: Climate Change Induced Dust Storms Evoke “Dust Bowl” Era
Questions USDA, NOAA about Devastating U.S. Drought WASHINGTON (January 14, 2013) - 2012 was the hottest year on record for the continental United States and sixty percent of the country is currently experiencing moderate to severe drought. Devastating dust storms have ripped across the Great Plains damaging crops and endangering the lives of millions of Americans. In mid-December a dust storm tore through West Texas killing one person, injuring others and closed large portions of a major highw… Continue Reading
01.11.13
Three Members of Mass. Delegation Push for Fishing Disaster Funding
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Kathryn Prael, Rep. John Tierney, 202-225-8020 Lauren Amendolara, Rep. Bill Keating, 202-225-3111 Multi-pronged Strategy Puts Pressure on Republicans to Support Massachusetts, American Fishermen WASHINGTON (January 11, 2013) - Three Massachusetts House Democrats are pushing a multiple amendment strategy to force House Republicans to restore up to $150 million in disaster funding for Massachusetts and other struggling fisheries as p… Continue Reading
01.10.13
Markey Stands with American People and Manufacturers on Natural Gas Exporting
New Poll Shows Americans Deeply Opposed to Unfettered Export of America's Natural Gas WASHINGTON (January 10, 2013) - A group of American manufacturers today released a new poll that finds voters are opposed the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by an almost 5 to 1 margin. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who has called for a "time out" on exports of American natural gas while the impacts of such policy can be better known, today said that this poll showed the American people and American industri… Continue Reading
01.10.13
Markey Challenges Shell’s Claims on Weather, Taxes in Kulluk Rig Accident
WASHINGTON (January 10, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is challenging claims by Shell Oil that they moved an Arctic drilling rig due to weather reports indicating a prolonged period of good weather, citing inconsistencies with reports from the National Weather Service and tax concerns that could have spurred Shell to attempt to rush their rig across state lines. In a letter sent late yesterday to Shell President Marvin Odum, Rep. Markey disputes claims by Shell Oil that they were moving the ri… Continue Reading
01.09.13
GAO Report Finds Need for Better Financial Reporting by Alaska Native Corporations
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-6065 Rep. Markey to Introduce Legislation Protecting ANC shareholders WASHINGTON (January 9, 2013) -- A new Government Accountability Office report raises concerns about the quality of financial information provided to shareholders by Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), which are exempt from federal securities laws. In response, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), who requested the report, plans to introduce legislation that would enhance prote… Continue Reading
01.08.13
Markey: 2012 Hottest U.S. Year Means 2013 Must Be Year of Climate Action
WASHINGTON (January 8, 2013) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today announced that 2012 was the hottest year on record in the continental United States, breaking the previous record from 1998 by 1.0° degree Fahrenheit. The average temperature for 2012 was 55.3°F, 3.2°F above the 20th century average. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the co-author of the only climate change bill to pass a chamber of Congress today said that 2013 must be a year of progress and clear acti… Continue Reading
01.03.13
Markey Questions Shell Oil, Coast Guard on Arctic Rig Accident
WASHINGTON (January 3, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), today wrote to Shell Oil Company and the United States Coast Guard requesting information on the ongoing incident with Shell's oil rig that has run aground in Alaska. Rep. Markey, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees oil drilling, asks in the letters for more information on Shell's plans to address such an accident and the ability of Shell to drill safely offshore in severe weather conditions in the Arctic. … Continue Reading
01.03.13
Markey: Transocean Guilty Plea Shows Oil Companies Will be Held Responsible for their Spills
WASHINGTON (January 3, 2013) Today, the Department of Justice announced that Transocean has agreed to plead guilty and pay $1.4 billion in criminal and civil penalties for the oil company's role in the 2010 BP spill. Below is the statement of Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who is the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee: "Today's announcement by the Justice Department is a critical step by the Obama Administration to hold all of the oil companies that were responsible for the worst envir… Continue Reading
12.31.12
Markey Statement on Arctic Rig Accident
Congressman Previously Questioned Safety of Arctic Drilling WASHINGTON (January 1, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) expressed concern that a Shell Oil drilling rig has run aground in Alaska after it broke free from its moorings and from the towboats that had been pulling it to safety. Rep. Markey, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees oil drilling, previously questioned the safety of drilling in the Arctic, most recently following the failure of a containment dome … Continue Reading
12.21.12
Markey Praises Final EPA Boiler Pollution Standards
WASHINGTON (December 21, 2012) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their final pollution control standards for America's industrial boilers used in major manufacturing facilities and elsewhere. The new standards will reduce many types of pollution, including toxic mercury and weather-changing carbon pollution. Below is the statement of Rep. Markey, the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commer… Continue Reading
12.19.12
NatRes Dems, Citing Troubling Assessments of America’s Natural Resources, Calls for Climate Hearings in New Congress
Send Letter to Chairman Hastings on Colorado River Basin, Animal Species, Wildfire Threats from Climate Change WASHINGTON (December 19, 2012) -Several Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee, citing recent assessments by the U.S. government of climate threats against America's natural resources, today called on committee Republicans to immediately hold hearings on climate change and America's natural heritage. A ten year assessment released yesterday by the Forest Service on the condition… Continue Reading
12.17.12
Markey Exposes Huge Flaws in Natural Gas Export Report
Report to DOE Uses Outdated Data, Understates Impacts, Writes Congressman to DOE; Asks for New Analysis WASHINGTON (December 17, 2012) -- A report submitted to the Department of Energy on the impacts of natural gas exports uses two-year-old data and makes other key missteps, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) pointed out in a comprehensive critique of the study sent to DOE Secretary Steven Chu. The critique comes as some are using the flawed report to advocate for a national policy on natural gas export… Continue Reading