Press Releases
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
06.14.13
Markey: Did Exxon Use Unapproved Response Plan in Arkansas Spill?
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Unapproved Plan Increases Response Time for Worst Case Spills by 50 Percent; Revelation Comes as Exxon Sued by State of Arkansas, Justice Department WASHINGTON (June 14, 2013) - ExxonMobil was using a response plan that allowed for increased time to detect and respond to accidents during their pipeline spill in Mayflower, Arkansas in March. The only problem? That response plan had not yet been approved by the agency overseeing pipeline… Continue Reading
06.11.13
Markey: DOI’s IG Report on Powder River Basin Shows Reforms Still Needed
Taxpayers Losing Money, Safety at Risk, Report Says; Congressman Will Ask IG to Testify at Hearing Next Week on PWB Coal WASHINGTON (June 11, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today expressed disappointment that taxpayers are likely still losing money due to a faulty lease process in the Western U.S.'s main coal supply area in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, according to a report released today by the Department of Interior's Inspector General. The report also found deficiencies in the enforcement… Continue Reading
06.10.13
Bipartisan Congressional Leaders Call on Secretary Jewell to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Reps. Markey, Fitzpatrick call for finalization of management plan for the Refuge WASHINGTON (June 7, 2013) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) wrote to Interior Secretary Jewell today asking that she finalize the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and include a recommendation that the pristine coastal plain be designated as wilderness to protect the biological hea… Continue Reading
06.10.13
Markey: With Carbon Emissions Up Globally, Action Needed to Battle Climate Change
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, 202-225-2836 U.S. gains in clean energy, fuel economy show emissions reductions possible MEDFORD (June 10, 2013) - The International Energy Agency reported that global emissions of carbon dioxide from energy rose 1.4 percent to 31.6 gigatons in 2012. If we continue on this pace, our planet could see a temperature increase over nine degrees Fahrenheit. Also noted in the report was that the United States saw a 3.8 percent decline in energy emissions. U.S. reductions… Continue Reading
06.10.13
Natural Resources Democrats to Hold Hearing on Republican Offshore Drilling Bill
Republicans sought to short-circuit legislative process, denying opposing voices against bill WASHINGTON (June 10, 2013) - House Republicans are pushing the latest version of their "drill, baby, drill" agenda of offshore drilling, but not before Natural Resources Democrats ensure all voices are heard. Tomorrow, Democrats on the committee will hear from several witnesses, including a member of the BP Spill Commission, about the potential pitfalls of handing over our coastlines to oil companie… Continue Reading
06.04.13
Markey: Offshore Wind Competition Begins in New England
Interior to hold competitive lease sales for Massachusetts and Rhode Island areas in July WASHINGTON (June 4, 2013) - The Interior Department announced today that the nation's first offshore wind lease sale will occur on July 31 for two parcels off the shores of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee with jurisdiction over offshore energy development, praised the move to advance wind energy off New England's coastline. … Continue Reading
05.23.13
Sequester Takes Toll on National Parks, Visitors & Communities
As Summer Vacations Approach, Report Details Sequester Budget Cuts at 23 National Parks WASHINGTON (May 23, 2013) - Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for the National Park System, which includes natural treasures like the Grand Canyon and dozens of military sites and memorials. This upcoming weekend, however, vacationing families and visitors may notice some unwelcome changes as they head to the national parks. A new report, released today by Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-… Continue Reading
05.20.13
Markey Says DOJ Should Appeal BP Trial Judge's Decision to Throw Out Obstruction of Congress Charge
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 WASHINGTON (May 20, 2013) -- Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who led the investigation into the BP oil spill, today said that the Department of Justice should appeal the decision by the judge in the trial of BP executive David Rainey to throw out the charge of obstructing Congress. Rainey testified at the first closed-door briefing on May 4, 2010. Rep. Markey, who was then the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy … Continue Reading
05.17.13
Markey: Debate Still Needed on Scale of LNG Exports
DOE Approves Second Facility Without Clear Policy on Natural Gas Exports, Knowledge of Effects on Consumers WASHINGTON (May 17, 2013) - The Department of Energy approved the second natural gas export permit today for a Freeport, Texas terminal. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) expressed concerns about America's natural gas export policy, especially the scale that should be allowed and how impacts on American consumers and businesses are assessed. Rep. Markey has called on the Energy Department to bring… Continue Reading
05.16.13
Markey: New Draft DOI Fracking Rule “Extremely Disappointing”
Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836 Changes Make Regulations Weaker, Not Stronger, Says Congressman WASHINGTON (May 16, 2013) - A new draft rule to guide regulation of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of oil and gas resources on public and Indian lands weakens safety and environmental protections and restricts public knowledge of dangerous chemicals, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said today. The Department of Interior new version of the so-called "fracking rule" ignores ma… Continue Reading