Press Releases
GOP Mining Bill Brings U.S. Back to “Stone Age”
Gravel, Sand, Clay Count as "Strategic Minerals"; Latest GOP Giveaway Cheats Taxpayers, Provides Windfall for Mining Industry WASHINGTON (July 12, 2012) - House Republicans today passed their latest giveaway to highly profitable companies - this time to the mining industry - while allowing the industry to skirt tax and royalty payments to the American people. The bill would short circuit proper environmental review and therefore provide a financial windfall for large companies mining for gol… Continue Reading
07.02.12
Markey on Interior Dept. Wind Energy Announcements: “New England One Step Closer to Being Wind Energy Pioneer”
Tax Credits, Transmission Key to American Wind Energy, Yet GOP Attempting to Kill Both WASHINGTON (July 2, 2012) - The U.S. Department of Interior today announced the permitting of a huge wind energy facility in Wyoming as a responsible and job-producing way of using America's public lands, and the advancement of more offshore wind energy in New England by releasing an environmental assessment for a planned offshore wind area. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources… Continue Reading
07.02.12
Markey: How Will Mitt Romney Etch-a-sketch Away Extreme Weather?
Climate Change Supercharging Storms, Wildfires, Yet GOP Prez Candidate Disavows Former Position on Global Warming WASHINGTON (July 2, 2012) -Wildfires in the West, fueled by record heat and extensive drought, have displaced tens of thousands of Americans. Deadly heat waves have blanketed tens of millions of Americans, and Friday's massively destructive "derecho" storm has left millions without power. Scientists say that these events fit into the larger pattern of an unstable climate supercharge… Continue Reading
06.28.12
Markey Praises Obama Admin. 5-year Drilling Plan
Markey Praises Obama Admin. 5-year Drilling Plan WASHINGTON (June 28, 2012) -Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, today praised the Obama administration's Interior Department for offering a balanced five year oil and gas drilling plan for America's oceans. The plan would continue to offer new lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska, but would keep the East Coast free from drilling and postpone the Alaskan lease sales so that more scientific data… Continue Reading
06.27.12
As Wildfires Burn West, Natural Resources Committee Democrats Demand Hearing on Reducing Wildfire Risk
Important safety information regarding the ongoing Wildfires devastating the Western United States: Incident Information System Latest Wildfire Perimeter Maps USDA Forest Service Active Fire Map Help Coloradans affected by Wildfires Wildfires & Climate Change “ Colorado’s table was set for monster fire ”- Washington Post, July 1, 2012 “ Climate Change shares blame in wildfires ” - Salt Lake Tribune, June 30, 2012 “ West’s wildfires a preview of changed climate : scien… Continue Reading
06.27.12
House Dems to Oil Companies: Show us the Money Trail
Legislation Introduced Today Would Require Disclosure of Secret Campaign Contributions for Access to Taxpayer-owned Lands WASHINGTON (June 27, 2012) - With the Supreme Court’s decision this week to continue to defend secret campaign contributions from corporations, three House Democrats today introduced legislation that would demand oil companies disclose their political contributions to gain access to new taxpayer-owned lands. Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.… Continue Reading
06.26.12
Markey, Napolitano Introduce HYDRO 2.0
Legislation Would Improve Efficiency of Hydropower Dams WASHINGTON (June 26, 2012) -- Today, Natural Resources Democratic Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Subcommittee on Water and Power Ranking Member Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to improve the performance of federally-owned and operated hydroelectric dams across America. The "Hydro 2.0 Act" would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to utilize revenues from new power production at existing sites to upgrade… Continue Reading
06.26.12
Markey Applauds Appeals Court Ruling on Global Warming Pollution
Ruling Comes on Third Anniversary of Waxman-Markey House Passage WASHINGTON (June 26, 2012) - On the third anniversary of House passage of the historic Waxman-Markey climate and clean energy bill, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today defended the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate heat-trapping emissions, and the sound science behind dangerous climate change. The court denied four petitions from the fossil fuel industry seeking to invali… Continue Reading
06.25.12
Markey Calls for Congressional Oversight of State Sea Level Shenanigans
Dangerous Denial of Science Puts American Communities, Security at Risk WASHINGTON (June 25, 2012) - Today Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) delivered a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, requesting an oversight hearing on the dangers of sea level rise and recent proposals in state legislatures to ignore sea level rise science. Markey, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, noted that reports released last week by the National Research Council and the U.S. … Continue Reading
06.22.12
Bipartisan Delegation of 58 Members of Congress Call on the SEC to Release Key Rules to Reverse the “Resource Curse” that Plagues the Developing World
Bipartisan Delegation of 58 Members of Congress Call on the SEC to Release Key Rules to Reverse the "Resource Curse" that Plagues the Developing World WASHINGTON (June 22, 2012) -- A bipartisan contingent of 58 members of Congress today sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission asking for the status of two key rules to combat the developing world's so-called "resource curse", where natural resources are squandered by ineffectual or corrupt governments or for other reasons. The sco… Continue Reading
06.21.12
Markey, Waxman Denounce GOP’s Giveaways to Big Oil, Protection of Subsidies
House GOP Bill Holds America's Lands and Oil Hostage, Reduces Drilling Safety, Includes Unconstitutional Petroleum Poll Tax; Republicans Put "Gag Order" on Clean Energy Debate WASHINGTON (June 21, 2012) - House Republicans today passed a bill that would transfer hundreds of thousands of square miles of America's public lands to oil companies, while protecting the $4 billion in subsidies the biggest oil companies receive from taxpayers each year. Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Henry A. Waxman (D-… Continue Reading
06.19.12
GOP’s Border Bill Asks Americans: Are You In the #DRONEZONE?
Dangerous Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Environment Bill Set for Vote Today in House; Natural Resources Democrats Launch #DRONEZONE Website to Alert Americans; Broad Coalition Fighting Bill WASHINGTON (June 19, 2012) - On Friday, President Obama took steps to create a path to citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. Today, House Republicans will advance their anti-immigrant and anti-environmental policies with a bill that will expand the scope of the Department of Homeland Security's aut… Continue Reading
06.19.12
Markey, Grijalva Assail House GOP’s Public Lands Assault
Republican Legislation Creates 100-mile DRONEZONES on Borders; Hands Over Alaskan National Forest; Approves Sea Lion Firing Squads WASHINGTON (June 19, 2012) - Kicking off their "Great American Giveaway" week, House Republicans today passed a dangerous public lands bill that includes dangerous anti-immigrant provisions while attacking America's environment, forests, and wildlife. The bill, H.R. 2578, passed the House by a 232-188 vote. Nineteen Republicans voted against the bill. The centerpie… Continue Reading
06.18.12
New Report Reveals Details of House Anti-Environment Record
Today Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Ed Markey released a new report that provides an updated analysis of the anti-environment record of the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress. In 2011 and in the first half of 2012, the Republican-controlled House voted 247 times to dismantle environmental and public health protections. "House Republicans are putting the interests of oil companies and other big … Continue Reading
06.11.12
Markey and 42 Dems to Salazar: Ban International Trade of Polar Bear Parts
Polar Bears Threatened by Increased Hunting, Temperatures WASHINGTON (June 11, 2012) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and 42 House Democrats today called on Interior Dept. Secretary Ken Salazar to advocate for the ban the international commercial trade of polar bear parts and stronger protections for the bears from trophy hunting. The iconic bears are already threatened by a loss of sea ice habitat from climate change, and now the market for polar bear parts and carcasses are on the rise. In the let… Continue Reading
06.06.12
Markey: Republicans Should Send “Thank You” Note to Obama, Not Love Letter to Big Oil
GOP "Energy Package" Would Hand Control of Public Lands to Oil Companies, Reduce Drilling Safety WASHINGTON (June 6, 2012) - Gas prices are falling. The United States produced more oil from federal lands onshore than since 2003. There are more drilling rigs operating now in the United States than in the rest of the world combined. America is producing natural gas at record highs, resulting in record low prices that are creating new manufacturing jobs. And under the Obama administration, America… Continue Reading
06.01.12
Markey Focuses on Fukushima Fish Fallout
Contaminated fish, debris off West Coast raise concerns about long-term impacts of Fukushima disaster on Pacific seafood WASHINGTON (June 1, 2012) - Responding to reports of fish and debris off the West Coast contaminated from the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns in Japan, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today sent letters to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) querying the agencies about their efforts to ensure seafood safety and protect… Continue Reading
05.31.12
Markey, 42 Dems Urge President to Protect Dolphin-Safe Tuna Label
Misguided WTO Ruling Puts Dolphins at Risk, Misleads Consumers WASHINGTON (May 31, 2012) - Today Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and 42 other Democratic members of Congress delivered a letter to President Barack Obama, urging the President to defend a U.S. law that has stopped the slaughter of millions of dolphins in the Pacific Ocean. Rep. Markey, the ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, made the request after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled earlier this month that U.… Continue Reading
05.31.12
Markey, Wyden to Obama: You Have the Authority to Limit American Natural Gas Exports
Democrats Ask Obama to Put Interests of U.S. Energy Consumers Over Energy Company Profits WASHINGTON (May 31, 2012) - Two of Congress's leading voices on U.S. energy policy today called on President Barack Obama to use his existing authority to limit the export of America's energy resources. In a letter, Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, and U.S.. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a senior Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources… Continue Reading
05.30.12
Markey, Boren Call for Hearing on High Levels of Rape in Indian Country
WASHINGTON (May 30, 2012) -- Responding to a New York Times investigative report that found the rate of sexual assault of Native women is more than twice the national average, with even greater disparities in rural Alaskan villages, Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Dan Boren (D-Okla.) today called on the Republican leadership of the Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on this important matter. Rep. Markey, who is the Ranking Member of the committee, and Rep. Boren, who is the Ranking Me… Continue Reading