Press Releases
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
12.13.12
Markey, Leading Democrats Introduce Drought Relief Climate Legislation
2012 drought on par with worst months of Dust Bowl era WASHINGTON (December, 13,2012)- This year's climate-change driven extreme heat has contributed to widespread drought across the United States, with over sixty percent of the nation experiencing some form of drought during 2012. Today, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and other leading House Democrats introduced legislation to amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991,… Continue Reading
12.13.12
Markey Pushes BP, Coast Guard to Release Results of Macondo Survey
BP Stonewalling Congress on Oil Sheen Information WASHINGTON (December 13, 2012) -- Today BP's undersea rovers are conducting a delayed survey of the underwater wreckage and area surrounding the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, following the second incident of a detected oil sheen. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today renewed his call for BP, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, to release all information related to the surveys of the Deepwater Horizon wreckage and the surrounding area, including vide… Continue Reading
12.07.12
Markey, Lujan Press Obama Admin. on Indian Children Foster Care Abuses
WASHINGTON (December 7, 2012) - More than one year after an investigation by National Public Radio revealed widespread and troubling abuses of the foster care system in South Dakota as it relates to Indian children in the state, conditions in the state are reportedly getting worse. Accordingly, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal Indian affairs, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Ind… Continue Reading
12.07.12
Markey, Waxman to Continue Probe of Presence of New Oil Sheen Near Macondo Well
BP Failed to Fully Respond to Committee Requests WASHINGTON (December 7, 2012) - Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) today sought information from the U.S. Coast Guard regarding BP and Transocean's plan to re-inspect the underwater wreckage and the well head from the Deepwater Horizon disaster using subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The need to re-inspect the area stems from the detection of an oil sheen on November 2, 2012, the second such incident inside o… Continue Reading
12.06.12
Markey, 70 House Dems Urge Boehner, Obama to Drive Oil and Gas Industry Giveaways Off the Cliff
WASHINGTON (December 6, 2012) -- Today, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass), along with 70 other House Democrats, called on Speaker John Boehner and President Obama , to eliminate the tens of billions of dollars in tax breaks and loopholes given to the oil and gas industry as part of any fiscal cliff compromise. In a letter sent by the 71 lawmakers, they outline how preferential treatment for oil and gas companies is unnecessary given that oil and gas is one of the most profitable industries in the world, … Continue Reading
12.06.12
Markey, Lujan Press Obama Admin. on Indian Children Foster Care Abuses
WASHINGTON (December 7, 2012) - More than one year after an investigation by National Public Radio revealed widespread and troubling abuses of the foster care system in South Dakota as it relates to Indian children in the state, conditions in the state are reportedly getting worse. Accordingly, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal Indian affairs, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Ind… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Markey Statement on DOE-requested Natural Gas Export Report
Exports Will Raise Energy Prices, Transfer Wealth from Working Americans to Corporations WASHINGTON (December 5, 2012) - A report on natural gas exports by a consulting firm released today by the Department of Energy as part of their analysis of expanded exports of the fuel confirms that prices for American and manufacturers will rise from expanded exports, and constitute a massive transfer of wealth from working Americans to natural gas production and export companies. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Markey Re-elected to Lead Natural Resources Democrats
WASHINGTON (December 5, 2012) - Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) was today selected by the House Democratic Caucus to be the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee for the 113th Congress. House Republican leadership pushed the most anti-environmental agenda in history, but none of their bills to roll back clean air, water or public land protections became law during Rep. Markey's tenure as the Ranking Member. "This was the most anti-environmental Congress in history, and our Democratic … Continue Reading
12.05.12
Markey Questions Interior on Failed Arctic Spill Containment Test
E-mails Describe Containment Dome "Crushed Like a Beer Can" During September Test WASHINGTON (December 5, 2012) - After recently released e-mails at the Department of Interior show that a September test conducted by the Shell oil company on a containment system for Arctic drilling spills failed spectacularly, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today expressed concerns whether the company or others could safely drill in the harsh Arctic environment and whether other industry containment systems are at ris… Continue Reading