Press Releases
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
05.30.12
Markey Statement on Reports of DOJ BP Flow Rate Investigation
Congressman Led Efforts to Reveal True Rate of Spill, Releases Timeline of Flow Rate Issues WASHINGTON (May 29, 2012) - A report by the Wall Street Journal indicates that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating BP for possibly lying to Congress about the rate of oil flowing out of the company's blown-out Macondo well during the Gulf spill in 2010. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who was the leading force pressing BP to reveal the true size and extent of the spill, today pledged his support fo… Continue Reading
05.24.12
Markey: Reforms Needed to Protect Taxpayers from Paying for Uranium Mine Cleanups
Markey: Reforms Needed to Protect Taxpayers from Paying for Uranium Mine Cleanups New GAO Report Finds Weaknesses in Federal Oversight of Uranium Mining WASHINGTON (May 24, 2012) - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released a report that found weaknesses in how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other responsible agencies oversee uranium mining on federal land. The report found that taxpayers are at risk of picking up the tab for mine cleanups that can stretch into hund… Continue Reading
05.23.12
Markey, Blumenauer: Musicians “Can’t Get No Satisfaction” with Guitars Made of Illegal Wood
Markey, Blumenauer: Musicians "Can't Get No Satisfaction" with Guitars Made of Illegal Wood Mick Jagger, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams, Lana Del Ray join Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Johnson, fun., Maroon 5 and many others in defense of Lacey Act. WASHINGTON DC (May 23, 2012) - Pledging to keep the instruments they love free from illegally-harvested wood, some of the biggest names in the music industry are taking aim at the effort in Congress to eliminate the law … Continue Reading
05.17.12
Markey Statement on Commerce Dept. Action against Chinese Solar Market Manipulation
WASHINGTON (May 17, 2012) -- Today, the Commerce Department announced that solar panels imported from China will face duties ranging from 31 to 250 percent as a result of Chinese solar technologies being illegally dumped into the U.S. market. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, praised the Obama administration for defending American manufacturers from manipulative Chinese practices. The pric… Continue Reading
05.15.12
Markey, Holt to Push GOP, Oil Cos. to Use Idle Wells
Interior Dept. Report Highlights Oil Company Inaction; Natural Resources Dems to Raise Issue at Legislative Session Tomorrow WASHINGTON (May 15, 2012) - An updated report issued today by the U.S. Department of Interior again highlights the fact that oil companies are leaving fallow millions upon millions of acres available to drilling, even as the oil industry and their partners in Congress push for new taxpayer-owned lands be turned over to ExxonMobil, BP and others. Tomorrow Republicans on th… Continue Reading