H. Rept. 112-701, Part 1 Read more »

Federal helium program: Reforms need to address shortages, inject free-market principles By: Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings December 10, 2012 For most Americans, the word helium may conjure up images of party balloons and cartoon characters floating in the Thanksgiving Day Parade, but few recognize the essential role it plays in our economy. From high-tech… Read more »

Last night, in perfect 66 degree weather, Speaker of the House John Boehner joined Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers and other dignitaries to light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. This year's tree — a 65-foot Engelmann spruce — hails from Committee Member Scott Tipton's Colorado district, in the Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest. The "People's Tree" will be… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s proposal to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act: “The Obama Administration’s proposed listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species could have potentially devastating job and economic… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Republican Conference selected him to serve as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee in the 113th Congress: “I’m honored to have been selected by my Republican Colleagues to continue to serve as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. In this position, I’ll continue… Read more »

For those paying attention to the Obama Administration’s offshore lease sale held last December, today’s lease sale might seem like “déjà vu all over again.” Today, the Obama Administration will take this saying to heart in a shamelessly transparent attempt to appear interested in developing America’s offshore oil and natural gas resources by offering nearly the exact same offshore acres… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Interior Department released the final critical habitat rule for the Northern Spotted Owl: “The Obama Administration spent months working to revise a plan that was fatally flawed from the beginning. While this final rule must be fully reviewed, I remain very concerned that it will… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today released the following statement in response to the Federal Register Notice publication of the Energy Department’s Draft Recommendations resulting from Secretary Steven Chu's March 16, 2012 Memorandum: “The Energy Department's Draft Recommendations stemming from Secretary Chu's March 16 Memorandum once again fail to… Read more »

Oil shale is one of the most promising new sources of American-made energy. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. holds more than half of the world’s oil shale resources. The largest known deposits of oil shale are located in a 16,000-square mile area in the Green River formation in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. USGS estimates show the region may hold more than 1.5… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the October unemployment numbers: “President Obama’s leadership during the last four years has created a struggling economy with 23 million unemployed or underemployed Americans. President Obama has continually relied on big government… Read more »