Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in honor of Earth Day 2024:

"I believe true conservation means we steward our resources well and leave our world in a better state than we inherited it. Republicans are leading these efforts with a commitment to conserve our environment and ensuring our public lands and waters remain accessible for all Americans to enjoy. We're also working daily to advance solutions that champion wildlife conservation, foster outdoor recreation and allow states to manage the lands they know best. America has boundless potential to unlock its natural resources, and today and every day we celebrate the earth and all her natural treasures."

Background

Under Westerman’s leadership, the committee is advancing policies that promote access to, and conservation and responsible management of, America’s natural resources. This work includes:

H.R. 7408, the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), would make historic investments of $320 million in grant funding and give states the opportunity and support to enact their congressionally mandated wildlife action plans. Other provisions will give congressional backing to private, voluntary conservation efforts and provide a solution to the detrimental Cottonwood vs. U.S. Forest Service 9th Circuit Court decision. The bill also authorizes Good Neighbor Authority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, allowing the agency to partner with states, tribes and counties to better manage their lands, placing it on par with other federal land management agencies.

H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) Act, introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), would expand public land access by supporting recreation opportunities like biking and rock climbing, addressing access barriers for veterans and people with disabilities, streamlining the permitting process for small businesses and more.

H.R. 2989, the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act, introduced by former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), would provide land managers with the emergency tools and resources needed to save these remaining ancient wonders from the unprecedented peril threatening their long-term survival. More than a century of fire suppression and mismanagement created a massive build-up of hazardous fuels in and around Giant Sequoia groves, leading to unnaturally intense, high-severity wildfires. The emergency now facing Giant Sequoias is unprecedented – the last recorded evidence of large-scale Giant Sequoia mortality due to wildfires occurred more than seven centuries ago.

H.R. 6342,  the Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) would create innovative adaptive trails and recreation opportunities to ensure wounded warriors can experience the full splendor of our national parks and public lands. The bill also develops a national strategy to increase outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans and support nonprofit organizations that organize activities for veterans and active-duty service members on public lands.

H.R. 615 , the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), would protect sportsmen and women's access to public lands and waters by requiring that any proposed lead ban at a national wildlife refuge be compatible with state law and based on scientific evidence. 

H.R. 1449, the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), addresses geothermal leasing and permitting issues by amending the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to require the Secretary of the Interior to hold lease sales annually for geothermal energy. If a lease sale is missed for any reason, the bill would require that the secretary hold replacement sales during the same year. The bill would also require the secretary to respond to geothermal drilling permit applications within 30 days of receipt.

H.R. 4051, Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force to address shark depredation, which occurs when a shark eats or damages a hooked fish before an angler can reel in their catch.

H.R. 1314, introduced by U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), would expand the authority of the Department of the Interior to enter into public-private partnerships to address housing shortages near national parks.

The committee has also hosted field hearings and site visits in communities across the U.S., hearing from local stakeholders about the issues most pressing to them and how Congress can best advance sound, scientific conservation legislation in D.C. To learn more about the committee’s ongoing work to promote access to our resources, expand innovative technologies, conduct necessary oversight and ensure true conservation, visit our website.