SW Arkansas Times

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup and favorably reported 16 bills. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman issued the following statement in response:

"From long-overdue reforms to the Endangered Species Act to blocking NOAA's extreme vessel speed rule, this committee is continuing to advance legislation that benefits Americans from all walks of life. These bills protect communities from wildfires, support forest management efforts in the Lake Tahoe Basin, increase domestic mineral production and more. I'm grateful to my colleagues for their dedicated work on such a wide variety of important issues for men and women in every corner of our country."

H.R. 3283, the Facilitating the Deployment of Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions and Legacy Applications Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to regularly report to Congress on the extent to which the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have established online portals for processing communications use authorizations.

H.R. 4235, the Wildfire Technology Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization and Optimization Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), creates a federal testbed pilot program to identify and adopt new wildfire prevention, detection, communication and mitigation technologies.

H.R. 5103, introduced by U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), enforces current timelines for the Office of Management and Budget to review fishery disaster requests.

H.R. 6085, introduced by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), prohibits implementing the Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Rock Springs RMP revision.

H.R. 6107, the Urban Canal Modernization Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), categorizes maintenance work on urban canals of concern and allows assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation in covering project costs.

H.R. 6547, the Colorado Energy Prosperity Act,introduced by U.S. Rep Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), prohibits implementation of draft RMP and final supplemental EIS impacting land on Colorado's Western Slope.

H.R. 6843,introduced by U.S.Rep Steve Scalise(R-La.), expands boundaries of Atchafalaya National Heritage Area(NHA)to include Lafourche Parish.

H.R .7332,the Utah State Parks Adjustment Act,introduced by USRep Celeste Maloy(R-Utah),transfers approximately782 acres offederal landto Utah State Parks System.

HR8413,the Swanson&Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act,introducedby USRep Adrian Smith(R-Neb.),transfers federal recreational areas at Swanson Reservoir& Hugh Butler Reservoirto Frontier&Hitchcock Counties,Nebraska

HR8704,introducedby USRep Buddy Carter(R-Ga.),preventsNOAA’s proposed rule expanding vessel speed restrictions from going into effect until Dec31 ,2030.Additionally,it creates anew grant program administeredby National Fish&Widlife Foundationto deploy innovative technologies&best practices limiting vessel strikes/harmful interactions between ocean users&species like North Atlantic right whale

HR8811,the America’s Conservation Enhancement(ACE)Actof2024,introducedby USRep Rob Wittman(R-Va.)reauthorizes/amends conservation programs under original ACEAct signedinto lawin2020

HR9533,the Endangered SpeciesAct(ESA)AmendmentsActof2024,introducedbyHouse Committeeon Natural ResourcesChairmanBruceWesterman(R-Ark.)makes critical reforms clarifying definitions/establishing environmental baseline measuring successful outcomes incentivizing recovery listed species/promoting species conservationon private/public lands creating greater transparency/accountability ESA regulatory process

HR6012,the Fire Safe Electrical CorridorsActof2023,introducedbyUSRepSaludCarbajal(D-Calif.)authorizesUSFSto permit utility companies fully remove hazard trees/other vegetation within vicinity distribution/transmission lines without separate timber sale.If utilities eventually sell material proceeds returnedtoUSFS less transportation costs

HR6826,introducedbyUSRepKweisiMfume(D-Md.)designates visitor/education centerat Fort McHenryNational Monument&Historic Shrineas Paul S Sarbanes Visitor/Education Center

HR8219,LahainaNationalHeritageActintroducedbyUSRepJillTokuda(D-Hawaii),directs SecretaryoftheInterior,in consultationwithstate/local partners,to study suitability/feasibility designating Lahainaas NHA

S612,LakeTahoeRestorationReauthorizationActintroducedbyU.SSen.CatherineCortezMasto(D-Nev)supports restoration activities atLakeTahoeby extending authorizationfor cooperative authorities/time funding spenton fuel reduction erosion control reforestation aroundLakeTahoe.USRepsMarkAmodei(R-Nev.)JohnDuarte(R-Calif.)KevinKiley(R-Calif.)leading House companion legislation