SW Arkansas Times

On February 12, 2025, the House Committee on Natural Resources conducted a full committee markup and favorably reported eight bills. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented on the progress:

"Today our committee is advancing solutions for Americans across the country. Whether you rely on crucial Western water resources or support streamlining of permits for vital lands projects, the House Committee on Natural Resources is working to move legislative solutions forward. I'd like to thank my colleagues for their thoughtful work on these important issues and for their continued efforts as these bills move through the legislative process."

The proposed legislation includes H.R. 231, known as the Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.). This bill aims to reauthorize the Colorado River Basin Conservation Pilot Program through FY 2026.

H.R. 302, titled the Water Rights Protection Act 2025 and introduced by U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), mandates that federal actions impacting water rights should not impose more significant restrictions than those imposed by state law.

Another bill, H.R. 331, presented by U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, seeks to amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to simplify transporting water for aquifer recharge projects across federal land.

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) also introduced H.R. 1001, which allows the Western Area Power Administration to address impacts from flow experiments at Glen Canyon Dam on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

H.R 1044, put forth by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), will authorize renewing a special use permit in Sequoia National Park for operating a hydroelectric project.

Introduced by U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), H.R. 1110 directs the U.S. Forest Service to expand proactive grazing in fuels management programs to reduce wildfire risk.

H.R. 249, from U.S. Rep Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), proposes renaming two sites in Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park in honor of Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr.

Lastly, H.R. 618, called the Apex Area Technical Corrections Act and introduced by U.S Rep Stephen Horsford (D-Nev.), amends previous legislation to streamline permitting processes in Clark County, Nevada.