SW Arkansas Times

The House Committee on Natural Resources recently conducted a full committee markup, successfully advancing nine bills. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented on the proceedings:

"While Democrats tried to bog down today's markup with nonsense amendments, committee Republicans took decisive action to advance a slate of legislation. We codified President Trump's renaming of the Gulf of America to ensure consistency across the federal government. We followed the science to delist the gray wolf and bring the Endangered Species Act into the 21st Century. We streamlined burdensome regulatory processes and advanced legislation to support local broadband and energy development. These legislative solutions and others put Americans first and represent the diverse array of issues we champion here on committee every day."

The committee's decision moves forward several legislative initiatives:

H.R. 276, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), renames the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

H.R. 677, the Expedited Appeals Review Act by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), aims to simplify the dispute resolution processes of the Interior Board of Land Appeals regarding public lands and natural resources.

H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), removes the gray wolf from the endangered species list, returning management to states.

H.R. 1043, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), allocates 3,400 acres for a major solar farm, projected to generate significant energy and job opportunities.

H.R. 1665, the DIGITAL Applications Act by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), sets online application requirements for communication uses on federal lands, improving transparency.

H.R. 1681, the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), aims to hasten broadband deployment on federal lands with an interagency effort.

H.R. 900, the Sinkhole Mapping Act by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), directs a sinkhole study and mapping initiative by the U.S. Geological Survey.

H.R. 972, the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act by Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), authorizes a pipeline under the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area.

H.R. 1098 by Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) aims to extend the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program to 2030.

These legislative proposals address various resource management and development goals, reflecting an ongoing effort to prioritize diverse national interests.