Member Day Hearing

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

2025-05-14

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting served as a member day hearing, allowing various representatives to present legislative initiatives and raise awareness of issues within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources [ 00:20:16-00:20:33 ] . While the Chairman highlighted the committee's work in unleashing natural resources for revenue and savings [ 00:20:53-00:21:03 ] , the Ranking Member criticized recent committee actions as "extreme" and lacking a deliberative process . Despite these differences, the hearing aimed to foster discussions on important issues affecting constituents across the country [ 00:23:12 ]

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Themes

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Reform

The effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act was a significant point of discussion, with criticism regarding its low success rate in recovering listed species [ 00:22:17-00:22:19 ]

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. Chairman Robert J. Wittman advocated for the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 to incentivize species recovery, promote conservation, clarify definitions, and streamline the permitting process [ 00:22:45-00:22:58 ]

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. Representative Tracey Mann cited the designation of the lesser prairie chicken as threatened in Kansas as an example of burdensome federal regulation, arguing that population fluctuations are linked to rainfall, not agricultural practices, and called for overturning such regulations . Representative Valerie Anne Hoyle (Moylan) also urged for common-sense reforms to the ESA, particularly addressing federal overreach, enhancing public participation, and allowing for cultural practice exceptions in regions like the Pacific Islands .

Energy and Natural Resource Development

Several members highlighted the importance of robust natural resource development. Chairman Wittman mentioned advancing a budget reconciliation title to generate $18.5 billion by reinstating oil and gas lease sales and increasing timber harvesting [ 00:20:53-00:21:03 ] . He also called for permitting reform to reduce red tape for crucial infrastructure and energy projects [ 00:21:14-00:21:44 ] . Representative Paul A. Gosar introduced the LASSO Act (HR 34), proposing to deposit 10% of public lands revenue, including from offshore energy development, into the Social Security trust fund, which he projected could add $15 billion over ten years . Representative Troy Downing presented H.R. 725 and H.R. 931 to ensure the future of coal mining in Montana, which would provide short-term operational relief, facilitate a critical land exchange for long-term access to coal reserves, and restore revenue sharing for the Crow Tribe .

Indigenous Affairs and Education

Discussions included efforts to support indigenous communities and institutions. Representative Harriet Maxine Hageman emphasized the need to work with Indian Country to honor trust responsibilities, improve management of ancestral homelands, and mentioned her Tribal Co-Management Bill and the Norelmuc recognition bill . Representative Tracey Mann raised concerns about the mismanagement of Haskell Indian Nations University, proposing legislation (Haskell Indians Nation University Improvement Act) to federally charter the institution and transfer its governance to qualified tribal leaders to ensure a safe and effective learning environment . The Crow Revenue Act, as discussed by Representative Downing, also aims to address the Crow Tribe's need for a revenue stream from coal mining, following the closure of a previous mine .

National Parks and Federal Land Management

The establishment and management of national parks and federal lands were also addressed. Representative Scott L. Fitzgerald introduced H.R. 2345 to redesignate Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park as Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve, aiming to create Georgia's first national park . This initiative seeks to protect hunting and fishing access, safeguard national security interests near Robins Air Force Base, and acquire land only from willing sellers . Representative Valerie Anne Hoyle (Moylan) advocated for the Guam Excess Land Return Act to return excess federal lands in Guam to original landowners, highlighting that nearly one-third of the island is federally owned .

Support for Law Enforcement

During Police Week, Representative Troy E. Nehls introduced H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act . This bill seeks to establish a formal program within the Department of Interior to provide grants to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, supporting its community outreach, public education, and officer safety programs . He noted that unlike other federally recognized museums, the National Law Enforcement Museum currently receives no federal funding for its programming .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a largely respectful and deliberative tone, with members presenting their priorities and engaging in brief questions [ 00:20:11 ] . However, an underlying partisan tension was evident in the opening statements, particularly Ranking Member Harriet Maxine Hageman's strong criticism of the committee's handling of a recent budget reconciliation bill, which she called an "extreme, environmentally destructive bill" and a "spectacle" . Despite this, there was a stated desire for bipartisan cooperation on future issues and a general focus on addressing constituents' concerns and problem-solving .

Participants

Transcript

Rule 4F, any oral opening statements at hearings are limited to the chairman and the ranking minority member.  I now recognize myself for an opening statement.   Again, good morning to everyone and thank you for joining us today for our member day hearing.  These hearings present an opportunity for members who don't sit on our committee as well as some who do to testify on behalf of legislation and to raise awareness of issues within the jurisdiction of the committee on natural resources.  Natural resources issues have a profound impact on every American whether   They happen to live in the stretches of rural Arkansas contained in my district on a ranch under the big sky of Montana or amidst the mountains and forests of the Northeast.  Suburbanites and city residents are also significantly affected by the contours of natural resource policy.   Today, we will be privileged to hear from our colleagues on issues that are important to their communities and to learn about their proposed solutions.  But today isn't the starting point for much of this work.  Rather, it's a continuation of the process of expansive district-centric engagement that our committee has been carrying out.   Just last week, we advanced a historic budget reconciliation title that generates more than $18.5 billion in new revenues and savings for the American people by unleashing our nation's abundant natural resources.  The legislation was months in the making and represents Committee Republicans' commitment to make common sense, science-based, and economically sound decisions concerning our public resources.   By reinstating onshore oil and gas lease sales, increasing timber harvesting on federal lands, and rescinding misguided slush funds, the Committee of Republicans are delivering on our commitment to get our nation's fiscal house in order and make our nation energy dominant today and far into the future.   House Republicans have also championed legislation in this Congress on issues like permitting reform.  America's permitting process is broken and it's far past time to push back against the special interest groups who have weaponized the process to block projects.
We have the opportunity to solve some of the most pressing issues facing our communities by streamlining permitting for crucial infrastructure projects and eliminating bureaucratic red tape that holds back the responsible development of our domestic energy and mineral resources.   along with infrastructure and many other projects that get bogged down in the red tape of permitting.  Without tackling this reform, we cannot usher in a golden age of American energy.  We cannot reduce wildfire risk or complete almost any large-scale projects across our great nation.  One of the important solutions to reducing regulatory hurdles in the United States is the ESA Amendments Act of 2025,   which makes critical updates to the Endangered Species Act.  It has been noted on this committee that since its inception, the ESA only succeeded in recovering about 3% of listed species.  If a football team only made first downs on 3% of its possessions, it would be foolish to blindly continue running the same play while expecting a different result.  The same is true with the ESA.  The federal government continues to run the same failing play   expecting to finally win the game of sensibly protecting our endangered species.  The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 incentivizes the recovery of listed species, promotes species conservation on public and private lands, codifies clear definitions, and streamlines the ESA permitting process.   This new playbook will help us run plays that actually achieve the Act's original goal, and that is to ensure that species recover and the species are recovered and then remove them from the list.  These are just a few of the priorities we've been advancing this Congress.  I look forward to hearing from my colleagues today on legislative initiatives important to them and their constituents.  Thank you again for taking the time to join us.  I yield back and recognize the ranking member for any opening statement he may have.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and colleagues.  Our committee has one of the broadest and most consequential mandates in this Congress.  At our best, we develop and enact legislation and do oversight that safeguards the conservation and sustainable use of America's natural and historic resources from energy and minerals to rangeland, fisheries, and forests.  We strengthen the health and resilience of federal lands and waters along with the communities that depend on them.   We protect and restore our country's most irreplaceable and unique places in wildlife.  And we improve the lives of Indian tribes, Alaska natives, Native Hawaiians, and American citizens living in the U.S.  territories, including Puerto Rico.  But we are not at our best right now.  And, Mr. Chairman, I have a different view of what happened in this committee last week.  Jamming through the most extreme, environmentally destructive bill in our country's history is part of a broader package   to give tax cuts and sweetheart deals to some of the largest and wealthiest corporations and richest billionaires in the world.  And doing that while refusing to adopt or even debate more than 120 Democrat amendments, that was a spectacle.  That was not a deliberative process.  And I'm told that your colleagues and other committees this week have changed course and are participating in debates, which I think perhaps   highlights and underscores just how untenable and disappointing it was the way Republicans comported themselves in that markup here in our committee.  I've never seen anything like it, and I hope we never see anything like it again.  Committee Democrats will continue to fight that legislation and press Republicans to help us hold this president and his billionaire pals accountable.  I hope that now the committee can also find some time

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