Dear Administrator Lubchenco:
As you may know, the Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has been monitoring the Office of Inspector General's ("OIG") investigations into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ("NOAA") mismanagement of the Asset Forfeiture Fund. Under section 311 (e)(l) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NOAA is authorized to seize assets from violators… Read more »
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today received notice from the Obama Administration that they will not agree to his request for a 90-day extension of the public comment period on the draft National Ocean Policy Implementation plan.
“President Obama issued an Executive Order imposing a new bureaucracy to zone the oceans that threatens to deter new economic… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on “Empty Hooks: The National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational and Commercial Fishermen.” Representatives from the charter, commercial and recreational fishing industries testified on the implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy. Established by… Read more »
Dear Chairwoman Sutley and Director Holdren:
On February 23, 2012, I wrote requesting that the public comment period on the draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan be extended for an additional 90 days beyond the original February 27,2012 deadline. It was disappointing to leam that, despite the National Ocean Policy's massive scope and sweeping impacts across the country, this… Read more »
Dear Assistant Attorney General Moreno:
The Committee on Natural Resources ("Committee") has jurisdiction over matters involving fisheries and wildlife, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ("ESA"), 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1599. The goal of the ESA was to preserve, protect and recover key domestic species. However, today the law is failing to achieve its primary purpose of species… Read more »
This week, Governors from 7 states penned a letter to President Obama addressing multiple offshore energy issues. In particular, they expressed concern with proposed coastal and marine spatial planning, one facet of the President’s National Ocean Policy. The Governors urged the President to carefully consider the bureaucratic hurdles and negative impacts on energy development that could… Read more »
Today, the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing on the FY 2013 budget requests for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The hearing focused on the budget requests for major programs and activities… Read more »
House Natural Resources Committee Republicans are committed to putting Americans back to work by enacting policies that embrace America’s abundant natural resources to help create jobs and grow our economy.
The Committee continues its Jobs Watch series this week with Freshman Committee Member Steve Southerland from Florida’s Second Congressional District. Congressman Southerland explains… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs will hold an oversight hearing on the FY 2013 budget requests for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As part of Chairman Doc Hastings’ ongoing efforts to review the Endangered Species Act (ESA), this hearing is an opportunity to examine how much is being… Read more »
Dear Chairwoman Sutley and Director Holdren:
I am writing to you as the co-chairs of the National Ocean Council created under Executive Order 13547, which implemented the final recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and created a new National Ocean Policy. In addition to the National Ocean Council, the Executive Order created, among other things, an expanded federal… Read more »
