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Energy

Hastings' Hydro Bill Will Protect and Promote Hydropower Dams

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative field hearing in Pasco, WA on H.R. 6247, the Saving Our Dams and Hydropower Development and Jobs Act of 2012. Introduced by Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), the bill would protect America’s dams and promote new clean, low-cost hydropower to help create jobs and grow the economy. Hydropower accounts for 70 percent of electricity…

Gas Prices Rise as Obama Administration Continues to Block New Offshore Energy Projects

| Posted in Blog

Americans continue to face rising prices at the pump that are expected to climb even higher this year, according to the AAA report released Monday. Gasoline prices increased 18 cents this month and eight cents this past week alone. As of August 9, gasoline prices have exceeded prices on the same day last year and continue upward. As families struggle with rising energy expenses, the…

Chairman Hastings and Rep. David Rivera Letter to Secretary Salazar on Record-Keeping of Foreign-Owned Companies That Have U.S. Leases

| Posted in Letters

Dear Secretary Salazar: We write to draw your attention to two national security issues that have been raised in oversight hearings before the House Committee on Natural Resources in recent months. Foreign-multinational energy companies currently hold development leases and operate in the American Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and on Federal lands. One recent example is the move by…

Democrat Controlled Senate: Where New American Jobs and Energy Bills Go To Collect Dust

| Posted in Resourceful Information

Just before the August District Work Period, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6082, a bill to replace President Obama’s no-new-jobs, no-new-drilling plan with a robust plan that offers lease sales in specific areas known to contain the most oil and natural gas resources, to create tens of thousands of new American jobs and increase American energy production. This bipartisan vote…

Hastings Statement on July Unemployment Numbers

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced unemployment rose to 8.3% after disappointing July job growth. “Today’s jobs numbers are yet another disappointment for the millions of Americans who have been struggling to find a job in President Obama’s economy. While President Obama doesn’t…

Committee Approves Motion Authorizing Chairman to Issue Subpoenas to Compel Obama Administration Witnesses to Appear to Answer Questions on Gulf Drilling Moratorium Report

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved a motion with a 26-17 vote to provide the Chairman with authority to issue subpoenas to five Obama Administration officials and potentially others who have direct knowledge or involvement in the drafting, editing or review of the Department of the Interior Drilling Moratorium Report that was edited to appear as though the moratorium…

Chairman Hastings Announces Full Committee Meeting to Consider Motion to Authorize Issuance of Subpoenas

| Posted in Committee Action

On Wednesday, August 1st the Natural Resources Committee will meet to consider a motion to authorize Chairman Hastings to issue subpoenas for five Interior Department officials, and others as may be necessary, to appear before the Committee to give testimony and answer questions. The agenda will also include the markup of a limited number of legislative bills to be reported to the House…

DOI Acting Inspector General Called to Testify Before Full House Natural Resources Committee

| Posted in Committee Action

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today invited the Department of the Interior’s Acting Inspector General Mary Kendall to testify at a Full Committee hearing on Thursday, August 2nd titled “Oversight of the Actions, Independence and Accountability of the Acting Inspector General of the Department of the Interior.” Click here to read the invite letter. The…

Bipartisan House of Reps. Approves Virginia Offshore Lease Sale that President Obama Canceled Indefinitely

| Posted in Press Release

Today, in a bipartisan vote of 253-170, the House approved H.R. 6082, to replace President Obama’s no-new-jobs, no-new-drilling plan with a responsible, robust plan that offers 29 offshore lease sales, including Virginia Lease Sale 220 that was scheduled to take place in 2011 and has since been delayed and canceled by President Obama until at least 2017—six years after it was supposed to…