Today, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 678, the “Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act,” with a bipartisan vote of 17-12.  Sponsored by Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03), the legislation creates new American jobs and expands production of clean, renewable hydropower by cutting duplicative, bureaucratic red tape. The bill was passed by… Read more »

The Committee continues its "Meet our Members" series with Congressman Steve Daines, representing Montana At-Large. In this segment, Rep. Daines describes growing up as a fifth generation Montanan in the 'Treasure State,' and how its variety of natural resources and national parks really comprise the state's treasures. In fact, did you know Rep. Daines' truck has the 'Treasure State'… Read more »

Today, Chairman Hastings accepted the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Public Service Award at their Legislative Rally in Washington, D.C. Initiated in 1978, the award recognizes elected officials whose activities have furthered the objectives of public power. Chairman Hastings has been a voice for the needs of the public power community, particularly regarding matters… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a legislative hearing on H.R. 678, the “Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act,” and H.R. 254, the "Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act.” Both bills are bipartisan plans to create new American jobs and expand production of clean, renewable hydropower by cutting… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today followed up on his previous request to Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu for detailed documents and communications related to the issuance of Chu’s March 16, 2012, Memorandum (Memorandum) to the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs). Last Congress, the Natural Resources Committee held multiple hearings on the… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today received the “Water Warrior” award from the Family Farm Alliance at their annual conference. The Family Farm Alliance is an advocate for family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts, and allied industries in seventeen Western states. The award is given to individuals who have provided long-term support for western… Read more »

Thank you for that warm welcome and introduction, Mike (LaPlant). For those of you who don’t know, Mike is the President of the Washington State Farm Bureau and a Director of the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District.  Mike is not only a constituent from Ephrata, Washington, but a friend. And I want to thank you at the Family Farm Alliance for inviting me here today. We… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Republican Conference selected him to serve as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee in the 113th Congress: “I’m honored to have been selected by my Republican Colleagues to continue to serve as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. In this position, I’ll continue… Read more »

While President Obama likes to talk about the job creation and economic potential of renewable energy development on federal lands, his Administration has imposed unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and duplicative regulatory requirements that have made the development of wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal energy more difficult. The United States has some of the most promising areas for… Read more »

As part of the House Natural Resources Committee’s ongoing oversight of Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu’s March 16, 2012 Memorandum (Memo) to the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today sent a letter to Secretary Chu requesting specific documents and communications related to his Memo. Click here to read the full letter. The… Read more »