Today, the Committee on Natural Resources approved six bills during a Full Committee markup on H.R. 387, H.R. 521, H.R. 1289, H.R. 1992, H.R. 2295, H.R. 2358, and H.R. 2647.


On the passage of H.R. 2295, the “National Energy Security Corridors Act,” introduced by Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Rep. MacArthur commented:

"People and businesses all along the East Coast, especially in South Jersey, are paying too much to heat their homes with natural gas in the winter. Even the President has called for increased energy infrastructure in our country to help lower those energy costs.  My bill would do just that," Rep. MacArthur said. "By streamlining the permitting process for new natural gas pipelines on federal lands, we'll create jobs, update our outdated energy infrastructure, and bring our American energy policy into the 21st century."  

On the passage of H.R. 2358, the “Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act” introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Rep. Zinke commented:

“Just one tree hitting a power line is all it takes to financially devastate a co-op, destroy thousands of acres of forest land, and jeopardize our electric grid. This is wrong. We should be empowering our co-ops, not holding them liable for government inaction. Every Montanan knows our forests are a tinderbox and we have a tough fire season ahead of us. Any kind of inaction threatens human safety, wildlife habitat, and electricity access. Our electric utilities deserve consistent processes to better manage their rights-of-way to prevent wildfires. This bill does exactly that,” Rep. Zinke stated.

On the passage of H.R. 2647, the “Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015,” introduced by Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Rep. Westerman commented:  

“I was pleased to see the Resilient Federal Forests Act quickly move through committee markup this week. This bill is simple. It protects our national forests through proper management practices. It creates healthier forests, cleaner water, cleaner air, and protects the lives and property of Americans living in or near our national forests. I look forward to the legislation coming to the House floor. I want to thank my Republican and Democratic colleagues for their work on this bill, as well as Chairman Bishop for his leadership in moving this bill through the Committee on Natural Resources,” Rep. Westerman said. 

For more information on votes on amendments, please visit the website.