Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a budget oversight hearing to review irresponsible spending and harmful regulation under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Reclamation and the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs).

Members criticized the Administration for continuing  to curtail access to fisheries by expanding national monument designations and lack of data transparency. In response, Subcommittee Chairman John Fleming (R-LA) said, “When it comes to accessing our oceans, our philosophies couldn’t be further apart.”

Members also blasted the Administration for failing to adequately address drought in the West, making ill-informed decisions without sufficient science, and using the Endangered Species Act—including regulations on the Delta smelt—as a weapon against hardworking farmers and farm workers. Fleming casted a more hopeful vision:

“This Committee has done its best to fight these extremist agendas and offer a far more refreshing vision. Instead of relying on restricted access and rationing existing resources, we have pursued policies that increase the size of the pie,” Fleming continued. “We have an obligation to provide a better way of life for our constituents through proactive and positive policies.”

Click here to view the full witness testimony.