House Committee on Natural Resources

House Committee on Natural Resources
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Committee	House Committee on Natural Resources
Founded	1807 as Committee on Public Lands
Chair	Jared Huffman
Ranking member	Bruce Westerman

House Committee on Natural Resources is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives and has been in existence in various forms since 1807, when it was established as the Committee on Public Lands. The committee is responsible for overseeing the management of public lands and natural resources in the United States, including those managed by the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Agriculture. The committee's jurisdiction includes issues related to energy development, mining, forestry, and wildlife conservation, and it has played a key role in shaping environmental policy in the United States, working closely with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service. The committee has also worked with other committees, including the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture, to address issues related to climate change and sustainable development.

● History

The committee was established in 1807 as the Committee on Public Lands and was responsible for overseeing the management of public lands in the United States. Over the years, the committee's jurisdiction has expanded to include a wide range of issues related to natural resources, including energy development, mining, forestry, and wildlife conservation. The committee has played a key role in shaping environmental policy in the United States, working closely with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service. The committee has also worked with other committees, including the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture, to address issues related to climate change and sustainable development, and has collaborated with organizations such as the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation. In recent years, the committee has been involved in debates over issues such as drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the management of public lands in the American West, including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.

● Jurisdiction

The committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues related to natural resources, including energy development, mining, forestry, and wildlife conservation. The committee's jurisdiction includes issues related to the management of public lands in the United States, including those managed by the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Agriculture. The committee also has jurisdiction over issues related to water resources, including the management of rivers and wetlands, and has worked with agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. The committee has played a key role in shaping environmental policy in the United States, working closely with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service, and has collaborated with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy. The committee's jurisdiction also includes issues related to indigenous peoples, including the management of Native American reservations and the protection of Native American rights, and has worked with organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund.

● Subcommittee Structure

The committee is divided into several subcommittees, each with its own jurisdiction and responsibilities. The subcommittees include the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, which has jurisdiction over issues related to energy development and mining; the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, which has jurisdiction over issues related to water resources and wildlife conservation; and the Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States, which has jurisdiction over issues related to indigenous peoples and the management of Native American reservations. The subcommittees are responsible for holding hearings and marking up legislation related to their jurisdictions, and have worked with agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. The committee's subcommittee structure allows it to focus on specific issues and to develop expertise in particular areas, and has collaborated with organizations such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

● Notable Legislation

The committee has played a key role in shaping environmental policy in the United States and has been involved in the passage of several notable pieces of legislation. These include the General Mining Act of 1872, which established the framework for mining on public lands in the United States; the National Park Service Organic Act, which established the National Park Service and set forth its mission and responsibilities; and the Endangered Species Act, which provides protection for endangered species and their habitats. The committee has also been involved in the passage of legislation related to energy development, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and has worked with agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The committee has also played a key role in the passage of legislation related to indigenous peoples, including the Indian Reorganization Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and has collaborated with organizations such as the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

● Current Membership

The committee is currently chaired by Jared Huffman and has a total of 45 members. The committee's membership includes representatives from a wide range of states and districts, including California, Alaska, and Arizona. The committee's members have a range of backgrounds and expertise, including experience in environmental policy, energy development, and indigenous peoples issues. The committee's members have worked with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service, and have collaborated with organizations such as the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation. The committee's current membership includes Raúl Grijalva, Debbie Dingell, and Don Young, among others, and has worked with other committees, including the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture.

● Past Chairmen

The committee has had several notable chairmen over the years, including Nick Rahall, who served as chairman from 2007 to 2011; Doc Hastings, who served as chairman from 2011 to 2015; and Rob Bishop, who served as chairman from 2015 to 2019. The committee's past chairmen have played a key role in shaping environmental policy in the United States and have been involved in the passage of several notable pieces of legislation. The committee's past chairmen have also worked with agencies such as the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Agriculture, and have collaborated with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy. The committee's past chairmen have included Morris Udall, who served as chairman from 1977 to 1991, and George Miller, who served as chairman from 1991 to 1995, and have worked with other committees, including the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture.