Our Natural Resources

Statement

Our Natural Resources

Milton Berle once remarked a committee is a group which keeps the minutes and loses the hour. I know how that feels sometimes in Congress. Still, congressional committees plan an important part of the legislative process.

Each congressional committee handles a specific area of interest, such as agriculture or judicial matters, which can be wide-ranging and often very detailed. The House of Representatives relies heavily on its committees due to the body's larger size, the tremendous amount of legislation introduced each year, and the way the House rules are structured.

Thus, my committee assignments provide the first - and best - opportunity to have a meaningful impact on legislation as it makes its way through the House.

Currently, I serve on the House Agriculture Committee, the House Budget Committee, and the House Science and Technology Committee.

These assignments represent an important and valuable cross section of Nebraska's priorities. Obviously, agriculture issues are tremendously important to our State and I'm pleased to have had a hand in drafting the Farm Bill. I'm committed to bringing fiscal responsibility to the federal budget process and the Budget Committee is the best place to begin to ferret out waste, fraud, and abuse. The Science and Technology Committee has provided me with exciting opportunities to discuss advanced technology which can be used to secure our nation's borders.

Now, I will be adding the House Natural Resources Committee to that list.

The House Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over all federal public lands, including National Parks, National Forests, federally designated wilderness, Bureau of Land Management lands, and federal American Indian reservations.

The Committee also oversees water policy, mining law, and environmental regulations, such as the Endangered Species Act.

Through my first year of Congress, I have had the opportunity to work on several issues which originated from the House Resource Committee, specifically with concerns to the Platte River Implementation program. I now will have the chance to take an active part as the committee debates issues which have a very real impact on Nebraska and our nation.

Increasing demands on water supplies have resulted in conflicts throughout the nation. Droughts and new laws and regulations to protect endangered species, to reduce or eliminate pollution continue to add even more stress to our developed water and power supplies.

With oil prices near $100 a barrel after hitting record highs, the possibility of $4.00 a gallon gasoline is no longer just a bad dream. Freeing up additional supplies and developing alternative renewable energy sources is one of my priorities in the Committee.

Another example of the impact the Natural Resources Committee can have is the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, designed to implement a multi-state cooperative approach to assist in the conservation and recovery of habitat for the Platte River system's endangered and threatened species.

During the legislative process, I was able to work with the Committee to ensure language was included instructing federal agencies to work cooperatively with all relevant interests, including affected local communities, as it relates to the Program's goals and impact to landowners. I want to make sure landowners' concerns are met and their questions answered.

I am committed to helping Congress strike a balance of wise management of our nation's natural resources, protecting our environment while safeguarding our private property rights. By serving on the House Natural Resources Committee, I look forward to shaping legislation which strikes just such a balance.

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