US Senator Martin Heinrich Chastises Committee for Partisanship
WASHINGTON – United States Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) expressed disappointed towards the management of the US Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, which is chaired by US Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), for showing favoritism towards legislation sponsored by the Republican Party. Senator Heinrich spoke in defense of three bills in particular – his own M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act and three bills from three of his Democratic Party colleagues: the Ruby Mountains Protection Act, the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act, and the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act.
“While I am always glad to see good legislation move through this committee, I am disappointed we have yet another business meeting where we are considering zero conservation bills,” Heinrich began. “My colleagues on the Democratic side of the dais have a long and growing list of priorities that continue to be left off the list of bills to be considered by the committee, many of which have received bipartisan support in this committee in the past.”
Senator Heinrich's M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act would amend the Wild And Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of New Mexico's Gila River system as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System for a transfer of administrative jurisdiction.
US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's (D-NV) Ruby Mountains Protection Act would withdraw National Forest system land in the Ruby Mountains sub-district of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge of Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing laws.
US Senator Ron Wyden's (D-OR) Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act would designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness and national recreation areas; withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws and operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.
US Senator Alex Padilla's (D-CA) San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act would authorize additional funding for San Joaquin River restoration in the form of $750,000,000.
“I know that Senators on my side of the aisle desperately want to see their priority bills move forward, and that’s the point. I hope that we will take the opportunity to seek collaboration and compromise, so that we can move some of these bills forward,” concluded Senator Heinrich.