United States House Committee on Natural Resources

Last updated
House Natural Resources Committee
Standing committee
Active
Seal of the United States House of Representatives.svg
United States House of Representatives
118th Congress
History
Formed1991
Succeeded Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
Formerly known asCommittee on Resources
Leadership
Chair Bruce Westerman (R)
Since January 3, 2023
Ranking member Raúl Grijalva (D)
Since January 4, 2023
Structure
Seats45
Political partiesMajority (25)
  •   Republican (25)
Minority (20)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Energy development, mining, mineral rights, wildlife, fisheries, public lands, oceans, Native Americans
Oversight authority Department of Energy
Senate counterpart Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Subcommittees
Meeting place
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Website
naturalresources.house.gov (Republican)
democrats-naturalresources.house.gov (Democratic)
Rules

    The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources or Natural Resources Committee (often referred to as simply Resources) is a Congressional committee of the United States House of Representatives. Originally called the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (1951), the name was changed to the Committee on Natural Resources in 1991. The name was shortened to the Committee on Resources in 1995 by the new chairman, Don Young (at the same time, the committee took over the duties of the now-defunct Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee). Following the Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives in 2006, the name of the committee was changed back to its title used between 1991 and 1995. [1]

    Contents

    Jurisdiction

    1. Fisheries and wildlife, including research, restoration, refuges, and conservation.
    2. Forest reserves and national parks created from the public domain.
    3. Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership, including alien ownership of mineral lands.
    4. Geological Survey.
    5. International fishing agreements.
    6. Interstate compacts relating to apportionment of waters for irrigation purposes.
    7. Irrigation and reclamation, including water supply for reclamation projects and easements of public lands for irrigation projects; and acquisition of private lands when necessary to complete irrigation projects.
    8. Native Americans generally, including the care and allotment of Native American lands and general and special measures relating to claims that are paid out of Native American funds.
    9. Insular areas of the United States generally (except those affecting the revenue and appropriations).
    10. Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks within the District of Columbia, and the erection of monuments to the memory of individuals.
    11. Mineral land laws and claims and entries thereunder.
    12. Mineral resources of public lands.
    13. Mining interests generally.
    14. Mining schools and experimental stations.
    15. Marine affairs, including coastal zone management (except for measures relating to oil and other pollution of navigable waters).
    16. Oceanography.
    17. Petroleum conservation on public lands and conservation of the radium supply in the United States.
    18. Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of interest on the public domain.
    19. Public lands generally, including entry, easements, and grazing thereon.
    20. Relations of the United States with Native Americans and Native American tribes.
    21. Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline (except ratemaking). [2] [3]

    Members, 119th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 13 (Chair), H.Res. 14 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 42 (R), H.Res. 44 (D), H.Res. 55 (D)

    Subcommittees

    Representative Kevin McCarthy (R) at an oversight hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power KMcCarthy.jpg
    Representative Kevin McCarthy (R) at an oversight hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power

    In the 111th Congress, the number of subcommittees was reduced from 5 to 4. The Subcommittees on Insular Affairs and Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans were merged into the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife. In the 112th Congress, the number was again increased to 5, adding the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.

    During the committee's official reorganization for the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was renamed the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation [6]

    When former Chairman Doc Hastings of Washington retired from Congress, Rob Bishop of Utah took over as the committee's new chairman at the beginning of the 114th Congress. Congressman Bishop began the process of hiring new staff and reorganized the committee's structure as his predecessors had done. [7] [8] The chairman eliminated the Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs subcommittee and split its duties between the renamed Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs and Water, Power and Oceans subcommittees. The chairman also created a new Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, keeping the total number of subcommittees at five [9]

    The chairman also transferred jurisdiction over the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act from the former Public Lands and Environmental Regulation and established a renamed the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. [9]

    Current subcommittees

    SubcommitteeChair [4] Ranking Member [10]
    Energy and Mineral Resources Pete Stauber (R-MN) Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ)
    Federal Lands Tom Tiffany (R-WI) Joe Neguse (D-CO)
    Indian and Insular Affairs Jeff Hurd (R-CO) Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
    Oversight and Investigations Paul Gosar (R-AZ) Maxine Dexter (D-OR)
    Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Harriet Hageman (R-WY) Val Hoyle (D-OR)

    Chairs

    ChairPartyStateStart of serviceEnd of service
    Committee on Public Lands
    Andrew Gregg Democratic-Republican Pennsylvania 18051806
    John Boyle Democratic-Republican Kentucky 18061807
    Andrew Gregg Democratic-RepublicanPennsylvania1807
    John Boyle Democratic-RepublicanKentucky18071808
    Jeremiah Morrow Democratic-Republican Ohio 18081813
    Samuel McKee Democratic-RepublicanKentucky18131815
    Thomas B. Robertson Democratic-Republican Louisiana 18151818
    George Poindexter Democratic-Republican Mississippi 18181819
    Richard C. Anderson Democratic-RepublicanKentucky18191821
    Christopher Rankin JacksonianMississippi18211826
    John Scott Anti-Jacksonian Missouri 18261827
    Jacob C. Isacks Jacksonian Tennessee 18271830
    Charles A. Wickliffe JacksonianKentucky18301833
    Clement C. Clay Democratic Alabama 18331835
    Ratliff Boon Democratic Indiana 18351838
    Zadok Casey Democratic Illinois 18381839
    Thomas Corwin WhigOhio18391840
    Samson Mason WhigOhio1840
    Jeremiah Morrow WhigOhio18401841
    William C. Johnson Whig Maryland 1841
    Jeremiah Morrow WhigOhio18411842
    Reuben Chapman DemocraticAlabama1842
    Jeremiah Morrow WhigOhio18421843
    John W. Davis DemocraticIndiana18431845
    John A. McClernand DemocraticIllinois18451847
    Jacob Collamer Whig Vermont 18471849
    James B. Bowlin DemocraticMissouri18491851
    Willard P. Hall DemocraticMissouri18511853
    David T. Disney DemocraticOhio18531855
    Henry Bennett Opposition New York 18551857
    Williamson R. W. Cobb DemocraticAlabama18571859
    Eli Thayer Republican Massachusetts 18591861
    John F. Potter Republican Wisconsin 18611863
    George W. Julian RepublicanIndiana18631871
    John H. Ketcham RepublicanNew York18711873
    Washington Townsend RepublicanPennsylvania18731875
    Milton Sayler DemocraticOhio18751877
    William R. Morrison DemocraticIllinois18771879
    George L. Converse DemocraticOhio18791881
    Thaddeus C. Pound RepublicanWisconsin18811883
    Thomas R. Cobb DemocraticIndiana18831887
    William S. Holman DemocraticIndiana18871889
    Lewis E. Payson RepublicanIllinois18891891
    Thomas C. McRae Democratic Arkansas 18911895
    John F. Lacey Republican Iowa 18951907
    Franklin W. Mondell Republican Wyoming 19071911
    Joseph T. Robinson DemocraticArkansas19111912
    Scott Ferris Democratic Oklahoma 19121919
    Nicholas J. Sinnott Republican Oregon 19191928
    Don B. Colton Republican Utah 19281931
    John M. Evans Democratic Montana 19311933
    René L. De Rouen DemocraticLouisiana19331940
    James W. Robinson DemocraticUtah19401943
    J. Hardin Peterson Democratic Florida 19431947
    Richard J. Welch Republican California 19471949
    Andrew L. Somers DemocraticNew York1949
    J. Hardin Peterson DemocraticFlorida19491951
    Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
    John R. Murdock Democratic Arizona 19511953
    Arthur L. Miller Republican Nebraska 19531955
    Clair Engle DemocraticCalifornia19551959
    Wayne N. Aspinall Democratic Colorado 19591973
    James A. Haley DemocraticFlorida19731977
    Mo Udall DemocraticArizona19771991
    Committee on Natural Resources
    George Miller DemocraticCalifornia19911995
    Committee on Resources
    Don Young Republican Alaska 19952001
    James Hansen RepublicanUtah20012003
    Richard Pombo RepublicanCalifornia20032007
    Committee on Natural Resources
    Nick Rahall Democratic West Virginia 20072011
    Doc Hastings Republican Washington 20112015
    Rob Bishop RepublicanUtah20152019
    Raúl Grijalva Democratic Arizona 20192023
    Bruce Westerman Republican Arkansas 2023present


    Historical membership rosters

    118th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 14 (Chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 79 (D), H.Res. 80 (R), H.Res. 164 (D)

    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChair [11] Ranking Member [a]
    Energy and Mineral Resources Pete Stauber (R-MN) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
    Federal Lands Tom Tiffany (R-WI) Joe Neguse (D-CO)
    Indian and Insular Affairs Harriet Hageman (R-WY) Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
    Oversight and Investigations Paul Gosar (R-AZ) Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)
    Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Cliff Bentz (R-OR) Jared Huffman (D-CA)

    117th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 9 (Chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R), H.Res. 92 (D), H.Res. 111 (D), H.Res. 475 (D), H.Res. 789 (Removing Gosar), H.Res. 1197 (R), H.Res. 1347 (D)

    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChair [13] Ranking Member [14]
    Energy and Mineral Resources Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) Pete Stauber (R-MN)
    Indigenous Peoples of the United States Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) Don Young (R-AK)
    National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Joe Neguse (D-CO) Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
    Oversight and Investigations Katie Porter (D-CA) Blake Moore (R-UT)
    Water, Oceans and Wildlife Jared Huffman (D-CA) Cliff Bentz (R-OR)

    116th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Sources: H.Res. 24 (Chair), H.Res. 25 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 73 (D), H.Res. 74 (R), H.Res. 125 (D), H.Res. 148 (D), H.Res. 793 (D), H.Res. 1072 (R), H.Res. 1135 (D)

    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Energy and Mineral Resources Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
    Indigenous Peoples of the United States Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) Paul Cook (R-CA)
    National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Deb Haaland (D-NM) Don Young (R-AK)
    Oversight and Investigations TJ Cox (D-CA) Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
    Water, Oceans and Wildlife Jared Huffman (D-CA) Tom McClintock (R-CA)

    115th Congress

    Majority [15] Minority [16]

    See also

    Notes

    1. @RachelFrazin (January 31, 2023). "AOC joins the House Natural Resources Committee, and becomes its top Democrat on the Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    2. Van Drew left the Democratic Party on December 19, 2019, to join Republicans.

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    References

    1. "Incoming chairman pledges new agenda for House environment panel". Associated Press/Lodi News Record. December 8, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
    2. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives - 404". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
    3. McCarthy, Kevin (3 January 2017). "Text - H.Res.5 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Adopting rules for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress". congress.gov. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
    4. 1 2 "Westerman Announces Subcommittee Chairs". House Committee on Natural Resources. January 9, 2025.
    5. https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-huffman-welcomes-new-slate-of-house-natural-resources-committee-democrats-announces-top-positions
    6. "Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources" (PDF). Committee on Natural Resources Committee (PDF). January 23, 2013.
    7. Bravender, Robin (January 7, 2015). "Staff shuffles abound across energy, enviro committees". Energy & Environment Daily. E&E Publishing, LLC. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
    8. Taylor, Phil (January 6, 2015). "New chairman overhauls committee staff". Energy & Environment Daily. E&E Publishing, LLC. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
    9. 1 2 Subcommittee Changes
    10. "Ranking Member Huffman Welcomes New Slate of House Natural Resources Committee Democrats, Announces Top Positions". Natural Resources Committee Democrats. January 22, 2025.
    11. "Westerman Announces Subcommittee Chairs". Committee on Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
    12. Vu, Nancy (September 14, 2022). "Alaska's new member of Congress, Mary Peltola, is now on the House Natural Resources Committee — thanks to a resignation assist from Lori Trahan". Politico . Retrieved September 18, 2022.
    13. Chair Grijalva Announces Vice Chairs, Subcommittee Chairs for 117th Congress, Looks Forward to Climate and Environmental Justice Collaboration
    14. Westerman Announces Subcommittee Ranking Members
    15. H.Res. 6, H.Res. 51
    16. H.Res. 7, H.Res. 45, H.Res. 52, H.Res. 95
    17. Appointed to committee in 2015, previously served from 2011 to 2013
    18. Sablan is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats