Almost 15 years ago, the Forest Service began the process of reviewing the management of the last remaining, undeveloped forests, the so-called roadless areas. In 2001, the Bush administration, yes, the George W. Bush administration…

I thank the gentleman for giving me a chance to clarify further the point raised by the chairman that this does not eviscerate environmental protections. I talked about section 102, and the chairman came back and said, well, section 101…

I thank the gentleman. I just wanted to address the point raised by the committee chair. Where in the bill, he asks, are there exemptions from environmental review? Well, section 102 is where they are, right at the front of this bill, page…

I thank my friend, the ranking member. Madam Chair, today we're considering the so-called National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012. Now, despite the bill's title, it has almost nothing to do with national strategic…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Alaska will be postponed. Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Cravaack The Acting CHAIR. It is…

Of course we want this country to have the minerals that it's dependent on; but need I repeat again that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management say that current policy does not prevent mineral developers from accessing the…

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey who is so expert in these matters. Matt from West Windsor wrote me: I graduated from college this past May and am currently working at a job with new health insurance. I have a preexisting condition…

The resolution before us today is an illegitimate, politically motivated smear campaign. Never in the history of the House has a U.S. Attorney General been held in contempt. What makes this resolution particularly outrageous is that there…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Add at the end the following: TITLE __--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SEC. __1. ELIGIBILITY FOR NEW LEASES AND…

Much of this bill deals with new giveaways to Big Oil. The issue that I'm raising right now is to deal with a continuing longstanding giveaway. The Big Five oil companies made a record profit of $137 billion last year; and in the first…

I thank the Chair. Mr. Chair, this amendment breaks no contracts. We are here because the Congress, well over a decade ago when prices were less than $20 a barrel, decided this giveaway made sense. If it made sense then, it certainly does…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey will be postponed. Amendment No. 19 Offered by Mr. Wittman The Acting CHAIR. It…