Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

May 17, 2013

House of Snakes: US Natural Resources Committee targets Indian lands

Ola Cassadore Davis
By Brenda Norrell
Photo: Ola Cassadore Davis spent her life defending Apache sacred lands. Photo by Sandra Rambler.
The US House's Natural Resources Committee plans extensive seizures of lands and resources to benefit private corporations and the US military.
First on the list of this US House of Snakes is a land exchange opposed by San Carlos Apaches, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013.
The Arizona Congressional delegation is pushing for the destruction of sacred land for copper mining.
"It is outrageous that members of our Arizona Congressional delegation support a land swap that benefits a foreign mega-mining giant over what's best for Arizona," said Terry Rambler, Chairman, San Carlos Apache Tribe. "Resolution Copper Mining (RCM), owned by Rio Tinto which does business with Iran, wants to blast a 7,000 foot deep, massive block-cave mine into sacred land in the Tonto National Forest. This land was set aside in 1955 by President Eisenhower for its religious, cultural, traditional, recreational and archaeological significance. 

"We, along with many tribes, and recreational and environmental organizations, have opposed this land swap and the mine for more than seven years.  Arizona cannot afford this deal. The mine would be an environmental disaster on an unprecedented scale and the job claims made by the copper company are unsubstantiated.  As Apaches, we will continue to fight to preserve this land for all Arizonans." (Read more of the statement: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coalition-opposes-new-southeast-arizona-land-exchange-and-conservation-act-of-2013-191851911.html )


Full Committee Markup on:
•H.R. 687 (Gosar), To facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources in southeast Arizona by authorizing and directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land “Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013,
•H.R. 761 (Amodei), To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of the minerals and mineral materials of strategic and critical importance to United States economic and national security and manufacturing competitiveness. “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013”
•H.R. 819 (Jones), To authorize pedestrian and motorized vehicular access in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. “Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act”
•H.R. 910 (Fleming), To reauthorize the Sikes Act. “Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2013”
•H.R. 957 (Lummis), To reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands. “American Soda Ash Competitiveness Act"
•H.R. 981 (Johnson of GA), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a global rare earth element assessment. “Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act of 2013”
•H.R. 1063 (Lamborn), To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment of the capability of the Nation to meet our current and future demands for the minerals critical to United States manufacturing and agricultural competitiveness and economic and national security in a time of expanding resource nationalism. “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013”
•H.R. 1080 (Bordallo), To amend the Sikes Act to promote the use of cooperative agreements under such Act for land management related to Department of Defense readiness activities and to amend title 10, United States Code, to facilitate interagency cooperation in conservation programs to avoid or reduce adverse impacts on military readiness activities.
•H.R. 1169 (Amodei), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Secretary of the Navy certain Federal land in Churchill County, Nevada. “Naval Air Station Fallon Housing and Safety Development Act”
•H.R. 1299 (Pearce), To provide for the transfer of certain public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army for inclusion in White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. “White Sands Missile Range Security Enhancement Act”
•H.R. 1300 (Runyan), To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges.
•H.R. 1384 (Sablan), To provide for the issuance of a Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp. “Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp Act of 2013”
•H.R. 1574 (Turner), To amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to rename a site of the park.
•H.R. 1613 (Duncan of SC), To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to provide for the proper Federal management and oversight of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs. “Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act”
•H.R. 1672 (Daines), To withdraw and reserve certain public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management for exclusive military use as part of the Limestone Hills Training Area, Montana. “Limestone Hills Training Area Withdrawal Act”
•H.R. 1673 (McCarthy), To provide for the transfer of certain public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy for inclusion in Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California.
•H.R. 1676 (Cook), To designate the Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in San Bernardino County, California, to authorize limited military use of the area, to provide for the transfer of the Southern Study Area to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy for inclusion in the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, and by recreational users. “Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Establishment Act”
•H.R. 1691 (Vargas), To provide for the transfer of certain public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy for inclusion in the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, California. Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range Transfer Act of 2013”
Committee Action:
The Committee on Natural Resources met in open session on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, to consider the following bills:
H.R. 687 (Gosar), To facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources in southeast Arizona by authorizing and directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land. “Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013”
The Subcommittees on Energy and Mineral Resources and Public Lands and Environmental Regulation were discharged from further consideration of H.R. 687 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Gosar #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. DeFazio.001 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 16 yeas and 24 nays.
•An amendment by Ms. Napolitano.002 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 18 yeas and 23 nays.
•An amendment by Mr. Grijalva.036 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 18 yeas and 22 nays.
•An amendment by Mr. Grijalva.037 was NOT AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Grijalva.040 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 17 yeas and 23 nays.
•An amendment by Mr. Cardenas.003 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 18 yeas and 22 nays.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by vote of 23 yeas and 19 nays.
H.R. 761 (Amodei), To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of the minerals and mineral materials of strategic and critical importance to United States economic and national security and manufacturing competitiveness. “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013”
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 761 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Amodei #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Holt.001 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 16 yeas and 18 nays.
•An amendment by Mr. Holt.002 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 18 yeas and 23 nays.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by vote of 24 yeas and 17 nays.
H.R. 819 (Jones), To authorize pedestrian and motorized vehicular access in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. “Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act”
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 819 by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by vote of 24 yeas and 17 nays.
H.R. 910 (Fleming), To reauthorize the Sikes Act. “Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2013”
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 910 by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
H.R. 957 (Lummis), To reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands. “American Soda Ash Competitiveness Act”
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 957 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Ms. Shea-Porter.001 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 16 yeas and 26 nays.
•An amendment by Mr. Lowenthal.002 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 17 yeas and 25 nays.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by vote of 28 yeas and 13 nays.
H.R. 981 (Johnson of GA), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a global rare earth element assessment. “Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act of 2013”
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 981 by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1063 (Lamborn), To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment of the capability of the Nation to meet our current and future demands for the minerals critical to United States manufacturing and agricultural competitiveness and economic and national security in a time of expanding resource nationalism. “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013”
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1063 by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1080 (Bordallo), To amend the Sikes Act to promote the use of cooperative agreements under such Act for land management related to Department of Defense readiness activities and to amend title 10, United States Code, to facilitate interagency cooperation in conservation programs to avoid or reduce adverse impacts on military readiness activities.
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1080 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Fleming.003 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Fleming.004 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Fleming.005 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Fleming.007 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.
H.R. 1169 (Amodei), To direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Secretary of the Navy certain Federal land in Churchill County, Nevada. “Naval Air Station Fallon Housing and Safety Development Act”
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1169 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Bishop of Utah #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1299 (Pearce), To provide for the transfer of certain public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army for inclusion in White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. “White Sands Missile Range Security Enhancement Act”
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1299 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Bishop of Utah #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment in the Nature of a Substitute by Mr. Grijalva was offered and withdrawn.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.
H.R. 1300 (Runyun), To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges.
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1300 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Fleming.001 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1384 (Sablan), To provide for the issuance of a Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp. “Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp Act of 2013”
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1384 by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1574 (Turner), To amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to rename a site of the park.
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1574 by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1613 (Duncan of SC), To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to provide for the proper Federal management and oversight of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs. “Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act”
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1613 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Lamborn #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Holt.003 (offered by Mr. Grijalva) was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 18 yeas and 23 nays.
•An amendment by Mr. Grijalva.001 was NOT AGREED TO by roll call vote of 18 yeas and 23 nays.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by vote of 25 yeas and 16 nays.
H.R. 1672 (Daines), To withdraw and reserve certain public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management for exclusive military use as part of the Limestone Hills Training Area, Montana. “Limestone Hills Training Area Withdrawal Act”
The Subcommittees on Energy and Mineral Resources and Public Lands and Environmental Regulation were discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1672 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Bishop of Utah #1 was AGREED TO by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.
H.R. 1673 (McCarthy), To provide for the transfer of certain public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy for inclusion in Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California.
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1673 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Bishop of Utah #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment in the Nature of a Substitute by Mr. Grijalva was NOT AGREED TO by voice vote.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.
H.R. 1676 (Cook), To designate the Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in San Bernardino County, California, to authorize limited military use of the area, to provide for the transfer of the Southern Study Area to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy for inclusion in the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, and by recreational users. “Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Establishment Act”
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1676 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Bishop of Utah #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
•An amendment by Mr. Grijalva.001 was NOT AGREED TO by voice vote.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.
H.R. 1691 (Vargas), To provide for the transfer of certain public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy for inclusion in the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, California. “Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range Transfer Act of 2013”
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1691 by unanimous consent.
•An amendment by Mr. Bishop of Utah #1 was agreed to by unanimous consent.
Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by unanimous consent.
Related Documents:
•Full Committee Markup Notice - May 10, 2013
•Press Release - Natural Resources Committee Approves Three Bills to Help Develop Rare Earth and Critical Materials in U.S. (May 15, 2013)
•Press Release - House Committee Approves Legislation to Approve Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement with Mexico (May 15, 2013)
•Full Committee Markup Action Summary - May 15, 2013
http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=333473

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