NE Wyoming News

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Harriet Hageman's sponsored bills, H.R. 1246 and H.R. 5482, have been approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources. These bills, which aim to address government overreach and tackle energy poverty, will now proceed to a vote in the House of Representatives.

H.R. 1246 seeks to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian tribes. This legislation aims to streamline the lease extension process, which currently can take decades to complete. Congresswoman Hageman emphasizes the importance of economic development opportunities for tribes, stating, "To have true economic development opportunities, tribes must have the ability to offer businesses the certainty of long-term leases."

The second bill, H.R. 5482, titled the "Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act of 2023," addresses the issue of energy poverty caused by the Biden administration's policies. Congresswoman Hageman highlights the impact of these policies on low-income and minority populations, stating, "Energy poverty hits low-income and minority populations especially hard." H.R. 5482 aims to force the administration to be transparent and provide data reflecting the impact of energy poverty, exposing the harm caused by these policies.

Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), commends Congresswoman Hageman for her dedication to her constituents and her work on these bills. He states, "Representative Hageman has been a champion for her local constituents, working tirelessly in Committee this Congress." He recognizes the significance of H.R. 1246 in allowing tribes to boost economic development through commercial and financial leases. Additionally, he highlights the importance of H.R. 5482 in studying the connection between burdensome regulations and energy poverty, benefiting not just Wyoming but Americans across the country.

The approval of these bills by the House Committee on Natural Resources marks a significant step towards addressing government overreach and tackling energy poverty. The full House of Representatives will now have the opportunity to vote on these bills, and their passage into law would provide much-needed support to federally recognized tribes and combat the detrimental effects of energy poverty.