Transcripts For CSPAN2 Interior 20240703

Length is of the Television Providers giving affront receipt to democracy. Interior secretary deb haaland testifies on President Bidens 2025 budget request before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee. Witnesses feel questions on oil and Gas Production on federal land and the Land Management its about two hours. Amino come to order. This morning they will can express fiscal year 2012 at 201t for the department of interior. I like to welcome the secretary holland asked acting deputy davis and denise a flanagan back to the committee. I want to thank you all three forr joining us today. To set the scene demonstrations request 18 billion the interior department for the fiscal year 2025. 9 30 35 million or 5 increase over fiscal year 2024 i think it is important to note for contacts congress has provided the department was 50 billion in additional annual appropriations in the last three years to the bipartisan infrastructure law and inflation reduction act. I look forward to discussing how the other departments in promoting those lawsuits in this historic funding in addition to hearing the justification for the increase for fiscalis year 24 enacted levels. It is money or to the days and she will ask before the committee for the physically or 2024 budget hearing. There been some highs from renewing the compacts of the Free Association which would finally accomplish as part of the consolidated appropriations act passedd in march. Two achieving record level Energy Production. Most of supported of efforts by interior to work collaboratively to distribute billions of dollars of federal funds abandoned mine lands program. Power our nation. Funding to remove orphan infrastructure and reclaim abandoned plans to make these committees better and safer places to live, so vital i look forward to continue working with you to ensure there are no obstacles to distributing these funds going forward. Federal and state programs but the Great American door in our National Parks, force wildlife refugees and other public lands to provide important hunting, fishing, Outdoor Recreation opportunities to the nation. I also know your budget includes address of 1. 6 billion in and funding for deferred maintenance projects the National Parks service with non. 5 billion and fighting over the five years of the program i look forward to getting a better understanding of progress made in reducing the maintenance backlog in the Department Plans for removing after the funding expires at the end of this year. With that there had forcefully been to many lives as well with interior department broader administration picking favorites when it comes energy. Then too many instances the u. S. Investment has been discouraged. Getting this administration to celebrate abundant resources have been blessedor with, whethr that be oil, gas, coal or minerals we can produce cleaner and safer than anywhere else in the world. That week, and our friends around the world we rely on should be an easy lift. Thewh radical climate and firesn the white house electionyear politics ahead of the thoughtful and achievable longterm strategy for the country. Thinking back to your go secretary holland were waiting for the overdue offshore oil and gas fiveyear plan. Which has sinceti been finalized is only three potential sales over five years. And as far as we been able to tell the department suing the work to take place. Meanwhile this administration with venezuela to avoid actions. To keep the prices down. Its ridiculous to allow iran to evade sanctions use the oil profits to fund its terrorist proxies this poultry lease schedule is not just better for oil and Gas Production its bad for wind as well. Recently announced a five year offshore when leasing scheduled 12 potential sales through 2028. Let me remind you all the reduction act only allows and i repeat, only allos interior to ensure offshore wind leases of its held a substantial oil and gas lease sale in the prior year. Even if the three oil and gas lease sales this new oil and gas plant point Forward Movement years of gaps between note wind leases could be issued. Make any sense at all per despite the ira itrequirements to hold off a sht lease sells the departments tried to undermine the law every turn first to department at the seby. Then entered into and sue and celebrate with the Environmental Groups. The last possible minute removed highly restricted requirements in the gulf of mexico. Not only did these decisions make less Energy Secure, which of course noted in the internal memos on the alaska lease sale. They also do to help reduce omissions or overall demand for these types of energy. According to Energy Information projection used by the interior interior department the unites hits were made a net exporter for products through 2050. Globale demand when it comes to federal waters departments own environmental analysis show is a bit less global admissions but hold it more offshore gas and lease sales her in the u. S. But withla some the strict standards in the world. Energy produced in america, it displaces dirtier production elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately the story around onshore or critical mineral supply chain is no better. For example in the past few weeks interior Department Also announced the final Environmental Impact the road in alaska. The road necessary for producing Critical Minerals in the United States. Alsoth congress and directed interior department a bipartisan infrastructure law to provide congress with a report on improving and expediting the permitting of her domestic critical mineral supply chain. The report we received it was many, many months late failed to meet the requirements set by congress and barely contained any concrete recommendations and i take my word for its own Inspector General recently found that apartment failed to make congress direction instructed interior to provide the additional legally required information. So, i look forward to hearing the progress and how interior is deploying as existing resources. Correct tools to help tackle the significant issues that we is the administration would defer to continue to rely on critical mineral supply chains then allow for the Domestic Production of y the Critical Minerals needed r theme vehicles for the batterie, but salaries in the list goes on and on. At the end of the day Global Demand for oil and gas and minerals will continue to grow. We probably will not like who fills the void in our absence. That is why thats really what were in for by continuing to give into the far left is not in my backyard as we have heard for years and years. Secretary holland comes to programs that are so critical i must say for the last few years the same conversation over and over again. I am tired i know you are too. I know other members are tired of asking again and again when will we all see progress on action required by the law and being told soon or are we working on it . Even worse and tired of hearing i will get back to you and that we just received a few short weeks ago your responses to the question for the record from last years budget here. So much of what thes department of interior did and what we expected. Im hoping we could have a productive discussion today. And actually get some detailed answers. I will recognize my friend for his opening remarks by. Thank you so much mr. Chairman i grew so much of what you just said their new remarks about the secretary and her appearance today in the unresponsiveness and illegality of the actions of this department. Imu really abusing the way the department ought to be felling the law thank you for your strong statement. Thank you for holding todays hearings and have the secretary here at the department of interior has a profound on the home state of wyoming. This isfo almost half of the lad in wyoming isu owned by the federal governments. Nearly 70 of that minerals under that plan is owned by the federal government and the secretarys decisions affect their livelihoods and the quality of Public Education and our state. Thats why find secretary hollands record so troubling. Yesterday, it just yesterday during a congressional hearing and the house of representatives, wyomingng represented harriet asked the secretary if she had quotes had heard of the rock springs Resource Management plan. The secretary testified, no. The people of wyoming know what itan is. This departments disastrous proposal public lands in southwest wyoming. Would suit severely restrict development restrict raising ad recreation activities on those lands. It would affect nearly a quarter of the statesd population. These are the economic lifeblood of economic local communities where they supplied jobs. They provide tax dollars. They keep hospitals they plan our Public Schools but thousands of people in wyoming have written to the department opposing this fiasco. The secretary testified yesterday she never heard of it. The governor, the state legislator, county commissioner, local communities all strongly opposed this plant coming out of this department of interior. It is deeply troubling that secretary holland, as of yesterday, was not even aware of one of her departments major actions affecting my state. Take for example refusal to follow the mineral leasing act. The act requires the secretary to hold quarterly lease sales in each state with oil and gas resources. One lease sale in each state with oil and gas every three months. Yet, during the three quarters of secretary holland the first 10 quarters of secretary holland tenure she held only two lease sales. Since then the department has had three more. The secretary has made no effort whatsoever to reinstate the eight missing police sales. We are starting to see the damage in store for us. From 2,012,0212022, 2020 undersecretary holland released releasean average of 83000 acrer year 2. 3 million to 83 million is a 93 drop in the amount of acreage leased. 2020 department an average of 2000 leases a year. Last two years 132. 93 drop in the number of leases this year. Lets compare President Biden to president obama. 93 drop in acreage leased. Lease services between obama and biden. Obama and biden. This is a horrible record mr. Sherman undermining the economy of the United States. What is it all mean . First it means today oil and Gas Production is nothing to do with the President Biden. Oil production on federal lands its happening today has nothing to do with biden its headed for a fall it means that secretary hollands decisions people in the west are going to suffer in the years to come. Not limited to her failure to follow the mineral leasing act. Failed to follow a host of other laws three decision that made a mockery of congress and the law. Public land, land rule. This rule turns multiple use mandate federal Land Management turned it on its head. It equates the non use of land with productive use of the land. Allow activists to stop gracing stop energy and mineral production, to stop Timber Harvesting from the very lands are congress directed these to take place. One day later secretary prohibited all natural Gas Production on the National Petroleum in alaska. Congress has established with the express purpose of producing oil for that is why its called the National Petroleum reserve in alaska. Right there in the name paid this area central to longterm security the secretary is a locking up half of it. Secretary announced plans to block access to the mining district. Stay tuned native lands in alaska. Rich source of copper as you ttalk to cobalt, zinc, other laminerals. Yet this secretary isnt what she wants in spite of the law. She does what she wants in spite of the fact President Biden is driving up demand for these very same minerals. Mr. Chairman the American People deserve much better than what werewh getting from the secretah this administration but they deserve leaders who uphold and honor the laws enacted by congress. Not take every opportunity to subvert them. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator. Gone with your statement. Ranking member brought soap members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of interior year 25 budget requests. I appreciate all the support this committee at your staff have consistently shown the department off interior. Every trip informs my understanding of the issues important to the American People paid thehe impact of that work e do and have them budget can support those interests. Art 2025 budget totals 18 billion in current authority. First i want to highlight several important proposals. Permanent pate legislation reforms for fire workforce mandatory funding for future indian water rights settlement reclassifying support costs in leasing payments from discretionary to mandatory funding starting in 2026. This administration has made a steadfast commission we do so thanks to significant investments from congress which are helping address the deficiencies that decades of underfunding have created. Im grateful on a bipartisan basis to champion tribal s priorities. Total request of 4. 6 billion for Indian Affairs program this budget will address complex and difficult challenges missing and murdered indigenous people. Impact of federal Indian Boarding School policies and native language revitalization print Public Safety continues to bebe a top party for tribal leaders across the country. Budget includes 650 million to support critical Public Safety needs across all of indian country. 1. 5 billion for Indian Education programs strong investments as funding is critical for the next generation of indigenous americans to leave their community. Having across the country. Want to thank congress for supplementing for another year for 2025 permanent pay increases for federal and wildland firefighter stewardship of the Natural Resource the core mission for us. 20 of americas lands and is responsible for protection and recovery 2300 endangered and threatened species. Our request for conservation efforts for key initiatives Wildlife Corridors implementing the nation strategy. I am proud of the proposal of 8 million for mandatory funded tribal Land Acquisition program top priority of tribes is part of her implementation of the land and Water Conservation fund program. This proposal honors theat roles stewards of the land to ensure healthy land for future generations. 2025 budget invest to continue the progress we have made in deploying and creating thousands of good paying jobs. The demand for Renewable Energy has never been greater and interior is leading the way to clean energy future. A request includes 2. 7 billion to Fund Operation and maintenance. 65000 public roads. In addition funding available in 2025 through the Great American outdoor legacy act Legacy Restoration fund. Were executing third and 26 funded projects 83 additional projects requested for 2025. We cannot address our major maintenancee needs through an annual appropriations alone. The fortune reauthorized that te Legacy Restoration fund. Over all the president s budget request for interior invest in programs to strengthen our nation for all americans. This great work would not be possible without the dedication of career Public Servants at veinterior but i look forward to your continued to Work Together on these important issues. Thank you for your partnership and support for the important work of acting deputy secretary Laura Daniel Davis are pleased to answer any questions you have about the budget. Think it will start the questioning. As a very important meeting to go too. Thank you very much matt imu sure its good to see madam secretary. Overhear which of the house and senate for a couple of issues are particularly important in the west and i think you are all aware were going to get into these briefly this morning. A lot of folks in the west d. C. Might as well be mars for the connection. But we are trying to do is shorten the distance. Your folks have been constructed with us on two very important one is crater lake what is hawaii but with respect to crater lake in december i learned a very alarming issue with the private concessionaire at Crater Lake National park but it was clear nps staff working tirelessly to prevent the contractors from damaging irreplaceable park resources iwrote to the National Park service outlining in a very lengthy letter about all of these issues asking for a swift effort on the part of the department to address the problem. I want to start by thanking you for the departments immediate esaction set an example for a ld speed record for responding to an important issue in the west. Ultimately results in the transfer the contract to a new concessionaire. As i say getting this done in a matter of months essentially at the end of the year is something much appreciate i understand you have safeguards in place to prevent theco issue from reoccurring. My first question i only have to put you confident visitors to Crater Lake National park in te park itself are now being better served by the concessionaire . Senator, thank you soti much for the very kind comments. Nps as you know works closely with concessionaires to make sure they are providing the appropriate services to the public. We know visitation has exploded over the last several years we are working hard to meet those demands. Im very rare circumstances concessionaires do not meet the terms of their obligations. Nps take immediate action to remedy that. I appreciate the opportunity to help you get the solution to the issue. I thank you for it. Your last comment is particularly relevant. Working with the department your folks have indicated we can continue to do allows you to have a preventive effort which ensures we dont get in the situation again. My other question involves a walkie county. Much of the rural landscape managed by blm supports local economy. In Outdoor Recreation. Management of these lands local ranchers at theirr request. A few years ago they all came in. They basically said if you takee this on i smiled at them from going crazy enough to jump into the middle of the battle. I said we just got to get it done. The ranchers deserve an enormous amount of credit for working with the tribes and the stakeholders and the empowerment for the a walkie act. It makes it clear you can champion with environmental policy provides new management direction tools to meet tribal needs. Empress livestock, flexibility for livestock grazing which is absolutely important for land help as we all know as a westerners nothing brings these discussions to a close faster than having everybody go in the battle overgrazing. We have brought people together on this issue. The consultation with all of you has been very, very helpful. So my question is, madam secretary do you perceive any problem with interiors ability to implement the legislation at past customer especially blm having recently finalized is southeast oregon Resource Management plan for the area . We believe we have ducks in a row and are in good shape. Will be very glad to have your comments with respect to this on the record as well for. Thank yous editor. Of course we appreciate the work youve done on this legislation d and support as it aligns with the administration conservation goals. Thank you so much for all of that. We do not foresee any issues. I can assure you it blm will follow the law as an active and with other applicable authorities for. My time is up. I just want to thank you for this effort. Back east people called all walkie organs version of the grand canyon. We call it home. These local ranchers and tribes and stakeholders really are pretty amazed. I think this been a lot of goodwill between the department and our team thats working on it and look for to continuing that. Thank you. For a quick thank you, mr. Chairman for. Thank you, senator. Thanks mr. Chairman secretary holland, 2023 United States produced a record amount of crude oil and natural gas but set a good thing or bad thing . Senator, i believe President Biden. Good thing or baded thing tht we produced a Record Number and amount of crude oil and natural gas . I agree they have a record amount of production on federal land but. Not aunt fedor is it a good thing or bad thing . Just a simple question. I think Energy Independence for our country is a good thing for. Grants to east coast decorative energy told the Committee Good things you agree with her . I think Energy Production on our public lands isgo at an alltime high. We are grateful we have been able to produce energy. Specifically also our work on clean energy progressive does not seemed like youre helping so much because of what we talked about in my opening statement. Rock springs Resource Management Management Plan went among other things you proposed prohibit oil and natural Gas Exploration on more than 2 million acres. It would ban production on over 2 million acres. It severely restricts all surface uses governor, congressional delegation state legislature, county commissioners local communities all strongly oppose this plant by the department. Ie just want to know how can Te Department be a good partner to wyoming if it up ignores the opposition by this plan. Thank you for the question, senator. Be i do also appreciate your opening statement. This project has been referred to as sweetwater. That is what ive been calling it. We appreciate your governor put together a constructive task force. We are taking those recommendations as well as healthy Public Comments we get married seriously as we always do. We expect the task force as well as the many people took the time to weigh in on the draft plan will see their comments reflected in the final plan that best balances is i have always promise to manage our public lands that many important uses in the rock springs or sweetwater area such as a grazing, recreation and wildlife migration. This proposed plan is a steak at the heart of the wyoming economy. That apartment is to listen more to the people of wyoming i would appreciate all your efforts in that area. I want to go the bureau of Land Management another roll call the public lands rule. That is going to turn and decades of multiple use a mandate on its head. Are for a lot of these things but that rule is in spirit is going to allow third parties to lease a public lands to block the productive use of the land. We are not talk about National Parks for not talking wildlife refugees were not talkingng wilderness. These arent lands congress has specifically made available for grazing as you mentioned. For energy, for mineral production for recreation. Three big parts of the wyoming economy agriculture, enemy, tourism. I dont how non use of land qualifies as the productive use of land could you explain that to me . Thank you very much senator. Since i have been in this committee during my confirmation hearings, i have promised to manage our public lands in a balance that is what this rule seeks to do. It makes conservation on par with the blm other uses on multi use mandate, recreation and grazing consistent with blm multiple use and sustained it their help and function for years to come. With an obligation to future generations for public land. The public lands rule be happy all the land went away a people rented it all and put it all up nonuse. What you are saying is not at all true in terms with the intent of the law is to allow multiple use for productive use of the land. One other area of the bureau of Land Management has yet to issue leases to the winning bidders of december 2020 onshore oil and gas leases. These are paid for 7 million went to the treasury for the government took the money. The law said the leases must be issued in 60 days. Who paid for that leases back three years ago . Thank you, senator. I want to assure you it blm is following the law. Or holding a regular on shortlease sale for. That is not the question bright leases have sales money has been paid, 7 million taken in. Youre supposed to put out the lease in 60 days but they handed you the wrong paper to read the wrong answer. You had three and half years to issue the leases. Will you commit to issue them in the next 30 days . Thank you, senator. Since i back to my office i will double check on these issues make sure we give you status make it back to her office for. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator purge a follow up on that is there a penalty in the law or that rule that basically if you dont basically allow it leases to len in a timely fashion and eat inne retribution to that department . Im aware thats her problem. Secretary holland i alluded in my statements 35 million or 5 increase over last years. Years. I also see your proposedt expects enter seven or Million Dollars less in bonuses rents and royalties. You will have chosen to have less lease sales and discourage production on the waters. Its kind of hard to justify to the taxpayers why we should be using tax dollars to increase the budget for the department of interior. When you have the ability to collect this and be selfsustaining. Th we reduced by 700 million. Id like to hear your concerns about that. The fiscal year 2024 estimate was recently increased 3. 3 billion upward revenue trends 2025 and 2024 lower prices assumptions and lower offshore bonus amount for 2025 pick what you agreed will be less coming in . The seven or Million Dollars you agree is less revenue coming in because of the reduction question what i think your sink reduction of the prices. Or just the leases we would have in the money received from the leases for. The estimates reflect a point in time. It can change this is on assumptions and events for instance the price of oil affects royalties Companies Pay that could actually fluctuate progress you have to agree having less sales less lease sales is going to affect that greatly. We have to acknowledge that. It is just common sense. In the Infrastructure Investment of the sensory deadline Carbon Capture storage regulations by november 22. November 22 we are two years down the road. He missed the deadline continue to delay each yearr for it all the signs tells we cannot meet our climate goals given decarbonization we made a top priority not every piece of legislation is not even been published yet. So when you think about you will publish a proposal for comment since we are two years behind already . Chairman, thank you for the question. As you can imagine creating a new Regulatory Program for new applied technology its very technical its very complex. We want to make sure we are doing a good job. We are consulting with the industry with other Government Agencies and countries to ensure efficient and comprehensive progress we do not have an actual estimated time for this to be completed. I want to assure you we are working out of her. How much has a threeyear delay that has been left un sequestered . How much is out there we are not sequestering question. . So i cannot answer that at the moment. Wed be happy to give a status update on where we are with this. No. Only make it very clear. The people who are producing record amount today makes us more Energy Secure than ever before. We produce 30 trillion feet of gas. 4. 7 billion barrels of oil last year. We produce 14 billion cubic feet of lng. More solar and Battery Storage than ever before. Its an Energy Process we have. I am just trying to make the rational evaluation we are all understanding there is a transition coming. We have to be part of that transition gasst and oil in allf this but we have to cleaner and better and we cant if the administrations biting us thats an oxymoron said we cant do that. We cannot get class permits we have one or 28 vending. Yet were willing to go ahead and start collecting fines on companies that are Still Producing co2 they cannot get a permit. It just does not make any sense whatsoever. We are fighting our own selves of energy security. We are not going to build a switch for the public. Theres no way we can switch before we have something that will do exactly what dispatch will fossils doing 24 7 production of energy. Alice are depending on it. And now turning a blind eye to the ghost ships we produce it in the gulf cleaner than anyone. We are displaced by producing more its good for the environment. But we are having a hard time. And finally last month blm published a final rule and mitigation leases to third party. Allows blm to waive fair market value of the lease other priorities blm grazing, mining non renewable and renewable all thoppose the proposed rule. How much public land you expect to restrict under the stew rule . Senator, i cannot tell you the specific amount of acreage. I can tell you at fair market value it will apply to the restoratione leases that we are moving forward for. We would like to have an answer. How much you think thats going to restrict how much public land you expect you will lease without charging fair market value which haswe been historicl with blm. And consult with your progress without senator hoeven . So glad sir for. Mr. Chairman. I just want to start by thanking you for your comments and your common sense because it is right on. Right on. And so i really appreciate those comments. It is not only a national imperative for our economy and good jobs and all of those things. It is a National Security issue. Its a Strategic Global issue now. And along those lines i want to ask you as a secretary theres a resource and Management Plan youre putting in place on north dakota blm lands. In north dakota you have called split estate. Split estate. It is acr checkerboard. You are familiar with this and i appreciate it. I appreciate where you work with us on this i want to thank you for that. But, the rules youre putting out are very problematic because in many cases blm the federal government were on the surface acres but they do not own the mineral acres. So, under your source Management Plan 95 of the acres are taken out of production because of the checkerboard. Those are private individuals or the state that owns the minerals most are private individuals since you on the surface acres dont allow you are disenfranchising those individuals. Imagine if you own those minerals you could lease them and be paid for them but now the federal government wont let you. You on the surface acres. You are blocking them for thats 95 of the acres on those lands access to federal coal blocked. And now 45 oil and gas. So your Resource Plan is disenfranchising all the people do you think thats fair question if you think thats reasonable for the federal government to do that to private individuals . Senator, with respect to the question. I appreciate that and wondered if you would not mind about past that question. Sure we going to do about it . Its unfairly disenfranchising its own citizens and that is not fair. Thank you very much for the question i have appreciated the many conversations we have had on this and other issues. With regard to that Resource Management plan im going to admit im not composed steeped in the details but i understand exactly what you are saying. Blms are responsible for books as you work with this on this to address it . This is fundamental fairness. I would really appreciate if you take the lead and work with us are greatly appreciated her. Thank you would be happy too. Just to add to that the largest projects in the world now. 50 of co2 goes for eor. 35 is now coming online is for geologic storage. This is a great example. They are out there in the area that i am talking about. If you cut off their coal supply heres a huge Carbon Capture project. Heres how were going to provide a baseload electricity now for the grid as well as natural gas but project hundred Doe Department off energy awardd 350 million to do the same thing with their coal fire electric plant. They need access to mineral acres owned by individuals. Theyre not even your acres. And so we have got to address this for the second thing i want to bring up us with the chairman was talking about. The Conservation Lease Program under the federal law. The federal Land Management act requiresou multiple use on fedel lands. Once you put the easements and n place on millions and millions wont be at the boat use. The land in question that blm land will still be used theyll be multipurpose still the existing leases for multiuse purpose. Multiple use in contravention of the law point to try to assure clarification probably tied to a project proponent in the case of restoration of specific objective. The work thats meant to be done. As to those lands they no longer will be multiple use. I think i dont expect they would be limiting in terms of recreation. I expect in the case of leases. Dont be taken out of multiple use and certainly not for all time. This is one will end up litigating clearly based on the law. Think it mr. Chair. Thank you chairman secretary, and 2022 Congress Finally passed the stop act. I know you are very familiar with this law. But for my colleagues it made it illegal to export stolen tribal and sell it overseas. That law authorize 3 million for the interior department to coordinate with states, with the department of Homeland Security with the department of justice to put a stop to these illegal exports of stolen cultural items. Budget requests include 0 to implement that law. Why on earth is there no funding in this budget first doc act implementation . Thank you senator. The 2025 budget advance implementation of the revised rule in the stop act 7 million to implement the rule. 4 million year old support the National Park service and repatriation of remains and collection for. Is very important work at the National Park service. It just not substitute for the coordination with d. O. J. And dhs. I think this should be a higher priority for the department and for the administration. Senator i could just say we look forward to working with you to moveno that forward and appreciate your support of Indian Tribes. I want to move on to the north american Wetland Conservation act. In my view it as a single most successful Public Private partnership. It has historically been funded i think last year at 49 million. In this and budget it receives a 16 milliondollar cut from 49 down to 33. Why is this singled out for such a large cut in the budget questioned. Thank you for the question, senator. Of course our budget includes some toughis choices. It would be great if we had unlimited amounts to put towards these important efforts. We took reductions in several very good in important grants and payment programs like this conservation acts are. Act revokes the 5 increase over all this a program which is wildly successful has a 33 cut. I would just say it reflects top priority to ongoing provides to the public as well as reflecting the program received mandatory and annual funding each year. 22 million in fiscal year 2025. Lets move on to the Great American outdoors act. Im proud to join my colleagues on this one to fund the land and conservation fund. Five years of extra funding to the deferred maintenance backlog. I think it is important to get the infrastructure funding to work as quickly as possible. What percentage of funds from the early years of the Great American outdoors to be fiscal year 21, fiscal year 22 are actually under contract at this point . Fiscal year 2021 if it is okay that the budget person to put all these issues together provokes you and to address that question or quickstart be happy to that physically or 21 projects are 82 obligated. If i did the breakup for the fish and Wildlife Service is 95 obligated. The National Park servicebe is obligated of course they have the vast amount of funding under them. The bureau of Land Management in fiscal year 22 department is 54 wise Indian Affairs . program they work with tribes and other organizations their multiyear projects that need to work and go through the process by. In 2020 congress appropriated funding to hvac systems for dormitory at that Navajo Academy they are still not installed. I am just wondering why the bureau is getting at the work done at such a lower rate than the other agencies . If you would not mind what i would say they do recognize when they are needed for deferred maintenance and the processes. But we dont want to do is slow down the progress to modernizers. The actions areiz underway. That you are doing for they are continuing to implement their Critical School facility and repairs. We really to focus on that. It is not an isolated situation it navajo preparatory academy. If you look at the Crystal Boarding School at the same rate as the blm the same rate as the park service i usually take my time ive got a lot to say. Its not good feelings. Right now the state of alaskas looks at whats coming out of the department of interior. They are asking of the interior every single decision get working against alaskans. As a pretty tough week and oh one day the Department Closes off 13 million acres of our petroleum reserve. The heartburn here its more than heartburn. We released a major land plan 10 full years of a lot i wrote 20 years ago to lift the plos he public Land Ordinance and alaska for they took no time at all to close off millions more acres the state of alaska for the kicker on all this, if he did all on the same day, one day we come to dread fridays in alaska that is when we see the stuff coming out of washingtonda d. C. Thats a burying alaska and our economy paid these decisions are piled on top ofth dozens of others. Ofthe cancellation the 1002 area that need capping of oil and gas program in the area you are mandated to carry out. Its a lot of history in alaska, you know much of it. Signing president carter promised the deal was off shoring 95 on short voted for that law. He voted his administration led by your department has broken itst promises to alaskans again and again and again. We have kept our side of the bar that we have been working to do that. Our environmental record is second to none will put up against anyone out there. But its effectively being held against us. Interiors decisions or punishing us for decades of responsible development. And ironically it undermines the president s own policy. Hes talking about all he wants to do to advance the renewables and ev. They all require Critical Minerals. Where are we going to get the Critical Minerals . We have opportunities in alaska and a roach of those minerals could have been hopefully one day will be the way we are accessing that. Youre setting a precedent for future administrations to ignore the law. We pass things in congress barely put the laws in place the administration does whatever they please. Is doing nothing to protect the environment because we know our projects are going to have small footprints but we put in place the strongest safeguards in the world here. You have heard it before but the headline is true by this administrationg sanctioning alaska. Sanctioning alaska while boosting foreign resources. You dont Pay Attention preoverlook the pollution, human rights abuses the regime it enables from russia and iran. And in the meantime youve got a president seems to think its enough to sustain an entire state. The administration has effectively reduced alaska to nothing more than a debit card to pay off National Environmental groups in an election year. I know that is tough. We cannot look at it any other way. There is nomo valid reason for theres no goodt excuse for interiors decision. The Department Needs to follow the law prevented to follow the law they need to consult with all alaskan natives. And frankly clean house att the blm. I want you to give. This some thought. We will have an opportunity next week at interior appropriations to ask more questions. To ask questions. But i want you to think about this. What justifies this . What justifies signaling out of one state of one state alone to treat alaska in this way and in thisis manner you are effectivey not only locking up the resources, you are going against our statehood compacted. You are going against the laws we have passed. And against the policies that seemingly, as it administration you should support. It seems we are they giving treat with more and more being taken from us every year. We dont know if theres that much more to give. And so again i look for to the opportunity and the interior committee or the subcommittee to ask these questions. You probably will not be looking forward to it as much as i will. But i think alaskans deserve some answers. Op senator hickam looper . Thank you mr. Chair. I think all of you for being here today but also for your service. Madam secretary, theres still residents, people are talking about your business to colorado. I just want to make sure you understand im sure its not easy to be going all over the country. I hear youre going to everybody states. For a while without colorado was special. But you are getting everywhere. People really appreciate it makes a big difference for people trying to create relationships with the government but i want to talk a little bit of the Colorado River basin. Of course big for the communities all along the river and the lower and upper basin states. We have had snow the last couple ttof years but the levels at lae powell and lake mead are roughly at the same levels that they were two years ago. We made a lot of progress in the last few years. While conditions have improved we got a lot of work to do. I want to take your pulse and see how optimistic you felt on the progress we have made. Thinkest much of the question, saturday. Yes we have always enjoyed our opportunities to be in colorado. So thank you for always welcoming us. As you know in the Colorado River basin is incredibly important. It provides water for more than 40 million americans. Or proud of the fact our team has worked diligently to make sure everybody is at the table. The Indian Tribes will be at the table. With these negotiations. I do want to say it has been an unprecedented level of collaboration andly partnership with those entities. And with mexico, i will say. We have made significant investments to conserve water and modernized critical infrastructure. We laid the foundation to ensure future guidelines and strategies we are grateful for that moisture we have gotten. We know how precious that is in the west. We are grateful for congress support and the work we have been able to do there. I appreciate all the effort. As you know camille is a remarkable public servant. Im not sure the woman sleeps. I worry about her health. Also, i am very sober about climate change. You talk about the uncertainty of climatema change. As a fairly high degree of certainty that it is changing and moving more rapidly than we thought. I have got a masters in arts and science back in 1979. Its called the greenhouse effect. Back in the 80s and 90s is coming true the wildfire, the drought, the rising sea level, the extreme and the hurricanes ands tornadoes. Greenhouse effe much of what we predicted is coming true. The wildfire, the droughts, the rising sea level, the extreme weather there create hurricanes and tornadoes. I wonder, part of what i think as we address this, were going to have to go more rapidly and change the way we permit for clean energy if were going to have any real chance of succeeding in this. I was excited to see blm announced last month looking at the potential of geothermal and how much larger the potential is than i thought. Can you speak to how they can fit intimating our climate goals if we can prioritize developing projects and less sensitive locationsis and obviously we always are going to make sure we have a platform so the public is heard and everyone gets a hearing. Absolutely and thank you for that question. We need to the permitting to figure out any chance of addressing the Climate Crisis that we are experiencing. Last month i was excited to see they announced the categorical exclusions that would enable the agencies to expedite the review and approval of this exploration proposal we know more is needed on the same footing so we are committed to permitting efficiencies across everything that we do. The department of the interior has a significant role to play as weve made establishing one of our key priorities and i think that is shown in the work that weve done all over the clean energy spectrum. As you know the white House Counsel Environmental Quality for the final rule to reform simplify and modernize under the National Environmental policy actif and so we will continue working with everyone to ensure that we can move this forward. We salute all the hard work you are doing and appreciate and yield back to the chair. Madam secretary as you recall we had a spirited discussion about the project i think you are quite familiar with that and i delivered you a very clear message about what the people of idaho think about this into tens of thousands that are affected by this all of whom oppose it. Weve identified three people but those have the financial interest in the project itself. Where are you on this. We are currently working to meet the direction included in the 2024 appropriations bill for consultations with officials and stakeholders and we will report on the status of those consultations as required by law and not complete the final into wevein conducted any of those relevant information into the analysis. You say that youre in the process of that. Can you tell the committee whether you can confirm that i told you that support this you n count on the one hand. Thereve been 26 government to government consultation meetings. Six meetings with local organizations and other members of the Agricultural Committee and six Public Meetings on the draft Environmental Impact. Thats good. Can you identify the people that support this project because this will only take a few secondsgs to name of the three people. I appreciate that. We would be happy to be in touch regarding this issue and a happy to have a conversation with you and your staff about who we are talking to. How many people have youse found on that list that support this project . You surely have a feeling about this. Have you found anybody that is in favor of this box i appreciate your line of questioning here and as i mentioned we would be happy to be in touch with you. No, no have you found anybody that said we support this project, i support this project, have you found such a entity . I have some amazing and dutiful career staff. Im not looking for staff to support them. Tell me somebody that supports this project. I dont have a list of people currently. Im happy to get back with you. Can you name one . Im happy to reach out to you. I havent actually done the conversation. As i mentioned i had staff and people at the department that carried on these conversations. Can you give me a list of those people, will you admit to do that . We will commit to getting in touch. Will you commit to giving a list of people or entities that support this project, will you commit . I will commit to being in touch with your office about this project. Will you provide me the information im asking for and that is a list, you are required to go out and publicly Contact People and determine who supports this and opposes it. Will you give me a list of the people of entities that support this project . We will have that for the record. When will you have that record forming . Is suing is i get back to my office. It will take that minutes to put it together. Then the question that i have for you is suppose you find what im telling youat is true perhas in the hundreds of thousands who are very small and then a handful of people who support this what do you do about that . Senator, we take as i mentioned in my previous response we take all those comments from all the meetingsa and the entities that we had and put those together with analyses such as the science and the data and we come to a final decision about thesp issue. Will you be moved if the position is as ive described . We always take the Public Comments into consideration when we are considering these things that mean a lot to us. We know the people on the ground are important and we take their comments into deep consideration. But you are not going to commit but you will abandon this. I appreciate and recognize that you do not like this project. Los me, people of idaho do not like this project. I dont like it either but the people of idaho do not like this budget and not by one or two but im telling you theres nobody here you cant even name one person that is opposed to it. My time is up. Look, dont do this. Your own agency said dont do this, the people of idaho said dont do this, dont do this. Before i begin i just want to thank your department for your part in having approved the Association Agreements which took years to negotiate with the island nations of the Marshall Islands and they are critical to the National Security especially. The challenge is that it involves three departments, yours, state and the dod so we can imagine all the moving parts then the number of chairs and Ranking Members that had to agree to the sand before the senator leaves i want to thank him for his part. Hello. And on the Foreign Relations a supporter, an important part of the compact was the restoration of the federal benefits to the citizens of these nations who live in our country. They are so importantts that the citizens of these island nations are able to come and live in the United States and theres also the need for visas they are as far as i know the only group of people that are able to do that. But im really thankful that the chair of the committee, the Ranking Member of the committee and all the chairs and Ranking Members in both the senate and the house worked hard to get this done, so i think you for your support. Moving on, hawaii experienced an unprecedented degree from the maui wildfires that occurred last august and the natural Resource Management like so many others across the country found that there was not enough native plant material available to adequately read vegetate the burned landscapes. Ive been working on a bill that would establish a cd and Restoration Center to enhance the availability across the United States. This would complement your announcement in february about the national seo strategy keystonene initiative. Can you talk a bit about the importance of Congress Working with your department on this effort to ensure land managers have a consistent supply of the regionally appropriate plant materials . Yes, thank you senator for your support onn that and it is especially important, native plants are important. I know that department provided Technical Assistance and we remain committed to working with you on this important issue. I think that the restoration of the native plant material is one approach to preventing these kinds ofof devastations. I know thaton addressing the peoples is a specialty of course the women and girls is an important issue for you and is it still an issue you are addressing at can you talk about the progress that is being made to prevent these kinds of whats happening to native women and girls and you probably are awae that in hawaii one fourth of the missing children are hawaiian girls. Can you talk about addressing this devastation . Thank you, senator and yes it continues as 38 of the 63 positions are now filled and we are still working to make sure that we can still fill those positions and make sure to collect review on the cases involving the missing and murdered so that we can add othere cases that we appreciate your commitment. I want to commend you for your efforts and i would assume that you are pursuing prosecution of the perpetrators. I have ain few other questions r the record that i will submit. Thank you, madam chair. Senator daines. Thank you madam chairman. A yearar ago before the committe to testify and ask about the u. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 12 month status review on grizzly bears in the ecosystem we are now 15 months supposed to be a 12 month status review and theres no one inside in fact the fish and Wildlife Service scientists have twice determind the ecosystem have recovered and they delisted them of litigation and prevented those from going into effect. We should be celebrating the fact that the grizzly bear has recovered rather than dragging out the process. Montanata is been forced to adjt their life and be aware at all times to live with the bears, where their kids play, hiding with bear spray, fencing playgrounds and gardens, everything is done with grizzly bears in mind. The question is what is the target number in the ecosystem needed to meet the fish and Wildlife Service criteria for recovery . I would have to get back to you with of the numbers that the data shows but ide can tell you just what is the recovery target, not the Current Populations but the recovery target. I dont have ive asked you five times since you began the process of the confirmation before it became public i asked and you said i dont know. If i havent telegraphed the test questions to you let me be clear im just asking what is it and you dont know. I dont have the target number. Thats another way to say i dont know. I would be happy to get back with you. Like the senators question, you dont have to get back to me, i will tell you what they are. Pleased write these down. The greater yellowstone ecosystem recovery target is 500. Write that down and next time i asked the question when you come before me please have that answer for me. A second is the Continental Divide ecosystem and that number is 800 so 500 yellowstone, 800 for the northern Continental Divide. My next question, how many grizzly bears are currently estimated according to fws information tort be in the grear yellowstone ecosystem and the northern continental system . Are you asking me to add to these two numbers together . You wouldnt do that because those are the targets. The target is the threshold that we needed to meet or exceed so that is the target. Im asking how many are there, bebut start with the greater yellowstone ecosystem. I have a vision you will just tell me the number because you likely know it. If you would like to tell me, im happy. I dont have the number. Writedown target 50800 and i will give the numbers from fws, these are not numbers my staff made up of these are the 2022 numbers the most current data. 965 in the greater yellowstone ecosystem. Its 1,138s in the northern continental so make a chart 500 is the target, actual is 965. The northern Continental Divide is 800 and actual 1,138. So if the populations are greater then the recovery target, would you conclude that theypo have now recovered . Senator, unfortunately i am not a scientist, so i refrain you are the sec. Of interior with complete respect. You are in line of succession to the president of the United States. So if the target is 500 and the actual number is 965, nearly twice the target, have we recovered . Senator, im happy to ask when i get back to the department of interior. Im not a scientist and i do not want to speculate what the science would say. The science tells us we are well over the target and here is another question. When did the numbers for the greateram yellowstone ecosystem the population of bears exceed for the first time the recovery target of 500, what year was that . Senator, i cant tell you. It was 2002. It was 22 years ago where the population targets first exceeded the recovery target. Twentytwo years. So, question, will you commit o finalize at least the now overdue status review that was supposed to be a 12 month review andes we are now at 15 months . Will you commit to getting that done . Senator, i know the reviews for montana and wyoming began in february 2023, and i know that the fish and Wildlife Service doesnt have a date for completion, but i will ask when we started in february you are past due. And not only that, we are way over the targets. Im pleading with you to look at the science. Return the management to this incredible species back to the people of montana where it belongs. Thank you, senator. Senator king. Thank youou madam chair. Mr. Secretary, you may be surprised im going to start with ang complement. This week the Department Published on the east coast to off the shore in maine and one or rather six off the coast of massachusetts. I want to complement you on listening to the people of maine and our congressional delegation taking those areas out off what of whatis called lobster managet area number one. That was important to us as we pursue our offshore goals that they be done compatibly and responsibly with regards to our important fisheries, so the fact that the department removed potential sites from is a big deal in maine and i want to express appreciation to the department for that. That is the good news. I was one of the folks that worked very hard on the Great American outdoors act, and a key part of the Great American grean outofdoors act was a fund to deal with deferred maintenance and the National Parks, which was and is a very serious problem. Heres the problem, your budget under Fund Maintenance so we are digging a hole again. I dont know if this is in the expectation that we will be able to do another Great American outdoors act or that it will be a good and very common but its well below what it should be. A kind of rule of thumb for businessesre is two to 5 of the asset value of annual maintenance and in this case it would bete a four or 5 billion budget instead and the and maintenance for the National Parks. I talked to the office of management and budget and the department and i hope next year you will fight for a maintenancefree and adequate maintenance budget for the National Parks doesnt make sense on any level to continue deferred maintenance on our properties we are so grateful and understand how important it is. I want you to know that the budget does have the commitment to address the maintenance backlog to all sources of funding and in addition to the 1. 3 billion in the Legacy Restoration fund the budget proposes over 993 million to prevent or eliminate the deferredmaintenance from multipe sources including line item construction maintenance, federal land recreations and the federal land transportation. We will continue to discuss this. I believe the fundamental maintenance budget is below where it should be and we are simply digging the deferred maintenance once again in contravention to the intent of the Great American outdoors act. Next issue is permitting. We are not going to be able to achievedi a clean energy futuref we cant build things whether its transmission lines, whether its mining facilities through a permitting process. The problem is your department sits astride a great deal of the time involved in these permitting processes by virtue of the time it takes to do the analysis. We just talked to senator daines about a project that was due in february. Its not done yet. From the point of view of the environment, we have to doe a better job. We dont have time to spend years and years waiting for and an environmental analysis to permit a project that has a net environmental gain and my problem is that there seems to be no sense of urgency in getting these studies done. Here is the standard from my staff. Eisenhower retook europe in 11 months. Nothing should take longer than that. If eisenhower can take europe in 11 months, you should be able to determine what the impact on the environmentth is of a particular project and a particular place. Please, please work with your department, work with your scientistsca to incur a sense of urgency, because this is urgent for the environment. Thats the point im trying to make. This isnt an antienvironment position this is a proenvironment position but we can never get where we need to get on clean energy as long as environmentally sound projects languish in a permitting hell at the department of the interior. Senator, thank you for acknowledging this is an important issue. At the department has sought ways to re improve in the face of a growing workload that exceeds the available staffing quite frankly. The fish and Wildlife Service is streamlining its Environmental Review process in our Online System to provide Greater Transparency and improve the process and conservation outcomes and we are working on it and feel very proud of the work that weve been able to do with our Clean Energy Projects and appreciate the opportunity. When you get back send a oneword email to your permitting staff, eisenhower. Thank you, madam chair. I understand that youve been directly involved with the ongoing management process for the national monument. Now the Bears Ears Commission which has been formed following president obamas creation december 28, 2016 includes representatives from five different tribes. Yes or no did you commit that the commission would be able to draft an alternative that would be designated at the preferred alternatives to the Management Plan . Senator, thank you for the question. The state of utah and other cooperating agencies. I understand that. And its also my understanding that you made a commitment to the commission. We spoke about the exchange that we had been working with in good faith that put a lot of effort into it over the last three years. After putting in that much effort, really disappointed with to proceed with a temporary plan instead of a permanent plan exchange. But is it any wonder why the state of utah withdrew from that exchange because of this sort of thing of the target shifting afterthefact . The draft managementnd plan includes the phrase collaboration or coordination in reference to the organization with of the bears ears no fewer than 559 times where it is mentioned only once and coordination with San Juan County utah is not mentioned at all even though this is home to the Bears Ears National monument. According to the draft plan from what i understand of how things unfolded, the commission was provided with over 100 meetings to offer and receive input and meanwhile as a a cooperating agency the state of utah was provided only six meetings to include in the plan and two of those were listed as input only so effectively for meetings versus 100, quite a disparity. All that utah has asked for over the years is a real actual seat at the table and its obvious that youve given the Bears Ears Commission a seat, often the corner and wearing a dunce cap. It appears to me that departments weighing Stakeholder Input disproportionately far above any position where they are taking serious or comparable consideration the effect of state and county. The commissions website for its part states openly that its funded by resources legacy funds aa dark money radical Environmental Group however the commission is nowhere to be found on the disclosures and it appears this is another example of a radical far left ngo seeking cover to do what its doing by doing it through tribes and sadlyju youve decided to lt the limbs and at the wishes of this darkr money groups effectively dictate the management of 1. 4 million acres of federal land that hardworking people in my state rely on for their livelihood. I want to be clear about something. It isnt too late to fix this i ask that you please do so. The state of utah, San Juan County, we all stand ready to assist in finding a balanced approach not only for bears ears, but across the entire expanse of the 67 of my state thats owned by the federal government causing us to feel very much and be very much at the whim the department of the interior. But we all want to Work Together. As a state that is occupied to 67 by your department, we first need a seat at the table. Thank you. Thank you mr. Chair. Madam secretary, thank you for being here and for your attention to nevada and your staff. Ive been out there so many times and i have to say you have some amazing staff on the ground there that ive had the opportunity to work with. They are committed and passionate and believe in the work that they are doing. I do want to talk to you about an area that im focused on and i hopefully can get your support. This is a statewide Resource Management plan a modernizing issue that we need to focus on. I sent a letter undertaking that a statewide plan to allow for a comprehensive sciencebased approach to the whole state and would we be able to incorporate entire regions with land use needs and various stakeholders. Its particularlyew important in nevada because nevada contains 48 million acres of managed lands. Currently there are 12 Resource Management plansrs and affect wh some completed over 36 years ago these plans are out of date, impacting the mission across my state however several rules are being processed at the Department Level that have a Significant Impact including the gas leasing role, the public land rule and others so my paquestion is what is the status of the statewide Resource Management plan, what steps are being taken to align all of these rules with our local and thstate Planning Efforts and can we expect to see something relatively soon as we build out our clean energy across the land and mining opportunities as well . Thank you, senator and first i just want you to know that we support wholeheartedly the work. Thank you for working to build a relationship with those folks. Theyey do work very hard and cae very deeply about your state. With respect to the rulemaking of the plan, oil and Gas Renewables as well as the updated solar plans they are all complementary and will and sure consistency. We are happy to get withas you d your staff to kind of talk about how all those things fit together. We appreciate the opportunities to be in nevada and we will do whatever we can to make sure. Its for so many people in the state of nevada that he had an understanding of what that looks like including our local and state and private sector partners as well, so i will take you up on that. Kei want to call your attentiono the pressing threats toge the national wildlifee refuge and te death valley National Park in nevada. I was just there. Its absolutely spectacular and threatened by a proposal to drill into the sensitive groundwater system that then could dry up the springs that are the core to the refuge and to the tribal communities that cherish this land. Im going to be sending you a letter on the matter shortly but can i get your commitment to work with me and my constituents to make sure the incredible resources are protected in the future . Absolutely i would be happy to look at a proposal for review. We will be in touch about that as well. Thank you. And want to draw your attention to the contamination of the death valley reservation. The interior department including for Indian Affairs promised the tribes that the department would put resources behind remediating the tragic and longstanding contamination caused by the dumping of heating oil, pesticides and use of agent or range on the dock valley reservation. This has been going on for decades. Weve heard that assessments need to be done to remediate the issues yet we have recently heard that they messed up the timeline for the first milestone and agreed to schedule between epa and thee tribes. They faileden to finalize the draft assessment by april 12th. Weve also heard that they will not be able to meet at the june 30th deadline to finalize the scope of the work. They indicated that this assessment is a prerequisite to starting remediation. Thats why we need to get this going as soon as possible so my question is why is this taking so long and can you give me answers to why they are missing this deadline and not making this a priority to remediate this land that is poisoning the members of the reservation. Thank you for that, senator, and i want you to know that this contamination issue is extremely important to me personally and important to our department as a priority. I will take those comments back and get answers and make sure that we respond ton you in a timely manner. I appreciate that. Thank you. Senator cassidy. Madam secretary thank you for being here. Im from louisiana and you will guess what im going to be interested in. Is there going to be, just a plain questionable the department of interior hold threeyear resales in the. Next five years . Yes, senator. So, 2024 is the first year without the sale 1965. Im worried 262 might slip until the end of 2025. They must complete several reviews and planning steps prior to the lease being issued. Im told that its hardly begun the process. So given that the department of hasnt issued the resale, what in the earliest by which the agencyd could hold the lease sale . That review is underway and i promise you we will get back to you. The lease that youve referred to is in our fiveyear plan and the law directs the process. I gather that, but we are now almost halfway through 2024, and im told of the necessary steps prior to that havent hardly begun. So, how long does that process typically take to be completed . With your permission i would pass the question onto the acting deputy secretary. Thank you and i just want to reaffirm with the secretary said that the first steps are underway. It takes approximately 18 months i think at a minimum we would say for folks to do a diligent review. Ive beenu, told that its hardly started, so 18 months puts us almost into 2026 and you said at least suggesting that it often goes further. So it looks like we might miss a sale indo 2024 and 2025. Thats how i am gathering this answer. With respect i would say we are working diligently in the process. Soo how does your five year offshore leasing schedule with 12 potential offshore wind Energy Leasing sales comply with the law . Because under existing statute there should be a sequence and as secretary you cannot issue a lease for offshore wind unless theres been an oil and gas offshore lease of at least 60 million acres in the preceding year. Thank you, senator. We arefs confident that we can achieve our clean energy goals. But will the resale for wind occur before 2026 . They would meet requirements of conducted and allow us to issue our offshore wind leases with the law. So what im hearing you will not bes completing the necessay preliminary steps for the oil resale until 2026. I want to assure you that we will comply with the law. I think they worked backwards and i also found of the administration played fast and loose with the law. They decide what they want to do. Im a little skeptical. This administrations practice. So, what specific sales are you using to allow for those planned for 2024 . For example, what was the date and acreage of those sales . With all due respect, senator, i can pass that onto oo the acting deputy secretary. Thank you madam secretary. We held this in december of 2023, and i dont recollect the acreage. I apologize but it wasn over 60 million im confident. Youre competent, will you confirm that . Ima would be happy to confirm that for the record. I appreciate that. On the carbon sequestration, your testimony mentions a forthcoming rulemaking upon the offshore carbon sequestration. So, given louisianas proximities in the gulf and the of course im interested, when do you anticipate the rule to be proposed . Senator, i dont have an estimate of when it will be completed, but we are working on it and we recognize that its late creating a new Regulatory Program for a new technology at a very technical and complex nine remaining time, ball park. Two months, six months, 12 months, 18 actually, i couldnt say that i will go back to the office and find out where they are and we are happy to give you a status update to your office. Senator holly. Thank you mr. Chairman. A secretary, do you know the group called the Wilderness Society . I have heard of it, yes. And what to your knowledge is this group . It sounds like the man is explanatory. Let me help you a little bit. It is a leftwing environmentalist pressure group, do you know who funds them . I do not. It is funded in large part by a foreign billionaire who has rotted his money through all manners of dark money groups including the arabella network. He was investigated by the ftc for Illegal Campaign contributions because he is not a United States citizen. He sits on the governing council of this dark money environmentalist group. Has anybody in leadership in your department met with him . I do not know this individual, and i has anybody in leadership at your department met with of the Wilderness Society . Im sure weve met with a lot of groups and organizations in the work that we do in discussing the environment. Does that mean you dont know where youre not going to answer . Th i dont have a full list of everyone that weve met with. I can help you with that as well. The answer is yes your leadership has met with of the Wilderness Society. They met with the Wilderness Society when that group was a plaintiff suing the department of the interior within adverse lawsuit against you and they met with of them off the books. Ive got the emails. In july of 2021 after you had come to office, members of the society when they are suing the department right to your top deputy and ask for a meeting to keep it off of his calendar, here it is, 2021, can we set up a meeting with these folks and they propose how they might calibrate this so it doesnt look like they are violating any of the rules and the court and d remarkably it stays completely off of everybodys calendars. Wewe only know about it because the requests were filed and then after they have these off the books meetings and their request is to cancel the mineral leasing rights in minnesota. This is a Critical Minerals mine. This is like what he wants the mines shut down after they meet off the books with your leadership you do it a few months later, you do it. You canceled the leases and withdrawal 225,000 acres of critical mining from production andu leasing shortly after tha. Is it common practice at your department to meet with dark money groups off thein books and conceal it from the public . Senator, thank you foron the question. And of course i cant answer to if you are referring to our former deputy secretary no longer at theco department. He works for the president. Hes appointed by the president. Hes your deputy secretary. Are you the secretary of theto department of interior . I thought thats why you were here. Dont look at her, look at me. Do these people who are sitting here today, answering most of your questions, do they work for you, do they report to you . They are not in charge . They work with me. So youre not in charge of the department . I thoughtyo you were in char. I provided the vision and the overall direction. But youre not in charge. Do you take responsibility for what happens at the department of interior . Do you take full responsibility for what happens at the department . Good, then why are your leadership meetings with dark money groups and concealing it from the public why are they doing it off the books, how many times has this happened . This is the first im hearing of this. I dont my deputy secretary is no longer there and i cant answer what he did when he was there. What did they get out of it do you suppose, do you suppose he gotta out of you canceling te leases . I dont know who this individual is. Sure, you dont know, youre not in charge, you are not responsible, we have a corruption problem in this government madame secretary and frankly a corruption problem in your department. We have, we certainly do, foreign billionaires who are funding dark money groups coming to meet with your leadership concealing it from the public while they are filing lawsuits adverse to the department, doing it without the courts knowledge, doing it you say without your knowledge and then getting exactly what they want. I dont know how much money he made off of it. Im sure it was a lot. He made his money by poisoning people. Heres what his company did in 2009 he said they were charged with philadelphias u. S. Attorney with running an illegal Clinical Trial in humans and they objected it with cement that turns to bowen inside of the human skeleton. Thats the guy that is funding this group who is pressuring yourur department and your meetg with him off the books and giving him exactly what they want. I did not meet with them. Youre implying that i did. Im just trying to figure out whohu is in charge of the interr department. It sounds to me like it is the billionaires, the dark money billionaires who are calling the shots at the department of the interior and all i have to say to you, madam secretary, is that is a travesty. The American People should be in charge, not the foreign billionaires and the fact that you let them run rampant is outrageous. Thanks, senator. A couple of questions, secretary. Youve been in office for over three years now. During that time you reported President Bidens Energy Policies thatt i believe are going to dramatically drive up the nations demand for cobalt, nickel, zinc, other Critical Minerals. Yesterday you testified that your department has permitted you said five new critical mineral lines. Do you know what those are and can you name them authority . Imer just trying to ask about whether these were expansions of existing liens, modifications or actually permitting it if you need to visit with your staff if they may have the answers to that, im just trying to figure out what they were. I will start and i can pass it to the acting deputy secretary. So, yes, they were five mines producing Critical Minerals suh as lithiuman and also we recenty took another step forward on the ridge in nevada. Laura might be able to provide thank you madamam secretary, and thank you, senator for the question. The five permitted liens i honestly only know the names of one so we can get you the list and we would be happy to. The reason i ask you just testified to the senator that you provided the vision, so what im concerned about is the experts are telling us that the world isge going to need 400 new mines to meet the growing mineral demand for the minerals that you just referred to, so instead of trying to solve the problem it does seem to me that the department has actually been blocking access to American Minerals and access on federal lands and access on state lands, some on native lands, so in providing this vision, what is your solution . Im just trying to see how to equater the math of the 400 that are needed. Thank you for that, senator and yes of course we understand that if we want to have the Clean Energy Economies that it is a part of that and the Energy Independence vision for the country. I will say, i apologize the plaintiff your question again im so sorry. You testified there were five new mines permitted at a time that we feel the world is saying we need 400 to meet with the president is trying to do. One of the things that i feel very proud of that we have done in the Inter Agency Task force on the mining reform as you know the mining laws, 150yearsold. If it is 2024, new technologies have come up. At the inter Agency Work Group on the mining reform have come out with a report and when it comes to moving the industry forward. The sad reality if we are willing to rely on china and the congo and indonesia for these Critical Minerals, they have horrible records in terms of Environmental Standards and labor standards and i find that unacceptable. Anotherr area of mutual concern for both of us is the lack of housing for employees at the National Park service and youre going to hear that on both sides of the aisle. Manyny of the Housing Units for park Service Employees dont meet modern standards. Many of the Living Conditions are unacceptable. I understand there may not to be a single solution to the problem. I think you need to partner with the private sector as least as much as relying on congress, but you describe in terms of the vision with your efforts to address thehe lack of suitable housingvi for park staff. Thank you for the question and for caring about where our career staff actually live. So, of course we are working on many new options. The budget proposes over ri 100 million from different Funding Sources and employee housing and parks that include 17 million to replace obsolete and deteriorated housing or to add housing capacity Affordable Housing for purchasepr or rent s limited, 2,000,000. 2 continued private sector leasing for seasonal housing was 60 million in 2025 and project certainly to replace housing and various National Parks. Af we were also successful at working with partners. We were very grateful for the 40 milliondollar anonymous donation to yellowstone National Park that will support Housing Construction as you know in some of these gateway communities. Its very expensive for folks to buy vacation homes to live and so we are grateful that we are putting all these sources together and appreciate you caring about it. My final question theres a wildfire crisis, and you will hear this on both sides of the aisle, theth department has more than 50 million acres of forest that must be actively managed to prevent them from blowing up in smoke. This cant happen without partnering with Forest Products sectors, the wildfire, wildland mitigation Management Commission was called to the department to support the Forest Products sector and sawmills that were closing across the west and the threat of catastrophic wildfires continuess to increase. So, shutting down Forest Management restoration activities i think is dangerous, not a viable option if we are going to get control of the wildfire crisis affecting the west. Secretary, what happens to the federal forests when they lose a local sawmill, and what do you agree the Department Needs to try to retain its existing partners in the Timber Industry . Senator, thank you for thehe question. And i recognize that this is an issue for tribes we visited this community that has a sawmill and actively works to manage their forests. We appreciate the reports that were developed in the unified fashion. I will take your suggestions forward to the department and we recognize that this is important Field Management is also an issue for these wildland fires and we, our budget reflects the commitment to that as well. Thank you madam secretary and to you for being here joining us this morning. We will have until the close of business tomorrow to submit additional questions for the record and the committee stands adjourned. You think this is just a Community Center . Its way more than that. Partnering with a thousand Community Centers to create wifi enabled lifted zones so students from low income families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. Supportingspan as a Public Service along with these other Television Providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. Next, republican senator john thune reacts to the ongoing protests on College Campuses amidst the israel hamas war. He calls on the Biden Administration to do more for the acts of antisemitism and senator bob casey also highlights a bill that he is coauthored. This after the house approved a similar measure earlier this