{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-votes-responsible-land-management-unleashing-natural-resources", "Newhouse Votes for Responsible Land Management, Unleashing Natural Resources", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.\n\n\"In my four years as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I worked hard to counter the Biden administration\u2019s top-down regulations that threatened our public lands and natural resources across the West. This legislation is a course correction from the previous administration to unleash the resources we have under our feet, protect public lands for all who enjoy their benefits, and prioritize conservation over preservation across the United States. I also secured critical funding for three water infrastructure projects in Othello, Winthrop, and Oroville to address the water supply and distribution challenges these communities face,\" said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse added, \"I thank Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson and Full Committee Chairman Tom Cole for their leadership and commitment to funding priorities that support our rural way of life.\"\n\nThe Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $37.971 billion, which is $2.54 billion (6%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.\n\nThe bill fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, estimated at $550 million, and prioritizes funding for Tribes and Wildland Fire Management.\n\nChampions American energy dominance and reduces regulatory burdens by:\n\nProviding the OMB requested increase of $13.6 million for offshore oil and gas development at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the OMB requested increase of $15 million for onshore oil and gas development at the Bureau of Land Management.\n\nRequiring the Secretary of the Interior to conduct onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales.\n\nProhibiting the use of the social cost of carbon, which has stymied new development.\n\nProhibiting the EPA from imposing the methane fee on oil and gas producers created by the Democrats\u2019 Inflation Reduction Act.\n\nProhibiting multiple U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulings used to weaponize the Endangered Species Act against land users and energy producers.\n\nProtects access to public lands by:\n\nBlocking restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.\n\nPreventing additional regulations on ammunition, ammunition components, or fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act or any other law.\n\nProhibiting restrictions on where standard lead ammunition and fishing tackle can be used on certain federal lands or waters unless conditions are met.\n\nStopping the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s Conservation and Landscape Health rule to ensure continued access to public lands for grazing, recreation, and energy development.\n\nBolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:\n\nReducing our reliance on foreign countries for critical minerals by promoting access to resources here at home through blocking certain lease withdrawals in Minnesota and reinstating mineral leases in the Superior National Forest.\n\nPromoting domestic mining by ensuring ancillary mining activities can be approved, which is a fix to the Rosemont decision that created additional red tape and regulatory uncertainty for mining operations.\n\nEnsuring chemical and pesticide manufacturers are not overburdened with requirements that would drive businesses overseas and threaten American competitiveness.\n\nProhibiting funds for the National Park Service to provide housing to an alien without lawful status.\n\nProviding $771.84 million for Tribal Public Safety and Justice programs, which is a 39% increase over the FY25 enacted level.\n\nNewhouse secured funding for the following projects in Washington's Fourth District in this legislation:\n\nCity of Othello\n\nAmount Secured: $1,000,000\n\nThe City of Othello is 100 percent reliant on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply and after several years of data collection, study completions, and pilot test studies, the City of Othello has developed an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) strategy to mitigate declining water levels in the Wanapum Basalt aquifer. The ASR method has proven to be effective, and the City has progressed to the stage of predesign. The City is requesting funding assistance with the next phase of \u201cdesign\u201d to build a permanent solution that will result in a sustainable, reliable, environmentally responsible water supply plan for the Othello region.\n\nCity of Winthrop\n\nAmount Secured: $1,500,000\n\nThe proposed project will improve the reliability of the Town of Winthrop\u2019s water source and distribution system. The town only has one functioning well (Well #1). If that well goes down, the town only has a day or two of water available in its three reservoirs. Well #2 has been approved as an emergency water source by Department of Health, but it needs to be rehabilitated to be in regular use.\n\nScope of work includes:\n\nRehabilitation of Well #2, including new pump, motor, piping, electrical/controls, generator backup, and a new well house.\n\nRepairs to the Town\u2019s East Reservoir, including waterproofing, concrete repairs, and altitude valve replacement.\n\nCommunity benefits include public health and safety, fire protection, and water conservation. Winthrop is ranked #6 on the Washington DNR\u2019s burn probability list. Given the community\u2019s vulnerability to wildfire, ensuring a resilient and redundant water supply system with reliable fire flow capacity is critical for public safety.\n\nCity of Oroville\n\nAmount Secured: $1,400,000\n\nThe project will result in new, upgraded water pipes that ensure safe and reliable drinking water to Oroville\u2019s north end area. The City of Oroville requests $1,750,000 for construction of the first phase of the project which consists of approximately 3,500 lineal feet of aging and undersized water transmission main piping serving the \u201cNorth End\u201d of the City\u2019s water system. The existing water t-mains consist of 4-inch and 6-inch deteriorated PVC pipe, which cannot provide adequate fire flow or service pressure and are prone to leaking. The project will replace these existing, undersized transmission mains with 12-inch transmission mains along 20th from Main St to Juniper St, and along Juniper St and Main St from 20th St to 23rd St. The project will also replace existing, undersized water transmission mains with 8-inch transmission mains along Deerpath Dr from 21st St to 23rd St, and along 23rd St from Deerpath Dr to Westlake Ave.\n\nBill text before amendments can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-votes-responsible-land-management-unleashing-natural-resources"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8506036140024662, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}