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Hearing Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026 · Transcript · 30 transcript matches
WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON "but your budget goes out of its way to provide fewer resources to our states. Most managers at our nation's wildlife refuges report that they don't have the resources and staff to fulfill their missions. Democrats and Republicans are eager to see the permitting process move faster. Fish and Wildlife Service staff often play a key role in permitting. How do we expedite permitting processes if staff and resources aren't there? You've also let Fish and Wildlife get wrapped up in the administration's fraudulent war on low-cost clean energy. This administration blockades clean energy on purpose to..."
Hearing Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife.
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026 · Transcript · 17 transcript matches
WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON "in the position for which you've been nominated based on your background and experience. You say you have a tremendous appreciation of the land, waters, and wildlife managed by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Appreciating things as you sacrifice"
Hearing Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary, Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Assistant...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026 · Transcript · 17 transcript matches
KEVIN LILLY "Well, Senator, I'm smiling because I'm a Texan, and I believe very strongly in the strength of our state's abilities to manage the wildlife in their respective communities. And whether it is Texas Fish and Wildlife, or whether it is Wyoming, which was very adequately run by our incredibly qualified Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Brian Nesvick, who has spent an extraordinary amount of his entire life, in fact, working to that end. So I have great faith, and I believe it's sort of a responsibility for us at the federal level, because I spent most of my service career, other than the..."
Hearing Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026 · Transcript · 8 transcript matches
UNKNOWN "I'm particularly troubled by a pair of riders, Section 122 and 434, protecting the use of lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands. We know that lead bullet fragments when they hit a target and these small pieces of lead can make their way through the food web, unintentionally poisoning other animals and even making their way into processed meat. The Fish and Wildlife Service recognized the harm lead ammunition has caused on ducks and banned the use of lead ammunition in waterfowl hunting in the 1990s, saving approximately 1.4 million ducks a year. The Fish and Wildlife Service has a..."
CRS Report
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: An Overview
Reports · Jul 20, 2018
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), is the principal federal agency tasked with the conservation, protection, and restoration of fish and...
CRS Report
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2023 Appropriations
Resources · Sep 30, 2022
Introduction The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), has a mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their...
CRS Report
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2025 Appropriations
Resources · Apr 19, 2024
Introduction The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), has a mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their...
CRS Report
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2024 Appropriations
Resources · Apr 15, 2024
Introduction The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), has a mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their...
CRS Report
National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS): Overview and Issues for Congress
Reports · Jan 31, 2025
The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) is a network of 856 million acres of lands and waters administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to provide habitat for fish, wildlife, and...
CRS Report
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): History, Function, and Funding
Reports · Jan 17, 2017
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) was chartered by Congress in 1984 to aid in the conservation of plants, animals, and ecosystems; many of its projects involve work with federal...
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.4949, to provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jul 15, 2026 · Request transcript · 3 transcript matches
CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE "significant needs while ensuring that we provide the right tools and flexibility to address the unique circumstances faced by rural and small communities in my state. Significantly, the bill increases the annual authorized funding levels for the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds, provides resources to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in our water systems, and you'll recall we had a hearing on that issue, and supports the EPA's water workforce development initiatives. The bill also reauthorizes the EPA's geographic programs, including the Great Lakes Restoration..."
CRS Report
Fish and Wildlife Service: Compensation to Local Governments
Reports · May 21, 2014
Many counties are compensated for the presence of federal lands within their boundaries because these lands are exempt from local taxes. Counties with lands under the primary jurisdiction of the Fish...
CRS Report
Hunting and Fishing on Federal Lands and Waters: Overview and Issues for Congress
Reports · Feb 14, 2018
This report provides an overview of issues related to hunting and fishing on federal lands. Each year millions of individuals participate in hunting and fishing activities, bringing in billions of...
Hearing H.J. Res. 60 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park...
house Rules Committee · Apr 28, 2025 · Request transcript
CRS Report
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act
Resources · Oct 12, 2022
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson; 16 U.S.C. §§669 et seq.), initially enacted in 1937 as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (50 Stat. 917), provides funding...
Testimony SPEAKER_08
“Oversight of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act”
house Natural Resources Committee · Mar 4, 2026
"And I think that the public is expecting the government to lead in this regard. Thank you for that question because that strikes at the work that I did in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I established urban treaties back when I was with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Our first one, as I recall, was New Orleans with Mayor"
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 16, 2026 · Request transcript · 2 transcript matches
LEE, MIKE "The nomination will be reported favorably to the Senate. The second matter is agenda item number 2, the nomination of Mr. Kevin Lilly of Texas to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The clerk will call the roll. By"
CRS Report
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act: Understanding Apportionments for States and Territories
Reports · Apr 5, 2019
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. §§669 et seq.), enacted in 1937 and now known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, provides funding for states and territories to...
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"Well, Senator, I'm smiling because I'm a Texan, and I believe very strongly in the strength of our state's abilities to manage the wildlife in their respective communities. And whether it is Texas Fish and Wildlife, or whether it is Wyoming, which was very adequately run by our incredibly qualified Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Brian Nesvick, who has spent an extraordinary amount of his entire life, in fact, working to that end. So I have great faith, and I believe it's sort of a..."
CRS Report
Wildlife Corridors: Background and Issues for Congress
Reports · Jan 13, 2025
Species need connectivity between habitats to seek out sources for food and shelter and, in some cases, to adapt to environmental stressors and climate change. One method of increasing ecological...
Testimony SPEAKER_10
“Oversight of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act”
house Natural Resources Committee · Mar 4, 2026
"Yeah I think you're right And I hear everybody here asking for flexibility, and that seems like a really logical, reasonable request. Mr. Schmidt, I want to pull you into the same type of conversation. So similarly, in my district in southern Utah, we have threatened Mojave Desert tortoises, and their eggs are vulnerable to predation by ravens. And again, the ravens are protected, but so are the tortoises, and we're trying to do all these things to control what people are doing to make sure..."
Witness William Holcomb
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · 1 hearing
Witness Justin Shirley
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · 1 hearing
Witness David Miko
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · 3 hearings
Witness Roger Young
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · 1 hearing
Witness Jason Schlender
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission · 2 hearings
Witness Dr. Christopher Sweetman
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission- Division of Marine Fisheries Management · 1 hearing
Witness Mr. Matthew Bryant
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement · 1 hearing
Witness Mr. Jeff Trandahl
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation · 1 hearing
Witness Mr. Paul Schmidt
U.S. Fish and Wildlife · 1 hearing
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"but your budget goes out of its way to provide fewer resources to our states. Most managers at our nation's wildlife refuges report that they don't have the resources and staff to fulfill their missions. Democrats and Republicans are eager to see the permitting process move faster. Fish and Wildlife Service staff often play a key role in permitting. How do we expedite permitting processes if staff and resources aren't there? You've also let Fish and Wildlife get wrapped up in the..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE BRIAN NESVIK
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Chairman Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, members of the committee. As you mentioned, I'm Brian Nesvick, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. It's good to be back with this committee again, and I appreciate the opportunity to testify here today on President Trump's FY27 budget request for Fish and Wildlife Service. The budget requests $1.3 billion for the service in FY27. It presents new opportunities for a future driven by innovation, dedicated to optimizing sustainable use of our..."
Testimony RICKETTS, PETE
Hearings to examine challenges and opportunities with implementing the...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Mar 18, 2026
"While all states represented on this committee have some local success stories, there are a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the implementation of the ESA. First, the focus should remain on recovery. The purpose of the ESA is not simply to list species, but to recover them to the point where federal protections are no longer needed. Efforts have been made to improve clarity in ESA implementation. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during this took steps to provide..."
Testimony UNKNOWN
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"I'm particularly troubled by a pair of riders, Section 122 and 434, protecting the use of lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands. We know that lead bullet fragments when they hit a target and these small pieces of lead can make their way through the food web, unintentionally poisoning other animals and even making their way into processed meat. The Fish and Wildlife Service recognized the harm lead ammunition has caused on ducks and banned the use of lead ammunition in waterfowl hunting in..."
Testimony HEINRICH, MARTIN
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"Mr. Haig has been performing the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs since May of 2025. Mr. Lilly has been performing these functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks since August of 2025. I do not blame Mr. Haig or Mr. Lilly for doing the jobs that this administration has given them, but I do believe that this administration has abused its authority by delegating..."
Testimony RICKETTS, PETE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Thank you for being here today and wishing our leadership a fish and wildlife. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Appreciate that, Ranking Member. Director Nesvik, thank you very much for your leadership at Fish and Wildlife and thank you very much for being here. Thank you also for opening up the grazing access to Valentine National Wildlife Refuge following the devastating wildfires that we had here in Nebraska. It has been something where we've had the most fire damage in the state's history...."
Testimony LEE, MIKE
Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the Jo...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 16, 2026
"The nomination will be reported favorably to the Senate. The second matter is agenda item number 2, the nomination of Mr. Kevin Lilly of Texas to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The clerk will call the roll. By"
Testimony SPEAKER_18
An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including po...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"statement on this. Thank you, Chairman Lee, and thank you for convening this hearing on the Colorado River Basin. It could not be more timely. We're joined today by witnesses who understand how high the stakes are and what our communities stand to lose if the seven basin states fail to reach a deal on the future management of the Colorado River. The Colorado River is the backbone of water supply for millions of people, a cornerstone of Western agriculture and energy production, and a lifeline..."
CRS Report
The Federal Land Management Agencies
Resources · Oct 7, 2024
The Property Clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3, clause 2) provides Congress the authority to acquire, dispose of, and manage federal property. Currently, approximately 640...
CRS Report
Monument Proclamations Under Executive Order Review: Comparison of Selected Provisions
Reports · Jul 11, 2017
The Antiquities Act of 1906 (54 U.S.C. §§320301-320303) authorizes the President to proclaim national monuments on federal lands that contain “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures,...
CRS Report
Salton Sea Restoration
Reports · Jul 28, 2021
The Salton Sea—a lake located in Southern California—is the largest inland water body in the state. The sea has few natural inlets of water, has no natural outlets, and is largely sustained by...
CRS Report
Subsistence Uses of Resources in Alaska: An Overview of Federal Management
Reports · Apr 20, 2023
Certain federal statutes provide avenues for individuals to engage in subsistence uses of natural resources. The term subsistence uses or subsistence in federal statutes and regulations generally...
Testimony ALSOBROOKS, ANGELA D.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"roughly $14 million that come to our state and the state builds its conservation budget and annual work plan around the expectation that the service will distribute these funds in a timely and predictable manner. Uncertainty about the availability or timing of these funds can disrupt habitat restoration projects, fishery management activities, and public access improvements. Can you commit that the Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to distribute wildlife and sport fish restoration funds..."
Hearing Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Interior.
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Apr 29, 2026 · Transcript · 3 transcript matches
SPEAKER_02 "Two of those include unifications that are across Departments, coordinated by the White House and with the support of the multiple Departments, and a further one is just within our own Department. One of the two, the further strategic unification of wildland fire programs into the Department's new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, it considers the unification of the parallel and often redundant work, I mean, excuse me, that was the first one. The second one is the unification of the parallel and often redundant work of the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA under the Endangered Species Act and the..."
Hearing Legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American Outdoors Act 250.” (10:00AM local time)
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 12, 2026 · Transcript · 3 transcript matches
WESTERMAN, BRUCE "field hearing here in my hometown of beautiful Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. I'm going to take a moment of personal privilege just to explain a little bit about the Natural Resources Committee and the work that we're doing here today. This is a standing committee in the United States House of Representatives. My name is Bruce Westerman. I'm the congressman from this area, born and raised in Hot Springs, and I got the great honor of being the chairman of the committee this year. The Natural Resources Committee has a broad jurisdiction over all of our federal lands, which includes the..."
Hearing “Oversight of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act”
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Mar 4, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
SPEAKER_08 "And I think that the public is expecting the government to lead in this regard. Thank you for that question because that strikes at the work that I did in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I established urban treaties back when I was with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Our first one, as I recall, was New Orleans with Mayor"
Hearing Business meeting to consider the nominations of Sean Donahue, of Florida, and Jessica Kramer, of Wisconsin, both to be an Assistant Administrator...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Apr 9, 2025 · Request transcript
Hearing Hearings to examine the nominations of Brian Nesvik, of Wyoming, to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Jessica...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Mar 26, 2025 · Request transcript
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"This collaboration led to the reintroduction of elk in West Virginia after we lost our elk population in the mid-1800s. So, I'm glad to see the service has prioritized state-led conservation efforts under this administration. Strong bipartisan action from Congress has also led to wins for our wildlife and conservation efforts. Last year, the EPW committee passed the America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act. This law reauthorized important efforts such as the North American..."
Hearing Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Energy.
senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee · Apr 22, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
SPEAKER_02 "there is some thought about potential duplication or other alternative programs through whether U.S. Fish and Wildlife, we are trying to gain some efficiencies with also proposed in the budget the $178 million that would come over from NOAA to U.S. Fish and Wildlife to eliminate the redundancy of trying to manage two separate staffs on two separate endangered fish lists. So I think there is some thinking that with the work that was going on there that that frees up having to do some of this in a third area through grants inside of"
Hearing • H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025” • H.R. 2317 (Rep. Amodei), “Northern Nevada Economic...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
SPEAKER_05 "It upholds confidence in the regulatory process by avoiding retroactive changes to legally conducted activities. And regulated hunting supports conservation by providing funding and creating incentives to maintain healthy wildlife populations and habitat. Retroactively changing the rules creates uncertainty for sportsmen who invest significant time, significant money to comply, to comply with wildlife laws. These bears weren't poached. They were legally taken by, as bears that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said were sustainable and manageable. Fairness matters. Individuals who followed..."
Hearing Markup of H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250”
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 24, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
HAGEMAN, HARRIET M. "GAOA 2.0 will open new avenues for public-private collaboration, authorize additional flexibility for agency spending, and enhance transparency with a new publicly searchable deferred maintenance database to be made available online. As chair of the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee, I am pleased that this legislation will additionally enhance recreation and sportsman access on lands maintained by the Fish and Wildlife Service, thereby expanding the ability for all Americans to enjoy our open spaces. And finally, this bill will prohibit conservation funds from being used for new..."
Hearing "Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest System"
house Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee · Jun 25, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
SALINAS, ANDREA "She brings a diverse background in conservation stemming from her deep appreciation for the Pacific Northwest landscape and her desire to protect, sustain, and restore its important ecosystems. Prior to her current role with Cascade Forest Conservancy, thank you, Ms. Whitney. Previously she was program manager of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Columbia Basin Water Transaction Program. She also served on the board of the Tualatin River Keepers and currently serves on the board of Mount St. Helens Institute. As a native Oregonian, Ms. Whitney has a lifelong relationship with the..."
Hearing Legislative hearing on H.R. 1676 (Rep. Donalds), “Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025.” H.R. 3538 (Rep. Garbarino), “Wildlife Confiscations Network...
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Jun 24, 2025 · Request transcript
Hearing Committee on Natural Resources Full Committee Markup of: • H.R. 281 (Rep. Hageman), “Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025” (Amendments to...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2025 · Request transcript
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"through a biodiversity crash, often called the sixth mass extinction. This mass extinction is unique because it's being driven primarily by human activity. Climate change, deforestation, habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and more. We need to do better by what wildlife remains. That is your job at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Zeroing out wildlife conservation funding for imperiled and iconic species does not help. Invoking the God Squad to remove Endangered Species Act..."
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"in the position for which you've been nominated based on your background and experience. You say you have a tremendous appreciation of the land, waters, and wildlife managed by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Appreciating things as you sacrifice"
Testimony GREG SHEEHAN
Hearings to examine how the BLM land use planning process under the Fe...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Nov 19, 2025
"My testimony also reflects a lifetime in state, federal, and nonprofit conservation service. I spent 25 years with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, including five as the Director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, later served as Acting Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and then as the Utah State Director for the Bureau of Land Management under both the Trump and Biden administrations, overseeing 22.8 million acres of federal land. That experience from energy and..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fi...
senate Appropriations Committee · Apr 22, 2026
"there is some thought about potential duplication or other alternative programs through whether U.S. Fish and Wildlife, we are trying to gain some efficiencies with also proposed in the budget the $178 million that would come over from NOAA to U.S. Fish and Wildlife to eliminate the redundancy of trying to manage two separate staffs on two separate endangered fish lists. So I think there is some thinking that with the work that was going on there that that frees up having to do some of this in..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fi...
senate Appropriations Committee · Apr 22, 2026
"there is some thought about potential duplication or other alternative programs through whether U.S. Fish and Wildlife, we are trying to gain some efficiencies with also proposed in the budget the $178 million that would come over from NOAA to U.S. Fish and Wildlife to eliminate the redundancy of trying to manage two separate staffs on two separate endangered fish lists. So I think there is some thinking that with the work that was going on there that that frees up having to do some of this in..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
• H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendme...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"It upholds confidence in the regulatory process by avoiding retroactive changes to legally conducted activities. And regulated hunting supports conservation by providing funding and creating incentives to maintain healthy wildlife populations and habitat. Retroactively changing the rules creates uncertainty for sportsmen who invest significant time, significant money to comply, to comply with wildlife laws. These bears weren't poached. They were legally taken by, as bears that the U.S. Fish and..."
Testimony HAGEMAN, HARRIET M.
Markup of H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"GAOA 2.0 will open new avenues for public-private collaboration, authorize additional flexibility for agency spending, and enhance transparency with a new publicly searchable deferred maintenance database to be made available online. As chair of the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee, I am pleased that this legislation will additionally enhance recreation and sportsman access on lands maintained by the Fish and Wildlife Service, thereby expanding the ability for all Americans to enjoy..."
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
Markup of H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"streamlining environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act, allowing for the disposal of assets on the deferred maintenance list, and new prohibitions on acquiring interest in land or decommissioning forest service and BLM roads. Since passing out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week, we've been engaged in productive negotiations with our Senate counterparts to ensure the House's bipartisan priorities are reflected in the legislation. As a result, the..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Apr 29, 2026
"Two of those include unifications that are across Departments, coordinated by the White House and with the support of the multiple Departments, and a further one is just within our own Department. One of the two, the further strategic unification of wildland fire programs into the Department's new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, it considers the unification of the parallel and often redundant work, I mean, excuse me, that was the first one. The second one is the unification of the parallel and..."
Testimony LEE, MIKE
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"And today we're going to hear from those nominees. They are Mr. William Haig to be the assistant secretary of the Interior for Insular, International and Ocean Affairs. Mr. Kevin Lilly to be the assistant secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. And Mr. Kaveh Farzad to be the assistant secretary of Energy for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy. I thank President Trump for sending us these"
Testimony LEE, MIKE
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"If confirmed, these nominees will be tasked with responsibilities that significantly affect how Americans access their national parks, how we work with our territories and how the United States advances its energy interests abroad. The assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, and yes, those are both ands, they're not separated by a comma. I don't know who named these, but it was 100 years ago or so when they created it. It was two ands, it's not a run-on sentence, it just is what it..."
Testimony LEE, MIKE
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"He holds four degrees and is now pursuing a fifth. Our second witness today will be Mr. Kevin Lilley of Texas to be the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. He served in that role in an acting capacity since June 2025, overseeing the National Park Service with its 63 national parks covering 85 million acres. The Assistant Secretary also manages the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is composed of over 850 million acres on land and"
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"Thank you, sir. Good morning, Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and members of the committee. I'm both honored and humbled that President Trump has nominated me and for Secretary Burgum's trust in me to serve as Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. I am also joined by family and friends, including my big sister, Patricia, my wife, Leslie, my son,"
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"I carry into this mission a sense of purpose rooted in humility and gratitude, and I'm also very grateful for the dedicated career men and women who have faithfully served in the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. I am inspired each day by their public service. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with our tribal, state, local, and external partners, as well as our gateway communities and hundreds of friends groups. supporting the men and women of the Fish and Wildlife..."
Testimony HEINRICH, MARTIN
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"as opposed to livestock, that have not been detected and that the federal government is not adequately focusing on, in part due to the lack of staff on the ground in our public lands, parks, and wildlife refuges. What resources does Fish and Wildlife Service have to monitor for New World screwworm cases? There are a number of national wildlife refuges in South Texas, and I think it's important that we make sure that we're using those lands to be part of the detection infrastructure for New..."
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"That has now, through various means, entered into the United States. So as this is a primarily Department of Agriculture issue, your mention of wildlife is one in which our job and our mission, sir, is to collaborate and utilize the technology that we have within the Fish and Wildlife, whether that be technological advancements, drones, algorithms, trying to determine particular locations of vulnerable species, and work closely with the Department of Agriculture to try to identify hotspots,..."
Testimony HOEVEN, JOHN
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"Matter of fact, I'm a hunter. I love to hunt. Maybe you do too. I don't know. But it's a really important area for waterfowl. So we appreciate all that, but we also have really good farm country up there, and unfortunately, too often we hear from landowners and our farmers that they're very frustrated with fish and wildlife services, and they feel that there's inconsistent enforcement of the easements, and a lot of time, a real lack of common sense. And these guys own the"
Testimony DAINES, STEVE
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"Mr. Lilley, we had a great conversation prior to this hearing. I look forward to hearing more from you today about your priorities. Both the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service have a large and lasting impact on the state of Montana. So I look forward to hearing how we will be able to work together once confirmed. Last week, this committee advanced our bipartisan America the Beautiful Act to fund deferred maintenance projects on federal lands, including those managed by the Fish..."
Testimony DAINES, STEVE
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"Mr. Lilley, after the America the Beautiful Act is passed into law, do you commit to working closely with the states and individual units to quickly and efficiently reduce the deferred maintenance backlog? Mr. Lilley, the Fish and Wildlife Service is currently reviewing the Section 4D rule for grizzly bears. You knew I was going to talk about grizzly"
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, t...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 23, 2026
"appropriately and that they are consistent with the administration's priorities. Yes, sir. As we discussed at length, I'm also a bit of a numbers guy. And I think that the tragedy in this entire story is that twice the Fish and Wildlife Service, through enormous efforts involving literally hundreds of scientists, population modelers, fish and wildlife collaborators at the state level, lawyers, public opinion, and good science, have twice determined that the grizzly bear was no longer threatened..."
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"All right. Well, good morning, everyone. Nice to to see you and particularly you, Director Nesek. Thank you for coming back to the Environment and Public Works Committee. We sure appreciate having you here today. The Trump administration's fiscal year FY2027 budget request for the Fish and Wildlife Service reflects a return to an effective and common-sense approach, I think, to carrying out the service's mission while expanding access to public lands. I'm particularly appreciative that under..."
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"statement. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Mr. Nesvig, welcome. The Fish and Wildlife Service is our nation's oldest conservation agency, dating back to 1871, and it's the only agency whose primary responsibility is to conserve and protect America's wildlife. A big job for a small scientist with decades of experience and expertise have flourished at the Fish and Wildlife Service, ensuring the generations of Americans can exist on the same planet scientist with decades of experience and..."
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"as the California condor, the bald eagle, the monk seal, and others. These responsibilities are not to be taken lightly, so I'm deeply disheartened by the doggy-fueled antics over the past year, compounded by the administration's proposed 20% funding cut for next year. There are reports that the Fish and Wildlife Service has lost as much as a quarter of its staff. The doggy boys chased out nearly 1,800 employees, purging at least 530 biologists and over 100 regional senior staff. These people..."
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"rhinos, and great apes. Not cutting science support, which provides technical assistance to local communities for wildlife and habitat conservation. Not cutting state and tribal grants, which help conserve fish and wildlife before they require protection under the Endangered Species Act. In your confirmation hearing, you spoke openly about cooperative federalism, but your budget goes out of its way to provide fewer resources to our states. Most managers at our nation's wildlife refuges report..."
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"in my state moving forward. Director Nesvig, thank you for being here. I look forward to hearing how you intend to build on the progress you have made at the service over the last few months and your plans for the months ahead. Ranking Member Whitehouse, I now recognize you for your Thank you, Senator Whitehouse. So, this morning we have, we are joined by the Honorable Brian Nesvick, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I look forward to hearing from Director Nesvick about the..."
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"And I'm a coastal state, and I was interested in what oceans expertise you would make sure the service provided. Now your FY27 budget actually moves things from NOAA to Fish and Wildlife, so there's even more demand for oceans and coastal expertise. How are you doing on"
Testimony THE HONORABLE BRIAN NESVIK
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"So certainly if this merger, this integration was to come to fruition, there is existing expertise within NOAA NIMS that potentially would be available. The details of that potential are not worked out yet, but certainly we would leverage expertise that currently relies within NIMS. And then within the Fish and Wildlife Service, we do have several very highly qualified biologists that understand marine biology, that understand Marine Mammal Protection Act, and we do have biologists that work on..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE BRIAN NESVIK
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Well, it's a reality, or I guess the impetus is that we had to make some very hard decisions to reduce spending in line with the President's priority to ensure his commitment can come to fruition to reduce government spending. We are at a point, and we need to do our part as the Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce spending. We made hard"
Testimony RICKETTS, PETE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"researchers have carried out a propagation program that has released millions of age zero Pallid Sturgeon and over 150,000 Pallid Sturgeon with over one year old into the Missouri River. These propagation efforts have continued with the establishment of the Missouri River Recovery Program by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2006. Under Section 7 of the ESA, the Corps is required to consult with Fish and Wildlife Service. The recovery plan sets numeric standards for numeric standard for..."
Testimony RICKETTS, PETE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"numeric standard for downlisting the Pallid Sturgeon, so we want to have 5,000 genetically diverse adult fish in each management unit sustained for over two generations, so we're Pallid Sturgeon population is estimated at 2,517 fish as of October 2024. So after more than 30 years of attempting this, we've made it about halfway there. I will note that about two-thirds of the fish I just mentioned are actually from the propagation efforts. However, we can see that we're not making a ton of..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE BRIAN NESVIK
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"at the Great Lakes and upstream as well. We've been able to provide significant support through our, we have an invasive species task force within the Fish and Wildlife Service that we've been able to use to provide expertise and also help. This year, I don't remember the number, it's several folks that we've hired to help"
Testimony SCHIFF, ADAM B.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Director Nesbitt, in December I sent a letter with 19 of my colleagues to you and Secretary Burgum raising concerns about the staffing crisis at Fish and Wildlife. Some estimates suggest the agency has lost 26% of its"
Testimony LUMMIS, CYNTHIA M.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Thank you, Madam Chairman, and welcome, Mr. Nesvick. So, how much time and money does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spend defending itself in court? And it comes out of your budget when you have to defend yourself in"
Testimony LUMMIS, CYNTHIA M.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"So, litigation against your decisions, especially if it's by an environmental group, and let me use an example. The grizzly bear was twice delisted and determined to be recovered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That predates your time here. And the courts determined that that decision needed to be vacated. So, a lot of time and money was spent preparing to defend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determination, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service"
Testimony LUMMIS, CYNTHIA M.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"So, litigation is taking money away from species recovery. Is that true? I was interested in Senator Ricketts' questions about the swift fox, because we used to have a whole lot of swift fox on our ranch in Laramie County, Wyoming, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used to come in and trap them with our permission and take them to places where they needed to increase the population. So, sometimes with these species, it's just a matter of concentrations of a species someplace and less of..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE BRIAN NESVIK
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Yeah, absolutely. So, first and foremost, I think one of the things that I've made a priority for Fish and Wildlife Service and the way that we go about our job every day is we have to remember every morning when we wake up who we work for, and superior service to the American people is a top priority. We are working hard, as I've mentioned, in some of our work with the refuge system to figure out how to run the refuge system better and make it better for the American"
Testimony LUMMIS, CYNTHIA M.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"wildlife agency, Wyoming Game and Fish, or whoever, to either deal with an invasive speech or to use scientific data that's generated by the state Game and Fish to provide you with additional data to help inform your decisions about threatened and endangered species? Is there progress being made to implement collective federalism so states and locals who have boots on the ground experience can help inform the debate for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Well, thank you, Director. Appreciate..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE BRIAN NESVIK
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"With regards to the delivery of Pittman Robertson, Dingell Johnson, Wallet Brill, I don't anticipate any issues with, you know, there have been changes in, not necessarily specific to your delivery, within the department there have been movements of employees. It hasn't necessarily been a loss to the Fish and Wildlife Service when a certain group of employees were moved from one particular bureau or into the department. And so there still continues to be resources to be able to do that..."
Testimony ALSOBROOKS, ANGELA D.
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Okay. Thank you. Also want to ask you, so current Fish and Wildlife Service policy provides compensatory hunting days for states that prohibit Sunday hunting for migratory game birds. However, the existing framework does not provide sufficient flexibility for states to adopt species-specific Sunday hunting policies while preserving those compensatory"
Testimony PADILLA, ALEX
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"If we don't stop the golden mussels soon, it could have devastating impacts, not just on Lake Tahoe's ecosystem and the clarity of the water, but on the $5 billion annual recreation and tourism-based economy, and that's just Lake Tahoe. The mussels are rapidly spreading throughout California's water system and could cost hundreds of millions of dollars per year to treat and remove if we don't continue to be aggressive through inspections and removal. So, Director, what actions is the Fish and..."
Testimony SIMPSON, MICHAEL K.
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"that are currently within the Department of Interior, that being the BLM, the BIA, National Parks, and Fish and Wildlife Service. We're unifying them, and they are currently within the Department of Interior, but we do not transfer the wildfire fighting from the Forest Service over to the Department of Interior. The bill continues to support for federal wildland firefighters and provides additional funding for firefighter pay, helping to improve recruitment and retention, and giving financial..."
Testimony BISHOP, SANFORD D.
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"we need to do better than funding levels that are provided in this legislation. The bill also cuts funding for the Bureau of Labor, of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey. These agencies are tasked with stewarding our national resources for future"
Testimony CUELLAR, HENRY
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"You have Carrizo Cane, which we've been trying to address on the Homeland Security, the Ag-Alto USDA, and now we're asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expedite efforts to eradicate the invasive species, not only the Carrizo, but what's in the river, because that has an impact, not only the quality of water that we have, it's a serious threat, but also to the ecosystem in general, to the water flow, to the water"
Testimony UNKNOWN
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"It's the heart of our economy, our way of life, and part of who we are. Our beaches, fisheries, tourism industry, and coastal communities all depend on clean water and healthy ocean and millions of families from across the country around the world join Floridians to experience what we're fortunate to call home. Our beaches, our wildlife, our fishing, and natural beauty, and our natural treasure are part of who we are. We have and we believe strongly we have on a to protect them for future..."
Testimony UNKNOWN
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"And somebody doesn't like them, so they're going to try to do it by way of a rider, undo them by way of a rider. Others would eliminate other kinds of protections, whether it's fish and wildlife, native species, conservation"
Testimony UNKNOWN
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and ...
house Appropriations Committee · Jun 3, 2026
"Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have an amendment at the desk and I ask for unanimous consent for the reading to be considered dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentlelady is recognized for remarks on her amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My amendment is very simple. It strikes the policy writers in this bill that undermine the Endangered Species Act and threaten the populations of the numerous endangered species. There are 15 separate..."
Testimony LEE, MIKE
Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the Jo...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 16, 2026
"decades of experience to the job. The office he's been nominated to lead is responsible for America's territories and our relationship with the freely associated states at a time when the Chinese Communist Party is seeking greater influence throughout the Pacific. Kevin Lilley has served as acting assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks since June of last year. He's led major private sector institutions, served the state of Texas, and spent decades in military service. The decisions..."
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Good morning, everybody, and it's a pleasure to be here. This morning, we will hear from President Trump's nominee to be the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife at the U.S. Department of Interior, Mr. Kevin Lilly. Welcome, Mr. Lilly, to the Environment and Public Works"
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"and most recently at the Department of Interior in the role as Assistant Secretary. He's been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, where he would provide senior leadership, policy leadership for both U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service. The Fish and Wildlife"
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Thank you very much, Chairman. We just had Brian Nesvick before the committee to discuss the Fish and Wildlife Service budget. We're now here to discuss the nomination of Mr. Nesvick's"
Testimony WHITEHOUSE, SHELDON
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"I remind you that you'll be overseeing two bureaus, the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, which have jurisdiction over some of God's greatest"
Testimony THE HONORABLE TED CRUZ
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for the leniency. I had to gavel in in commerce before running down here, so thank you for the flexibility. Good morning, Madam Chair, Ranking Member Whitehouse, distinguished members of this committee. It is my privilege to introduce my friend, Kevin Lilly, President Trump's nominee to serve as the next Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife at the Department of the Interior. Kevin is a Texas native who attended the University of Texas at Austin for his..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE TED CRUZ
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"and I have no doubt that he will continue to lead with conviction and integrity as the assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife of the Department of the Interior. Kevin is a good man and he will do an excellent job. I strongly encourage my colleagues to"
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Good morning, Chairman Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, and members of the committee. I'm honored and humbled that President Trump has nominated me for Secretary and for Secretary Burgum's trust in me to serve as Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. I'm joined here today by my wife, Leslie, both of my sons, John and James, although James seems to be dealing with D.C. parking and is trying to find a place, so we'll expect him shortly, as well..."
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"I carry into this mission a sense of purpose rooted in humility and gratitude. I am also grateful for the dedicated career men and women that serve faithfully in the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. I am inspired each day by their public service. As Assistant Secretary, my focus will be straightforward, keeping our national parks open, safe, and properly staffed for the families who visit them, supporting the men and women of the Fish and Wildlife Service in their work..."
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Madam Chairman. That's a great question and yes, I have spent a great deal of time with Director Nesvig as well as the Fish and Wildlife staff and other staff members within the Department of the Interior. I think that the fundamental reality is that many things, while well intended, become subject to the unintended consequences of their own action. I think that is reflective in the Endangered Species"
Testimony MERKLEY, JEFF
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"So occasionally, or sometimes more than occasionally, there have been programs where the administration has not distributed the funds. And one area that I'm particularly concerned about is that of the international affairs programs in the Fish and Wildlife Service. And these are the multinational species conservation funding. The whole goal is for the United States to participate in programs that reduce the illegal trading of animal parts, which there is some of the syndicates that are involved..."
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Human trafficking, animal trafficking, all of it is run by cartels and is an enormous business. I can commit to you also that we are working to enhance and increase our law enforcement capabilities as it relates to our special agents within the Fish and Wildlife. And I will work with your officer on this particular"
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"probability analysis, so that we can more efficiently locate where they are. Part of it is finding them, especially with four-legged invasive species, but then also to continue to work with the Fish and Wildlife Service in our robust invasive species program, which I'm fully supportive of and realize that it is a problem and it is one that we need to spend more time"
Testimony KEVIN LILLY
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Ass...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"culture within an organization is critical. And creating a culture of excellence, responsibility, accountability always starts with the leaders on the ground and within the National Park Service and certainly also with Fish and Wildlife and our refuge managers. A park superintendent can make a huge difference. And especially as it relates to parks that sometimes are remote. And so I have made a commitment to the Secretary and to the National Park Service that I am taking a personal interest in..."
Testimony MERKLEY, JEFF
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fi...
senate Appropriations Committee · Apr 22, 2026
"And this pattern of reckless cuts, it extends across departments. Takes the Fish and Wildlife Service. Proposes a significant cut to the National Wildlife Refuge"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
• H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendme...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"for bringing this bill forward. Look, this bill releases polar bears that were legally hunted in Canada to hunters in the United States, and the 2008 listing of polar bears under the ESA meant that under MMPA, importation of them was illegal. The hunters who hunted these polar bears, they complied with every law and every regulation that existed at the time of the hunt. Polar bears were harvested from populations that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had already approved as scientifically..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Apr 29, 2026
"the equipment and the tools they need to operate to keep our national capital region fully staffed and safe. Simply put, this budget puts America's first and Americans first while ensuring peace and prosperity for our country's future. I deeply appreciate this committee's support for the Department's mission, and I look forward to working closely with each of you to advance the President's priorities. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman. As this committee knows, there are four separate firefighting..."
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Business meeting to consider S.4949, to provide for improvements to th...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"significant needs while ensuring that we provide the right tools and flexibility to address the unique circumstances faced by rural and small communities in my state. Significantly, the bill increases the annual authorized funding levels for the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds, provides resources to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in our water systems, and you'll recall we had a hearing on that issue, and supports the EPA's water workforce development initiatives. The..."
Testimony CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE
Business meeting to consider S.4949, to provide for improvements to th...
senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"staff, and everyone. Very good. This is no small feat. I will note that the roll call vote on presidential number, oh well, I should say with that the legislation as amendment is favorably reported. The roll call vote on presidential nominee number 806-5 Kevin Lilly of Texas to be assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife will be held at a later committee meeting. So now I would like to recognize members who would like to speak. I know Senator Curtis, I'll go to you first since you mentioned to..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administr...
house Energy and Commerce Committee · Jun 30, 2026
"There were 25,000 locations just got through our permitting process, thanks to that tool. We're working with other federal agencies, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Council on Historic Preservation, to expedite things at the federal level. But as you said, there are also a lot of challenges at the state and local level. And so we are working with states to streamline processing, expedite timelines, reduce permitting costs, because ultimately that's what will make the BEAD program successful..."
Testimony SALINAS, ANDREA
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"She brings a diverse background in conservation stemming from her deep appreciation for the Pacific Northwest landscape and her desire to protect, sustain, and restore its important ecosystems. Prior to her current role with Cascade Forest Conservancy, thank you, Ms. Whitney. Previously she was program manager of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Columbia Basin Water Transaction Program. She also served on the board of the Tualatin River Keepers and currently serves on the board of..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"We do wildfire detection and suppression. We do wildfire prevention work. We do fish and wildlife habitat restoration work, trail and construction, road repair and maintenance. Across this country, the forest product sector employs tens of thousands of certified foresters, engineers, scientists, welders, mechanics, heavy equipment operators, IT"
Testimony SPEAKER_16
Oversight hearing titled "Beneath the Surface: Earth MRI and America's...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"should do to expand these types of partnerships? to see the support for Earth MRI today, I have to say that I am alarmed by some of the other developments affecting our science programs across the federal government. That includes the That includes the complete dismantling of the Ecosystems Mission Area at the USGS, which works on climate adaptation, fish and wildlife research, sea level rise, and countless other topics that are essential to the well-being of our country's lands, waters, and..."
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
Legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 12, 2026
"field hearing here in my hometown of beautiful Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. I'm going to take a moment of personal privilege just to explain a little bit about the Natural Resources Committee and the work that we're doing here today. This is a standing committee in the United States House of Representatives. My name is Bruce Westerman. I'm the congressman from this area, born and raised in Hot Springs, and I got the great honor of being the chairman of the committee this year. The..."
Testimony SPEAKER_01
Legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 12, 2026
"and even that figure may not truly reflect the time it takes to move these important dollars out the door and into your districts. This is why the Department of the Interior believes that any reauthorization must include meaningful reforms that help us smartly deploy capital faster for the benefit, enjoyment, and the accessibility of the American people. What you need to know is deferred maintenance has grown because this historic funding mechanism has completely changed the way the Park..."
Testimony SPEAKER_01
Legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 12, 2026
"I hope you see that is what we want to do everywhere. Yeah, I think we have different gating criteria where parks, BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, and BIA all individually make an assessment on what gets sent up. But then it can get stuck in the region. And then it can go up to DC and get stuck again. And then go to a different person in a different office and say, is this really a good"
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Mr. Benz, Mr. Chairman, it varies between NEPA and the Endangered Species Act. Both of those are primary litigation tools, yes, sir. Chairman, I think it's always good to look at statutes and legislation that we have and review that to see what can be done. But I also know administratively the Fish and Wildlife Service is taking a hard look at rules and regulations, things that they could do, whether Congress acts or not. But I think it's in your purview to take a look at those statutes. And we..."
Hearing Hearings to examine challenges and opportunities with implementing the Endangered Species Act.
senate Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee · Mar 18, 2026 · Transcript
RICKETTS, PETE "While all states represented on this committee have some local success stories, there are a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the implementation of the ESA. First, the focus should remain on recovery. The purpose of the ESA is not simply to list species, but to recover them to the point where federal protections are no longer needed. Efforts have been made to improve clarity in ESA implementation. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during this took steps to provide additional regulatory clarity by rescinding the blanket rule and providing clearer definitions of..."
Hearing An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including post-2026 operations negotiations.
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_18 "statement on this. Thank you, Chairman Lee, and thank you for convening this hearing on the Colorado River Basin. It could not be more timely. We're joined today by witnesses who understand how high the stakes are and what our communities stand to lose if the seven basin states fail to reach a deal on the future management of the Colorado River. The Colorado River is the backbone of water supply for millions of people, a cornerstone of Western agriculture and energy production, and a lifeline for tribal communities, fish, wildlife, and working landscapes across the basin. In New Mexico, every..."
Hearing Hearings to examine how the BLM land use planning process under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) affects permitting for energy,...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Nov 19, 2025 · Transcript
GREG SHEEHAN "My testimony also reflects a lifetime in state, federal, and nonprofit conservation service. I spent 25 years with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, including five as the Director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, later served as Acting Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and then as the Utah State Director for the Bureau of Land Management under both the Trump and Biden administrations, overseeing 22.8 million acres of federal land. That experience from energy and mineral development to wildlife, recreation, fires, and"
Hearing Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Treasury.
senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee · Apr 22, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_02 "there is some thought about potential duplication or other alternative programs through whether U.S. Fish and Wildlife, we are trying to gain some efficiencies with also proposed in the budget the $178 million that would come over from NOAA to U.S. Fish and Wildlife to eliminate the redundancy of trying to manage two separate staffs on two separate endangered fish lists. So I think there is some thinking that with the work that was going on there that that frees up having to do some of this in a third area through grants inside of"
Hearing Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
house Communications and Technology Subcommittee · Jun 30, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_02 "There were 25,000 locations just got through our permitting process, thanks to that tool. We're working with other federal agencies, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Council on Historic Preservation, to expedite things at the federal level. But as you said, there are also a lot of challenges at the state and local level. And so we are working with states to streamline processing, expedite timelines, reduce permitting costs, because ultimately that's what will make the BEAD program successful and"
Hearing Oversight hearing titled "Beneath the Surface: Earth MRI and America's Resource Potential"
house Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee · Jun 25, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_16 "should do to expand these types of partnerships? to see the support for Earth MRI today, I have to say that I am alarmed by some of the other developments affecting our science programs across the federal government. That includes the That includes the complete dismantling of the Ecosystems Mission Area at the USGS, which works on climate adaptation, fish and wildlife research, sea level rise, and countless other topics that are essential to the well-being of our country's lands, waters, and communities. There have been severe funding cuts at NSF, Department of Energy, Research, NIH, and..."
Hearing Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests and Outlook for the 2026 Wildfire Year.”
house Federal Lands Subcommittee · Jun 4, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_02 "Mr. Benz, Mr. Chairman, it varies between NEPA and the Endangered Species Act. Both of those are primary litigation tools, yes, sir. Chairman, I think it's always good to look at statutes and legislation that we have and review that to see what can be done. But I also know administratively the Fish and Wildlife Service is taking a hard look at rules and regulations, things that they could do, whether Congress acts or not. But I think it's in your purview to take a look at those statutes. And we can sure work with you if you're looking for recommendations on things we could we could work..."
Hearing Oversight Hearing on 4 Bills: •H.R. 4219 (Rep. Case), “National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025” •H.R. 6251 (Rep....
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Apr 16, 2026 · Request transcript
Witness: David Miko, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hearing Legislative hearing on: H.R. 1885 (Rep. Murphy), “Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment Act of 2025.” H.R....
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · May 20, 2025 · Request transcript
Witness: David Miko, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hearing American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Hearing
house Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee · Feb 27, 2025 · Request transcript
Witness: Jason Schlender, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
Hearing Oversight Hearing on "All in for America250: Public-Private Partnerships Supporting America’s Semiquincentennial on our Public Lands"
house Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee · Feb 10, 2026 · Request transcript
Witness: Mr. Jeff Trandahl, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Hearing Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies – American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness (Day 1, Morning Session)
house Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee · Mar 17, 2026 · Request transcript
Witness: Jason Schlender, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
Hearing Legislative hearing on: • H.R. 180 (Rep. McClintock), “Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025” • H.R. 3706 (Rep. Babin),...
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Jul 22, 2025 · Request transcript
Witness: William Holcomb, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Hearing Legislative Hearing on: H.R.3276 (Rep. Dingell), “Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025”, H.R. 6021 (Rep. Begich), “Archie...
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Feb 4, 2026 · Request transcript
Witness: Mr. Matthew Bryant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement
Hearing Legislative Hearing on:H.R. 338 (Rep. Costa), “Every Drop Counts Act” H.R. 1514 (Rep. Ezell), “Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act”...
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Nov 19, 2025 · Request transcript
Witness: Dr. Christopher Sweetman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission- Division of Marine Fisheries Management