[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6083642,"mediaKeyId","2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151","parentId",2930718,"title","House subcommittee hears competing views on bill to block Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge land protection plan","audioSeconds",5246,"startMs",1274000,"endMs",6520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151&start=1274&end=6520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151/thumbnail_1274000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083642/House-subcommittee-hears-competing-views-on-bill-to-block-Muleshoe-National-Wildlife-Refuge-land-protection-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083642-a7ee0c504430ce5e01b44a8010008bce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137335&Signature=SiQr4U8bOvgDH-1qNbCDurUaCdd4iGH5vOY7F2XfqrAsywTKQOPpyCnSx8l8vTb14dX86L8k8rS5ipoQfqb98pwDw5BEnc4X1llhfhdkVNmsZ0Cq8ELz3x19~uV9X1YATQsfUcWOjLijKzDi~Gdg3i7CiaRoOeeYFAJQciMxvu7Q9x07UOu4Ow02I6qlFRvXrsty-8FNBzcI2Xp3hucqOt8ByBC2oSj~2eP8Qj25uC5IHRp8-Kz256~R1LSvUQV8jCmN~Ji8f~58NdIPjfni0LstQAxWKL9lWxiiAGNYkcGXvM6RgiyUQE8KnhK7KoJhzIUPB-77jPBzcmnZgLG62w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources","date","2025-04-09T17:59:31.18Z","article","At a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries hearing, members considered H.R. 839, a bill that would prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing a land protection plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Representative Arrington of Texas introduced the measure and framed it as a check on federal land expansion.

The bill matters because the proposal would allow the Service to acquire interest in as much as 700,000 acres around the current refuge footprint, which the subcommittee heard would be an enormous increase from the refuge's existing 6,440 acres. Supporters including Rep. Arrington argued that expanding federal ownership would harm local economies, while opponents, including Rep. Huffman and landowners who testified, said the plan relies on voluntary transactions and protects landowner choice.

Rep. Arrington (Representative, Texas) said the plan was part of a broader federal land acquisition effort and argued Congress should block the expansion while the Refuge System faces a deferred maintenance backlog. \"We are $36,000,000,000,000 in debt ... and somehow, we think we need to spend more money on behalf of the taxpayers to buy more land that we don't manage,\" Arrington said during remarks opposing the plan.

Rep. Huffman (Representative) and Rep. Hoyle (Ranking Member, Subcommittee) disputed the \"land grab\" characterization and pointed out that the Fish and Wildlife Service may only acquire land from willing sellers. Huffman said, \"Fish and Wildlife Service cannot seize land. It may only acquire land, water, or other interests from willing sellers. Full stop.\"

Two West Texas landowners testified against H.R. 839. John Rowley, a rancher who said he has restored about 1,400 acres to native habitat, told the subcommittee that he opposes congressional restrictions on whom he may sell or donate his land to, saying the program is voluntary and \"you can make your own decision.\" Brian Baker, president of the board of Texas Producers Cooperative, testified that an expansion of lands taken out of production could shrink local tax rolls and school enrollment; he told the panel Sudan Independent School District has annual revenue of about $7,362,000 and spends roughly $17,000 per student.

Committee members also discussed the National Wildlife Refuge System's maintenance backlog. The chair noted testimony that the refuge system has more than $2.65 billion in deferred maintenance, a point used by some members to argue the Service should address upkeep before expanding its footprint.

The subcommittee held the matter for further consideration; no final vote on H.R. 839 was recorded at the hearing. The measure was the subject of extended questioning and testimony but not of a markup or recorded floor action.

Looking ahead, committee members said they may seek additional information from the Fish and Wildlife Service and local stakeholders before moving the bill further through the committee process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Hearing | Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee","oneSentenceSummary","At a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries hearing, members considered H.R. 839, which would bar the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing a land protection plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge.","taxTitle","Natural Resources: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1983,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6083637,"Fishery producers press Congress to reinstate national depredation order for double-crested cormorants",5222,6496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151&start=1274&end=6496","/articles/6083637/Fishery-producers-press-Congress-to-reinstate-national-depredation-order-for-double-crested-cormorants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083637-b282701003cb92abb7d9c887f6991e40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137335&Signature=exTLVnqhrd4g1e1Akax0lme3Mkpa-a0A2dnUP5tzlVTnccozSt-CenbzMbOFaagO~OqJIl7v2pRgNWqM4IGV8G1IOpS~cCDhXrjYiIHNdE8UIKiCJKTY8GiSJASlYVZXpETCly8zbqL6LWUgIMVUZRGifCTp0ghBOthb1r70AwoPzsJBNxT55aNc0FQieCrAZ-vWNJMVXVhzo3Mf9nnTuaOCTcqWFQCrFjATnSbTItU6Qx4DVGWo00bnFfDKyrhYkJg6lkVerha0SkhPV4qpaEm99p5wweBHPgX7tsIjSb5h9DJXnbeVQQNVzG5N0E8yipc8u51jylzfGfNV5T~NOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rep. Ezell of Mississippi introduced H.R. 2293, the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, at a House Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing and was joined by catfish and aquaculture producers who urged reinstating a national aquaculture depredation order for double-crested cormorants.

Proponents said the previous national depredation order, in place from 1998 until vacated by court action in 2016, allowed aquaculturists faster, less costly responses to bird depredation than the current system of individual permits. In testimony, a catfish farmer described annual losses and operating burdens: \"We're losing 5 to 10% of our crop every year just to bird depredation,\" a witness said, and cited industry estimates of roughly $64,000,000 in annual losses attributed to cormorant predation.

Witnesses described their first-line defenses as nonlethal harassment techniques such as noise cannons, pyrotechnics and regular patrols and said lethal removal is used only as a last resort. They also explained the reporting and permitting steps now required: farm operators apply for individual depredation permits, estimate how many birds they might take in a year and must report takes to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Several members, including Rep. Hoyle, pressed for the Fish and Wildlife Service to testify because the agency would implement any new national order. Hoyle said she was not sure what problem the bill would solve and warned that without the Service's perspective it was hard to assess whether a nationwide approach was necessary. Rep. Huffman echoed concerns about needing the agency's input and full staffing for the Migratory Bird Office.

Supporters argued a national order would reduce administrative burdens and allow more timely response across many farms rather than thousands of individual permit applications. Opponents and members seeking caution noted litigation history: the prior national order was vacated following court challenge over potential population-level impacts on the species.

The subcommittee did not vote on H.R. 2293 during the hearing. Members said the panel may seek additional information from the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Migratory Bird Office about population monitoring and permit-processing capacity before advancing the bill.","Rep. Ezell introduced H.R. 2293, the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, at a House Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing, where catfish and aquaculture producers urged restoring a national depredation order to address double-crested cormorant predation.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6083627,"Subcommittee weighs reauthorizing Great Lakes fishery research to support regional fisheries management",4713,2395000,7108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151&start=2395&end=7108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151/thumbnail_2395000.jpg","/articles/6083627/Subcommittee-weighs-reauthorizing-Great-Lakes-fishery-research-to-support-regional-fisheries-management","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083627-1ea5ece805e0e9c90d8966adb65a943f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137335&Signature=fLe4LhFqQcHTjTIzO8o5cQYjiITqr-fWQO9E6LX8bhu5w8QDwYCbAookZInbNCU1Tm6xJkHa9kLU7mNfOV3UXrEEzKqbpBmIpqLwLA7YXIokCeZYSMRR2BL4otTqIMbkMpxtVQcJMuLNJZwoj7bK34gDu7oXnljj5dxJOfFlauNCFuTm9AzO6GE1nMHuGVNcHvSG6sKdSONXffXRIzmuSPJ6NReSMx78lFXLJKStEMfvuL05cIm8epxT8jZG~Xmp0qVcalXHcfNf778oUeVAHeYhL8Pan4uq8IkkOFExd5LyB3gYfV~MeGj00kMwDxb1qXRMurZ~AJBlCWj8m8IbGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rep. Quigley of Illinois asked the subcommittee to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fishery Research Program at the U.S. Geological Survey, arguing the program provides critical scientific data for managing binational fisheries across the Great Lakes basin.

Quigley said the Great Lakes contain roughly 20% of the world's fresh surface freshwater and support commercial, recreational and tribal fisheries valued at about $5 billion and roughly 75,000 jobs. He urged a flat reauthorization at $15 million per year through 2030 to provide stable funding for the Great Lakes Science Center and its lakewide assessments.

Witnesses and members described key program uses such as sea lamprey control, invasive-species monitoring and harmful-algae-bloom impacts on fisheries. Quigley used a sea lamprey example to underscore stakes: \"One sea lamprey can kill 40 pounds of Great Lakes fish over a 12 to 18 month feeding period,\" he said.

Members from across the region and industry representatives noted the program's importance for data continuity and its unique role in conducting multi-jurisdictional scientific assessments. The subcommittee did not take a vote on reauthorization at the hearing and left the record open for additional materials and follow-up responses from witnesses and agencies.","Rep. Quigley and other members urged reauthorization of the Great Lakes Fishery Research Program within the USGS; testimony emphasized the program's role in monitoring invasive species, maintaining datasets and supporting fisheries that generate billions in economic activity.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6083632,"Subcommittee hears bipartisan push to extend Pittman'Robertson interest transfers to support wetlands conservation",5623,1475000,7098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151&start=1475&end=7098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2930718-ca49717b95253fe576c54d5fb5068151/thumbnail_1475000.jpg","/articles/6083632/Subcommittee-hears-bipartisan-push-to-extend-PittmanRobertson-interest-transfers-to-support-wetlands-conservation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083632-441c974b36471937ac6ca07a6aa4ca79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137335&Signature=fvkgCson03EvvtOyXG~IWt42TKKzRmdDvi0a8DV0lDkDY3pdMpgb7K9kPrCUry53G7xPRRpakbSqJV1j196ZEMWE~7zrAsoUUM-GbF7WCK5QDgq7dG8atNbNYkgRRCCyaz5D~RAxzV-nUclgfnyEsEubum1f2-oCkahiQLcyOivR6yUQB6-y5vT~sOot6AxUShKIEr~XKISP4wC9G9UBfUEUdBrqiS2hRtOJmr79j8XHLjl4PqsZg00sGzxaf8y9gEQghULPJ0pqOdRgJ6uJrNK30LN60Ll0JYrdxpyJ0QqsoxrYp3aPY9vsXp8edeCM3muoBid2pPzpmNe5CBnMIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rep. Hurd of Colorado introduced H.R. 2316, the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025, and witnesses including a Ducks Unlimited state policy chair described the bill as a targeted, bipartisan update to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

The measure would extend authority to transfer interest accrued on unallocated Pittman-Robertson funds to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NACA) fund. Rep. Hurd said the interest has averaged nearly $11 million per year since 2004 and that transferring these funds helps support wetlands and waterfowl conservation projects.

Mick Anderson, a Ducks Unlimited board member and state public policy chair, told the subcommittee that NACA is a proven program that leverages federal dollars through competitive grants and local matching contributions. \"NACA acts like seed money,\" Anderson said, describing examples where grants attracted multiple times the federal investment in partner matches.

Members from both parties highlighted how Pittman-Robertson funding, which is derived from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, has historically supported conservation and hunter-funded wildlife programs. Several members cautioned that long-term conservation funding depends in part on continued participation in hunting and shooting sports that finance the trust fund.

Witnesses and members said the NACA-funded projects provide multiple benefits beyond waterfowl habitat, including water-quality improvements, flood mitigation, and recreational opportunities that support local economies. The subcommittee did not hold a vote; members signaled support for advancing the bipartisan bill and requested supplementary materials and stakeholder letters that were entered into the record.","Representatives urged reauthorizing a transfer of unallocated Pittman-Robertson interest to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NACA) to boost wetland projects. Witnesses including Ducks Unlimited emphasized NACA's matching funds and local economic and ecological benefits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House subcommittee hears competing views on bill to block Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge land protection plan

Fishery producers press Congress to reinstate national depredation order for double-crested cormorants

Subcommittee weighs reauthorizing Great Lakes fishery research to support regional fisheries management

Subcommittee hears bipartisan push to extend Pittman'Robertson interest transfers to support wetlands conservation