This week, the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously voted to advance my bill that will place more than 70,000 acres of Nevada public land back into local control – rather than in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. H.R. 2733, the Nevada Native Nations Lands Act, carefully balances the unique needs of our Nevada tribal nations with those of local ranchers, land owners and businesses by allowing public land to be held in trust for six different tribes throughout Nevada. My legislation will enable the tribes to chart brighter futures for their communities and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions. While there is much work still to be done on this issue, this week’s vote is great news for Nevada.
Learn more here.
Washington Wrap-Up
In addition to taking steps to give Nevadans more local control over federal lands, the House also took action to relieve our small business owners from burdensome regulations and to urge the Administration to condemn ISIS and designate their actions for what they are. Below are a few bills that may be of interest to you:
Votes to Declare ISIS’s Atrocities Genocide and to Hold Assad Accountable
ISIS has violently overthrown a number of villages and towns in the Middle East, systematically targeting religious and ethnic minority groups and brutally murdering thousands of innocent civilians. While President Obama struggled for months to properly recognize these deliberate and horrendous actions as genocide, the House took important action this week by unanimously passing H. Con. Res. 121 and H. Con. Res. 75 -- legislation which condemns the atrocities committed by ISIS and holds Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable for his heinous war crimes.
Following a congressionally mandated deadline this week to provide a genocide determination, the State Department declared Thursday that the Islamic State is committing genocide against Yazidis, Christians and Shiite Muslims in Iraq and Syria. Unequivocally condemning these horrific actions for what they actually are is a start – but it is not enough. I'm hopeful the President will utilize this opportunity to offer up a comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS. I will continue to do everything possible to put an end to this brutal reign of terror and keep all those affected in my thoughts.
Alleviating Burdens on Nevada’s Small Businesses
New rules issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pose a threat to rural areas in Nevada that rely on smaller Internet service providers to bring service to their homes and businesses. These rules would force smaller providers to comply with countless regulations which could ultimately put them out of business and leave consumers with limited or no Internet access. With my support this week, the House fought for consumers and small businesses by passing H.R. 4596, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act, legislation which exempts small internet providers from these crushing regulations so they can focus on improving service for their consumers.
Committee Work
Budget Hearing: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
This week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held a hearing on the 2017 budget for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). I specifically questioned Director Dan Ashe on the development of the sage hen issue in Nevada. Click here to learn more.
Budget Hearing: National Park Service
In addition to questioning Director Dan Ashe, I also questioned the National Park Service Director, Jon Jarvis, about what the agency intends to do in regards to invasive species in bodies of water in the west. Click here to learn more.
Budget Hearing: Bureau of Indian Affairs
I also had the opportunity to question the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Larry Roberts, about the agency’s responsiveness when it comes to resolving important issues for our Nevada tribes. Click here to learn more.
Washington Visitors
American Society of Civil Engineers
CC Communications
Opportunities for Students
Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district of our nation. Students will have the opportunity to submit their original works of art to my Reno or Elko office no later than
Friday, April 22, 2016. To be considered for selection, submissions must be no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall by 4 inches deep, and must weigh no more than 15 pounds, including the frame. Submissions must also be two-dimensional and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. I encourage all interested students to apply. Click
here for more information.
For additional information, please visit my website at amodei.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760 or Elko office: (775) 777-7705. To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and in Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
