03.13.18

Cantwell Confronts Secretary Zinke On Failure Of Leadership At Interior

Zinke Sold Out The American People For The Benefit Of Oil, Gas, and Mining Industry

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) questioned the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke on the President’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget request.

"While my constituents are hearing about private jet rides and expensive doors, they want to understand why someone is proposing to raise park fees at this level," said Senator Cantwell, referring to the Secretary’s plan to raise entrance fees to $70 at the most popular national parks.

“Over the past year, the Trump Administration has overseen an attack on our public lands and our nation’s strong conversation ethic that I believe is unprecedented. This budget and Secretary Zinke’s actions I think represent an abandonment of the Secretary’s stewardship responsibility of our public resource,” said Senator Cantwell.

Senator Cantwell challenged Secretary Zinke on the numerous ways his actions since taking office abdicated responsibility for stewardship of our natural resources and the public good, including “removing over 2 million acres of the Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase in Utah…opening up drilling on the outer continental shelf waters to oil and gas leasing in places that the United States has previously turned down…and allowing trophy hunters to import tusks and other elephant body parts.”

“Further proof of the Administration’s efforts is that almost all appropriated funds for the Land and Water Conservation Fund are cut, one of the most successful programs,” said Senator Cantwell. “In fact, the budget goes further by proposing to rescind previously appropriated Land and Water Conservation funds.”

The broadcast quality video of Senator Cantwell’s opening statement can be found here.

The broadcast quality video of Senator Cantwell’s questions can be found here and here. 

Witness testimony will be available online immediately before the start of each hearing at on committee website.

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