American Stewards | Congressmen Demand Answers from CEQ

House Natural Resources Committee is turning up the heat on the Council of Environmental Quality for refusing to answer questions about a $1 Billion commitment made by the Biden Administration to a nonprofit organization for 30×30.

On May 7, 2024, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources and Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations sent a letter to Brenda Mallory, Chair of the president’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) demanding information on funds committed to the unauthorized 30×30 Initiative.

It was the second letter the committee sent to Ms. Mallory, which she and the administration failed to reply to or produce any documentation requested.  They are demanding the White House provide detailed information on a grants program associated with the initiative managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

The Committee’s letter detailed 14 items they are demanding from CEQ.

They request CEQ provide the Committee with sources of funding for the grants program and include amounts contributed by other federal agencies.  It also asks for documentation outlining the “operating principles of the Challenge,” as well as the “legal justifications agencies may transfer funds to NFWF to establish the Challenge,” and how the administration plans to provide public transparency for the operations of the Challenge.”

The letter concluded by saying: “Your silence and lack of a response to the Committee Letter suggests that CEQ is deliberately engaging in obstruction to frustrate the oversight power of Congress.  This is unacceptable.  The American public deserves transparency, and the Committee will use every tool at its disposal to administer effective oversight and fulfill the Committee’s responsibility to the American people.”

Natural Resource Committee letter: https://naturalresources.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2024.05.07_hnr_to_ceq_on_america_the_beautiful_challenge_follow-up.pdf

E&E story: https://www.eenews.net/articles/house-republicans-demand-30-by-30-spending-docs/