House Committee on Natural Resources

The House Committee on Natural Resources has broad jurisdiction over America's natural resources and public lands. It oversees energy production, mineral extraction, fisheries and wildlife management, national parks and forests, water resources, ocean policy, and federal relations with Native American tribes. The committee also monitors the Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bills referred to the committee cover topics ranging from water infrastructure and watershed protection to public lands access and wildlife conservation.

Bills flow through the committee's five subcommittees—Energy and Mineral Resources, Federal Lands, Indian and Insular Affairs, Oversight and Investigations, and Water, Wildlife and Fisheries—before advancing to the full House floor. Each subcommittee handles specialized areas within the broader natural resources jurisdiction, allowing detailed review and hearings on specific policy areas.

Chair Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas, leads the committee, with Ranking Member Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California, representing the minority party. The 44-member committee has been active on recent legislation including bills to reauthorize water research programs, protect battlefields, improve watershed management, and restore public lands access. Recent subcommittee hearings have examined deep sea mining regulations and water infrastructure for rural communities.