Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries is a specialized division of the House Committee on Natural Resources that handles a focused slice of the parent committee's broad jurisdiction over public lands, waters, and natural resources. The subcommittee exists to provide detailed oversight and legislative review of matters too specific for the full committee to address efficiently.

The subcommittee's jurisdiction covers America's water resources, federal irrigation projects, hydroelectric power generation from federal dams and reservoirs, interstate water disputes, and fisheries management. It also oversees federal hydropower licensing and relicensing, marine mammal protection, and endangered species issues affecting aquatic life. The subcommittee reviews legislation affecting water resource planning, research programs, and the management of domestic and international fisheries.

The subcommittee is chaired by Representative Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY), with Val T. Hoyle (D-OR) serving as Ranking Member. The 25-member panel brings together members with interests in water policy, energy development, and environmental protection. In February 2025, the subcommittee held an oversight hearing examining the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, reflecting its active role in reviewing how federal agencies manage wildlife and fisheries protections.