WASHINGTON (December 5, 2010) – Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) was today selected by the House Democratic Caucus to be the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee for the 113th Congress. House Republican leadership pushed the most anti-environmental agenda in history, but none of their bills to roll back clean air, water or public land protections became law during Rep. Markey’s tenure as the Ranking Member.
 
“This was the most anti-environmental Congress in history, and our Democratic members were successful in beating back that agenda,” said Ranking Member Markey. “In the next session of Congress, I hope that this committee can finally work together to use our public lands wisely, while protecting our air, water and lands for every American.”
 
Rep. Markey has served on the Natural Resources Committee since 1976 and has a long history of legislative accomplishments in energy and environment issues. He is the House author of the fuel economy standards in the 2007 energy bill, co-author of the clean energy and climate bill that passed the House in 2009, and several energy efficiency bills.
 
During his tenure in the Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Markey has authored or co-authored many pieces of legislation.
 
Examples include:
--Legislation to ensure American taxpayers receive a fair return on oil, gas and other minerals produced from federal lands.
--Legislation following the BP oil spill to ensure that this type of disaster never happens again.
--Legislation to reduce the federal deficit by recovering up to $53 billion dollars in lost royalty payments from oil companies who are drilling for free in the Gulf of Mexico.
--Legislation to promote renewable energy development while protecting our environment.
--Legislation to protect our nation’s most important natural treasures such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Georges Bank off the coast of New England.

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