Welcome - U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, WA-01

Jay, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, has been a longtime environmental advocate. Below is information on his efforts in Congress to preserve and protect the environment:

Author of Bristol Bay bill renews call for protection
April 8, 2008

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, the author of the Bristol Bay Protection Act, panned the Bush Administration for announcing it would open 5.6 million acres of the salmon-rich bay to oil and gas development.

House recognizes America Recycles Day
November 13, 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution authored by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee to federally recognize the goals and mission of America Recycles Day.

Landmark mining-reform bill clears committee
October 23, 2007

Today the House Natural Resources Committee, a panel on which U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) serves, approved comprehensive legislation that would reform the anachronistic law that has governed hardrock mining on public lands since 1872. It included two key provisions authored by Inslee.

Scientists, members of Congress object to politicized spotted owl recovery plan
October 2, 2007

Today, 113 scientists and 23 Democratic members of Congress called on the Interior Department to scrap a controversial draft recovery plan that would reduce federally protected habitat for the northern spotted owl and start from scratch to create a new plan using sound science.

Inslee goes on offensive on tailpipe emissions
July 18, 2007

Until now, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) has been fighting to keep provisions that would prevent states from setting strict vehicle-emission standards out of a broad energy package that is expected on the House floor as early as next week. Today, he went on the offensive by introducing legislation that could clear the way for Washington and other states to set limits that are more aggressive than current federal standards.

Inslee, Cantwell reintroduce bill to protect roadless areas in national forests
May 24, 2007

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell reintroduced bipartisan legislation to protect 58.5 million acres of roadless national forests, including two million acres in Washington state. The Inslee-Cantwell legislation would protect the nation’s few remaining non-wilderness roadless forests from commercial development by reinstating the Clinton-era roadless rule.

Measure filed to protect polar bears from trophy hunting
May 15, 2007

In the last 10 years, over 800 polar bears have been killed by hunters to decorate American homes. U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee and Frank A. LoBiondo filed legislation in the House that would end the practice and help stop the decline of the iconic marine mammal, now threatened by global warming.

Inslee to Kempthorne: Take Bristol Bay off the table
April 30, 2007

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee made the following statement in response to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne’s announcement that Alaska’s Bristol Bay will be included in the administration’s five-year plan to expand oil and gas drilling in federal waters.

House ok’s green building amendment
April 25, 2007

Under a measure authored by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee that was approved unanimously in the House, small businesses across the nation could apply for loans to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.

Bipartisan coalition files bill to protect Bristol Bay
April 19, 2007

U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee, Wayne T. Gilchrest and Maurice Hinchey introduced legislation aimed at protecting Alaska’s salmon-rich Bristol Bay.

Wilderness bill clears major hurdle in House
March 7, 2007

The House Natural Resources Committee today approved legislation that would establish the first new wilderness area in Washington state in over twenty years.

Lawmakers push feds on polar bears, global warming
December 27, 2006

Thanks to pressure from conservationists, including a group of lawmakers, the Department of Interior acknowledged global warming and took initial steps toward saving polar bears from extinction.

Inslee calls for investigation of political appointees at Interior
October 30, 2006

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee wants to know if politics have trumped science in the Bush Administration. He’s asked the inspector general at the Interior Department to find out if political appointees have changed recommendations on threatened species written by biologists at the federal agency.

Inslee on reinstatement of the roadless rule
September 20, 2006

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee made the following statement on the decision of a California judge to reinstate a Clinton-era ban on road construction and logging in almost 60 million acres of federal land.

House approves $1 million for Puget Sound restoration
May 24, 2006

Late in the evening, the House passed a bill that would fund a wide range of civil-works projects, including $1 million to help restore Puget Sound.

Funding restored for university logging study
February 9, 2006

One day after U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee called for an investigation into a Bureau of Land Management decision to suspend funding for an ongoing study by an Oregon State University graduate student, the agency reversed course and restored the federal research grant.

Health Care for Hybrids op-ed
February 8, 2006

We can put this country on a real path towards energy independence, and we can start with the biggest oil addicts in America today -- the cars we drive.

Feds ax university study on logging
February 7, 2006

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee wants to know if the Bureau of Land Management pulled funding from a study being conducted by a graduate student at Oregon State University (OSU) because findings didn’t support the administration’s position on logging.

Oil spill experts advance discussion on Puget Sound protections during forum
December 12, 2005

Experts from Washington state and Alaska discussed ways to improve oil-spill prevention and maintain limits on oil-tanker traffic in Puget Sound during a forum in Seattle. Local official U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee announced during his keynote address that he’ll file legislation in the House aimed at preventing spills during the oil-transfer process and decreasing spill response time.

Plan to privatize federal land meets growing opposition
December 2, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee met with opponents of a scheme to privatize millions of acres of public land across the West to discuss how the plan pending in Congress would impact Washington state.

Inslee calls for higher oil spill prevention and response standards
October 18, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee cited an oil spill that occurred in his district on Oct. 17 as another reason why House leaders should implement new spill prevention and response measures in a bill that sets funding levels for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Lawmakers keep limits on oil tanker traffic in Puget Sound
October 6, 2005

Lawmakers from Washington state won a victory in their fight to maintain longstanding limits on oil-tanker traffic in Puget Sound. U.S. Reps. Dave Reichert, Jay Inslee, and Norm Dicks convinced House leaders to remove language from an energy bill that would reverse a 28-year-old federal law credited with reducing the risk of oil spills in the region.

Inslee continues fight to keep limits on oil tanker traffic in Sound
September 30, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee today announced plans to continue his fight to keep strict limits on oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, during a meeting in Seattle with local leaders who say a major spill could devastate the environment and industries in the region. Inslee will offer an amendment in the House to keep on the books a 28-year-old federal law that caps oil tanker traffic in these waters.

Restoring Roadless Area Protections
July 28, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) introduced legislation today to restore protections to roadless areas in America’s national forests. Earlier this year, the Bush Administration repealed the Clinton-era Roadless Area Conservation Rule to allow road building in 58.5 million acresof wild and pristine forests. Inslee's National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act will reinstate and codify the protections to the roadless areas that were designated in the widely popular Roadless Rule.

Restoring Coastal Zone Funding
June 15, 2005

Today, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee fought to restore important Coastal Zone Management (CZM) grant funding by offering an amendment during the House consideration of the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill. Inslee’s amendment would roll back budget cuts to the CZM grant program by increasing the coastal program’s funding by $5 million dollars.

Opposing Proposal to Store Spent Nuclear Fuel at Hanford
May 24, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee announced that a bill that passed the House today includes a dangerous provision that would allow the Department of Energy (DOE) to explore storing spent nuclear fuel at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and other sites throughout the country.

Keeping Washington State Shellfish Safe
May 19, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee vowed today to fight the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s attempts to weaken waste water standards that would harm the Washington State shellfish industry.

Opposing Repeal of Roadless Rule
May 5, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee joined environmental leaders in expressing opposition to today’s decision by the Bush Administration to repeal the widely popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule. In response to the President’s decision, Inslee announced he will soon reintroduce his National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act to codify the protections to the roadless areas that were designated in the Clinton-era Roadless Rule.

Promoting Graduate Studies in Marine Science
March 10, 2005

U.S. Reps Jay Inslee (D-WA), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and four other Members of Congress introduced legislation to provide a federally-funded scholarship program for graduate students to study marine sciences in areas for which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recruits. Inslee’s National Marine Scholarship Act will address current shortcomings in our national university system’s ability to attract graduate students into marine sciences and an anticipated shortfall in the number of future ocean professionals. The legislation also encourages marine science participation by minority students and other groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in scientific fields. The bill provides $5 million annually for partial or full scholarships in graduate marine studies, and scholarship recipients will be required to temporarily work for NOAA following graduation.

Working to Increase Firefighting Funds for National Forests
March 9, 2005

During a House Resources Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee hearing today U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee questioned UnderSecretary of Agriculture Mark Rey about the President’s budget cuts to fighting fires in national forests. Inslee expressed to Secretary Rey his opposition to the reductions of $75 million dollars in the president’s budget for forest firefighting operations and urged the Secretary to renew $500 million dollars in emergency funding.

Preserving Pristine Character of National Petroleum Reserve
March 1, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee and nineteen other Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton expressing concern over an upcoming Bureau of Land Management (BLM) final decision that is anticipated to open up a large portion of the of the pristine National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPR-A) to oil drilling.

Wild Sky Bill Reintroduced
February 16, 2005

U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) renewed efforts to create a new wilderness area in Washington State, something that has not been done in two decades. Larsen reintroduced the House version of the bill today with Inslee listed as an original cosponsor. Inslee and Larsen were pleased to see the Senate version of the Wild Sky bill clear a major hurdle today when the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the bill - the last step necessary before a full Senate vote.

Climate Stewardship Act Reintroduced
February 10, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee joined Senators Lieberman and McCain, and Congressmen Olver and Gilchrest during a press conference to announce the reintroduction of the Climate Stewardship Act. Inslee is an original cosponsor of this legislation, which will set a nationwide standard for heat-trapping pollution responsible for global warming, while creating a market-based system encouraging maximum technological innovation and profitable opportunities for companies to cut emissions.

Inslee Co-Chair of House Oceans Caucus
January 27, 2005

The House Oceans Caucus named U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee as a co-chairman of the group today. “The ocean is a vital part of Washington State’s identity and I will use my leadership to educate others on the issues important to our region, from the effects of global warming on the marine ecosystem to sustaining healthy fisheries and improving our tsunami warning system.”

Point Wells Oil Spill Report
December 10, 2004

This morning, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee convened a meeting in Seattle to discuss the Coast Guard’s recommendations presented in a Point Wells oil spill incident report. Some of the Coast Guard’s recommendations based on the oil spill include: (1) investigating the possibility of deploying oil containment booms around vessels prior to transferring low flammability fuel oil to or from vessels (known as pre-booming), (2) having Foss Maritime incorporate procedures to properly maintain its overfill alarm system . . .

Roadless Rule Deadline
November 15, 2004

Today marks the final day of the extended public comment period on the Bush administration's proposal to repeal the widely popular 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, and to instead permit logging and road-building in 585 million acres of our pristine national forests.

Nuclear Waste Deal
October 8, 2004

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee expressed concern today that the deal reached by conferees on high-level nuclear waste language in the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 4200) sets a dangerous precedent by allowing the Department of Energy (DOE) to reclassify high-level waste in some states. This would allow the DOE to reclassify high-level nuclear waste so it can be subjected to less-stringent requirements for clean-up and storage.

Wild Sky Bill
September 23, 2004

Today U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee and Rick Larsen again pushed for a vote in the Resources Committee on a bipartisan Wild Sky compromise bill, which would provide the highest-level protection possible for the proposed Wild Sky wilderness area. Unfortunately, Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) cancelled the scheduled vote on this compromise bill today.

40th Anniversary of Wilderness Act
September 21, 2004

Inslee spoke to people from around the country who gathered at the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. He called for wilderness protection for more of America’s special wild places.

Nethercutt Should Stop Undermining Wild Sky Wilderness
September 15, 2004

U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee and Rick Larsen expressed exasperation with U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt’s introduction today of new legislation that purports to protect wilderness areas in western Washington, but which actually undercuts years of bipartisan efforts to designate Wild Sky Wilderness. Nethercutt’s bill would not protect 13,300 crucial lowland acres. His bill makes up a new classification for the lowland areas, and allows three more years to pass before development plans for that area must be explained. Nethercutt’s explanation for his bill seems to be that House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-California) will not allow the widely-supported Wild Sky Wilderness Act to a vote unless its protections for local wilderness areas are gutted.

Supporting Roadless Areas of Our National Forests
September 14, 2004

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee spoke at a press event to announce the phenomenal results of efforts to mobilize Americans against the administration’s plan to permit logging in 58.5 million acres of pristine National Forests. Several groups joined together to hold a convention-style event on the Ellipse in front of the White House.

Upholding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule
July 22, 2004

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and 118 Members of Congress sent a letter to President Bush today expressing concern about the Administration’s recent decision to repeal the widely popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The letter to the President expresses the Members’ opposition to the new proposal to open up additional acres of pristine roadless areas in our national forests to logging.

Victory for Hanford Low-Level Nuclear Waste Cleanup
June 23, 2004

Washington, DC -- U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-01) announced today that the Department of Energy (DOE) has relented to Congressional pressure to bury and store low-level radioactive waste in safely lined facilities, rather than bury it in un-lined, open soil landfills, which is currently the practice at Hanford and other nuclear repositories across the nation.