Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon To Lead Republicans On Insular Affairs In The Natural Resources Committee

Statement

Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón was selected to serve as Republican Leader for Insular Affairs in the House Committee on Natural Resources. Additionally, the Resident Commissioner will serve as a member of the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

The Natural Resources Committee Republican delegation, led by former Chairman Rob Bishop, announced today during the Committee's first organizational meeting its subcommittee leadership team.

In the 115th Congress, Rep. González-Colón served as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs. However, the newly adopted rules of the Natural Resources Committee eliminated this subcommittee. Issues pertaining to the insular areas will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Full Committee. Consequently, the Resident Commissioner will take the lead on the Republican side when the Committee holds hearings or considers issues impacting Puerto Rico and the rest of the U.S. territories.

Meanwhile, as Chair of the Natural Resources Committee Chair, Congressman Raúl Grijalva will handle all matters regarding the U.S. territories. He will be joined by Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands, who will serve as Vice Chair for Insular Affairs.

The Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife will also have jurisdiction over important matters for Puerto Rico, including fisheries, coastal and marine issues, oceanography and ocean technologies, and coastal zone management. The subcommittee will also oversee wildlife-related measures, the Endangered Species Act, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will have primary oversight and investigative authority on all activities, policies, and programs that fall within the Committee's jurisdiction.

The House Natural Resources Committee met today for the first time to consider and adopt its rules for the 116th Congress.

The Resident Commissioner had already been selected to serve as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as the Republican Vice Chair for the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues.

Source