The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to examine the President’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on February 26.

On February 24, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the President’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget for the Department of the Interior (DOI).

On February 12, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to discuss the fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget proposal for the Department of Energy (DOE).

The newly appointed Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), has changed the organizational structure of the subcommittees for the 114th Congress.

Congressional committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives welcome new members and say farewell to others in the 114th Congress. Although Republicans have finalized the majority of their committee assignments, Democrats are still working to place members.

A bill approving Keystone XL passed out of committee, underwent the amendment process in the Senate, and was approved by the full Senate by a vote of 62-36 on January 29.

On December 12, the Senate passed a group of public lands bills as part of the 2015 defense authorization that include expansions of wilderness and park lands as well as changes to energy, mining, and logging policy on public lands.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on December 2 to assess a bipartisan climate bill that would lower emissions of short-lived climate pollutants.

Midterm congressional elections took place on Tuesday, November 4, resulting in a number of committee leadership changes for both Democrats and Republicans.

The House passed three bills the week of November 17 regarding the science that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses to issue environmental regulations. The bills attempt to change to how EPA reviews scientific data and how it issues permits.