House Natural Resources Committee advances 8 bills by unanimous consent

Federal Panel Clears Alaska Native Craft Bill

Alaska Native artists have been blocked for decades from legally selling and shipping authentic handicrafts containing nonedible migratory bird parts. The House Committee on Natural Resources cleared legislation Wednesday that would change that.

The bill, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act, was introduced by Rep. Nick Begich. It protects the cultural heritage and economic rights of Alaska Native artists by requiring clarifications to the Migratory Bird Treaty with Japan and corresponding updates to domestic regulations to allow for the use of bird parts to create native articles or handicraft. An amendment Begich offered at markup requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Interior to establish bilateral procedures within 180 days of enactment and make corresponding domestic regulatory updates.

The committee cleared eight bills by unanimous consent in what both Chairman Bruce Westerman and Ranking Member Jared Huffman described as a bipartisan, all-UC package. The other bills in the package included H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act; H.R. 1693, which renames the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center; H.R. 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025; H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act; H.R. 5063, the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act; H.R. 8121, which designates the Christiansted Bandstand in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as the Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand; and H.R. 8454, concerning the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over federal land in California. Huffman gave notice of his intention to file supplemental additional dissenting or minority views on the measures considered. The bird-treaty bill now moves to the House floor.

Staffing Dispute Shadows Beach Safety Bill

The Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act drew the most pointed exchange of the session. Ranking Member Jared Huffman called it a good bill but said it could not fix what caused the shortage. "The National Park Service is reeling from President Trump's staffing cuts," Huffman said. He added: "If we really want safe swimmers, we have to find a way to fund and staff our federal beaches. Unfortunately, my colleagues have been silent and keep just pushing bills directing agencies to collaborate harder, to find a way to make something out of nothing. We need to do better."

Both sides voted yes.