Press Releases

The announcement by the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that it will open a formal investigation of Secretary Ryan Zinke’s real estate dealings with energy giant Halliburton represents the eleventh federal investigation into Zinke opened to date. Most of those investigations are for potential ethical violations. “Scott Pruitt clearly was not the… Read more »

Safe Climate Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and Don Beyer (VA-08) released the statement below following the passage of H. Con. Res. 119, the anti-climate, Republican resolution denouncing a carbon tax: “In the same week research was released stating a carbon tax could be implemented without hurting the economy, Congressional Republicans decided to adopt a resolution… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on the summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin: “Donald Trump’s performance at his summit with Putin today was the most astonishing display of weakness and submission that I have ever seen from an American President. Trump’s refusal to side with U.S. intelligence and law enforcement instead of a man who ordered attacks… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer filed an amendment for upcoming appropriations legislation for the Interior, Environment, and related agencies which would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Interior (DOI) from using federal funds for multiple calendars to conceal details of meetings, calls, and travel from the public. Beyer said: “Unfortunately, ousted EPA… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer introduced an appropriations amendment which would fund the body camera pilot program for Department of the Interior law enforcement officers. Without such funding the pilot program faces a potential lapse in FY19. “No one can undo Bijan Ghaisar’s tragic death, but this amendment can help with transparency going forward,” said Rep. Beyer. “While we are still awaiting… Read more »

Reps. Don Beyer and Ted Lieu today wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General to request an investigation into whether Scott Pruitt violated the Federal Records Act. The letter cited recent reports that Pruitt intentionally hid or falsified records of meetings and discussions with representatives of industries regulated by the EPA. The lawmakers wrote: “We write… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer issued the following statement today on the departure of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: “Finally. Scott Pruitt was able to keep his position for so long -- despite astonishing megalomania and unethical behavior – only because of Donald Trump’s historic embrace of corruption. Pruitt acknowledged behavior in Congressional hearings and televised interviews that violated… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer today wrote to Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asking that he expand the investigation into the reports of neglect, and both physical and sexual abuse at shelters housing migrant children. Rep. Beyer urged Levinson to review how the federal government maintains and evaluates contracts with the facilities after… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer today released the following statement on the close of the fifth annual Immigration Heritage Month: “Immigrant Heritage Month celebrates the fact that the United States is a nation of immigrants, built by immigrants. Sadly, too many people in positions of power have forgotten this core facet of America’s identity, or worse, are working to end it. During June, I met… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer today led 77 Democrats in a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director Scott Lloyd. They sought answers regarding allegations of mistreatment toward migrant children currently in the custody of ORR, and expressed concerns about ORR’s process of releasing children, which is… Read more »