Heinrich Sounds Off on Trump Admin Plan to Sell Off Part of Yosemite National Park, Raises Alarm on Senate Republicans’ Attacks on Energy Efficiency Standards and Tribal[...]

WASHINGTON - This week, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, raised the alarm on the Trump administration's proposed plan to sell off part of Yosemite National Park to a private equity-owned development, countered legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Committee, which would dismantle the Department of Energy's (DOE) Appliance Standards Program and raise consumer costs, and exposed the lack of Tribal protections in proposed hydropower licensing legislation from U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.).

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivers opening remarks during a Committee hearing to consider pending legislation, September 16, 2026.

Heinrich began by expressing serious concern over the Department of the Interior's (DOI) proposal to exchange public land in Yosemite National Park for private development, requesting $300,000 in funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to facilitate the land transfer.

"The LWCF exists to protect public lands and waters and expand recreational access nationwide for the public benefit, not to enrich private interests," said Heinrich. "The protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, and we will continue to raise our concerns over this proposal and demand that the Department provide transparency."

Heinrich also slammed two bills led by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, that threaten to repeal energy efficiency standards, make it virtually impossible for DOE to set future standards, and raise consumer costs - S. 5338, the Energy Efficiency Reform Act, and S. 1658, the Liberating Incandescent Technology (LIT) Act, submitting several letters of opposition from consumer advocacy and industry groups into the record.

"The Chairman's bill would make it virtually impossible for DOE to set future efficiency standards, forgoing significant additional savings for consumers. The bill could also increase electricity demand by 32 gigawatts in 2040, at a time when we desperately need more electrons on the grid. Furthermore, the bill would eliminate several existing standards and give the administration the authority to cancel standards as it sees fit," said Heinrich on the Energy Efficiency Reform Act.

On the LIT Act, "Families in New Mexico are not clamoring for incandescent light bulbs. Most people just want to be able to afford their energy bills. The LIT Act aims to walk back a commonsense rule that has saved consumers an estimated $3 billion - billion with a 'B'- and is supported by industry as well."

Heirich also expressed disappointment that Lee would not consider bipartisan legislation to weatherize American's homes, "Rather than turning back the clock on progress, I had hoped this hearing would offer a chance to consider several bipartisan bills to help more families lower their energy bills through the popular weatherization assistance program. I hope the Chair will work with me to advance weatherization legislation."

Heinrich concluded his remarks by criticizing the lack of appropriate witnesses present at the hearing to answer questions on S. 5048, the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act, referencing concerns from Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations on how provisions of the bill would strip protections from reservation lands and treaty resources.

"I share the Tribes' concerns, and if an appropriate witness from the Department of Interior or the Department of Commerce were present today, I would ask them to confirm that the bill would limit Tribal rights, including fishing rights and if the bill could lead to an increase in litigation," said Heinrich.

A video of Heinrich's opening remarks is here.

Heinrich's full remarks as delivered are below:

Before I begin to address the bills in today's legislative hearing, I want to raise my deep concern over the Department of the Interior's consideration of trading away National Park land in Yosemite National Park to a private equity-owned development.

What is equally alarming is that the Department filed a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) request for $300,000 to support the transfer of this National Park Service land.

LWCF exists to protect public lands and expand recreational access nationwide for the public benefit, not to enrich private equity.

We also don't know what private land would be exchanged for the parcel, which indicates that the exchange is likely not in the public interest. How can it be, if we don't even know where it is?

The protection of public lands and particularly our National Parks is a bipartisan issue, and we will continue to raise our concerns over this proposal and demand that the Department provide more transparency.

With that, I would like to address the bills in today's hearing.

I am glad to see a number of the bills included on today's agenda.

In particular, Senator Bennet's Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act would ensure that Glenwood, Colorado's famous hot springs are not threatened by a proposed mine expansion that could disrupt the groundwater hydrology at the springs.

This is a great example of locally driven public land management, and I hope this committee can move this bill forward soon.

I'm also glad to see Senator Durbin's Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act on the agenda.

The communities in the St. Louis area have long supported the growth of this park to encompass both sides of the Mississippi River and add new park land in neighboring Illinois, and this bill would do just that.

I am concerned that we find the Energy Efficiency "Reform" Act on the agenda today.

The Chairman's bill would thoroughly dismantle the Department of Energy's Appliance Standards Program. This is a successful, bipartisan program that has been providing real savings for American families for 50 years.

Thanks to the Appliance Standards Program, American households save almost $600 a year on their utility bills, all while having better performing and wide-ranging options of home appliances.

The Chairman's bill would make virtually impossible for DOE to set future efficiency standards, forgoing significant additional savings for consumers.

The bill would also increase electricity demand by as much as 32 gigawatts in 2040, at a time when we desperately need more electrons on the grid.

Furthermore, the bill would eliminate several existing standards and give the administration the authority to cancel standards as it sees fit.

This type of "backsliding" on existing standards has been opposed by industry leaders because it would undermine domestic manufacturing and allow Chinese products to flood the market.

Groups such as the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers have all submitted public comments to the Department of Energy opposing the very backsliding this bill authorizes.

I would ask for unanimous consent to submit three letters of opposition to S. 5338 for the record.

The first letter is from consumer groups including Consumer Reports, the Consumer Federation of America, and the National Consumer Law Center. The second is from seven public health organizations, and the third is from 60 environmental organizations.

Additionally, I am deeply concerned by S. 1658, the "Liberating Incandescent Technology Act" or LIT Act, which would repeal energy efficiency standards for light bulbs.

Families in New Mexico are not clamoring for incandescent light bulbs. Most people just want to be able to afford their energy bills.

The LIT Act aims to walk back a commonsense rule that has saved consumers an estimated $3 billion - billion with a "B" - and is supported by industry as well.

So, I would ask for unanimous consent to submit a letter of opposition to S. 1568 for the record from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the American Lighting Association.

The letter states that "the sole beneficiaries of the LIT Act would be foreign companies positioned to flood American markets with low performance, low-quality, and potentially unsafe products."

Rather than turning back the clock on progress, I had hoped this hearing would offer a chance to consider several bipartisan bills to help more families lower their energy bills through the popular weatherization assistance program.

I hope the Chair will work with me to advance weatherization legislation sponsored by Senators Reed, Murkowski, Collins, Shaheen, Coons, and Gallego in the very near term.

Lastly, I am disappointed that we do not have a witness present who can speak to S. 5048, the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act.

Intended to "streamline" hydropower project approvals by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the bill would significantly weaken Tribal protections.

Chairman Lee and I were copied on a letter from Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations opposed to this bill.

The letter details how the provisions of S. 5048 would strip protections from reservation lands and treaty resources, including fishing; threaten important cultural sites; undermine water quality for fish and people; and increase litigation.

I share the Tribes' concerns, and if an appropriate witness from the Department of Interior or the Department of Commerce were present today, I would ask them to confirm that the bill would limit Tribal rights, including fishing rights and if the bill could lead to an increase in litigation.

But there is no one from these agencies today, and FERC only provided written testimony, so I will be submitting these questions for the record to FERC, and I expect to receive answers to them prior to this bill being included on a future business meeting agenda.

Thank you to all the witnesses who are here today, and I yield back the rest of my time.

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