Energy & Public Lands

In southern Nevada, we’re lucky to have our beautiful public lands and natural resources. As Nevada’s sole representative on the House Natural Resources Committee, I’m doing everything possible to protect our public lands and parks, combat climate change, and build our clean energy economy.

I sit on the House Appropriation Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water, which gives southern Nevada a voice in the room where our government’s most important funding decisions are made. That allows me to bring back every federal dollar I can to our community for everything from developing our renewable energy workforce to fixing broken bike trails. It also helps me ensure that not a single dollar goes toward the failed Yucca Mountain project and Nevada never becomes the nation’s nuclear dumping ground.

Building Our Clean Energy Economy

Southern Nevada is filled with natural resources that are critical to building our clean energy economy, from our 300+ sunny days a year for solar energy to hosting one of the world’s highest quality rare earth deposits. That’s why I’ve led bills like the SHINE Act to speed up rooftop solar deployment, why I’m working to advance responsible, bipartisan permitting reform, including for geothermal power, and why I’ll continue supporting the businesses that are bringing good-paying jobs to our community. I will also continue supporting generation-defining legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, which I helped get signed into law as the single biggest climate investment in U.S. history. For example, the solar manufacturing company Unimacts opened its first facility in our district last year and is expanding quickly thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act — adding 200 jobs in total between their current Las Vegas manufacturing facility and future facility in Sloan. Because of a law we passed, Unimacts has been able to move their production out of foreign countries, and to Las Vegas.

Expanding Outdoor Recreation

I never miss an opportunity to start my day with a bike ride or hike through Red Rock Canyon to remind myself what we’re fighting for. That’s why I’ve led bipartisan bills like the BOLT Act and the PARC Act, which expand outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, biking, and climbing for all. Both pieces of legislation were recently included in a bipartisan package, the EXPLORE Act, which passed out of the House of Representatives.

Protecting Public Lands

Public lands belong in public hands. I’m proud to have been the first Member of Nevada’s congressional delegation to call on the Biden Administration to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument. Now, as a protected national monument, the beauty, culture, and history of this land will be preserved for generations to come. Additionally, my End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act holds Big Oil accountable and cuts down on harmful, unproductive oil and gas leasing on public lands that should be used for more efficient energy production, conservation efforts, or affordable housing. I was also proud to help pass the Great American Outdoors Act to ensure full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Blocking the Failed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository

I will never let Nevada become the nation’s nuclear dumping ground. That’s why I’ve made sure not a single dime goes toward the failed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository. I helped introduce the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act, which would help end the failures of science and policy at Yucca Mountain and create a safe, consent-based path forward for our nation's nuclear waste dilemma.