Resources as Revenue

Since 1985 America's natural resources have generated $248 billion of revenue for our Treasury, an average of about $9 billion a year. We have a short list including oil, gas, coal, minerals, including gold, copper, lead, zinc, uranium. We have grazing and timber. Our revenues, recreational fees that range from entrance fees to our beautiful parks, cabin rentals, for example, boat launch rentals and others. So this is a very short list, but gives a sense of what our Committee is going to be exploring. How are these revenues generated? How are they shared? How can we be better stewards? We will explore just how much revenue is generated from all sources and how this revenue is distributed. We will also explore and expand and improve our revenue sharing partnerships with States and communities that share the responsibilities, both advantages and disadvantages of this production, and how to enhance our stewardship of these natural resources.