RAUL M. GRIJALVA OF ARIZONA ROB BISHOP OF UTAH CHAIRMAN RANKING REPUBLICAN DAVID WATKINS STAFF DIRECTOR la.% . ?ange Hf Eepre?entati 112E REPUBLICAN STAFF DIRECTOR rm Natural iReamrrBa Ml 211515 December 20, 2019 The Honorable Raul Grij alva Chairman Committee on Natural Resources 1324 Longworth House Of?ce Building Washington, DC. 20515 Dear Chairman Grijalva: I write to request that you hold Committee hearings related to the ongoing bipartisan investigation into human rights violations associated with the Department of the Interior?s (Department) international conservation grants. As you are aware, grave concerns exist that taxpayer dollars have inadvertently funded human rights abuses through such grants. Additionally, I introduced legislation yesterday (HR. 5493) to strengthen much needed oversight mechanisms and help prevent further violations of human rights against local and indigenous people. It is my sincerest hepe that you help provide tranSparency to this issue with an oversight hearing followed by a legislative hearing on my bill to deter possibilities of future taxpayer- funded instances of torture, rape, and extrajudicial killings. For nearly eight months, this Committee has investigated reports of human rights abuses associated with Department grants intended to meet international conservation objectives. During this time, we initiated a Government Accountability Of?ce review of the federal government?s funding of international conservation grants,I received multiple brie?ngs from the Department and the World Wildlife Fund and from various stakeholders.3 In partial response to our inquiry,4 WWF produced more than 300 pages of documents, including 1 Letter from Rep. Raul Grijalva, Chair, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. and Rep. Rob Bishop, Ranking Republican, H. Comm. on Nat. Res, to Hon. Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General, U.S. Gov?t Accountability Of?ce (May 6, 2019) (on ?le with Comm.) 2 Brie?ng from US. ish and Wildli?e Sew, U.S. Dep oft/18 Interior, to H. Comm. on Nat. Res. Staff (July 12, 2019), Brie?ng??om Hon. Susan Combs, Assistant Sec ?y P01 Mgmt., Budget, U.S. Dep ?t oft/re Interior, to H. Comm. on Nat. Res Staff and H. Comm. on Appropriations Staff (Sept. 23, 2019), Brie?ng from WWF, to H. Comm. on Nat. Res. Staff (Apr. 9, 2019), Meeting between Cassidy Assoc. and H. Comm. on Nat. Res. Staff (July 10, 2019), Meeting between Cassidy Assoc, WWF, WilmerI-Iale and H. Comm. on Nat. Res. Staff (July 15, 2019). 3Brie?ng from Survival Internationai and Rainforest Foundation UK, to H. Comm. on Nat. Res. Staff (Sept. 13, 2019). 4 Letter from Thomas Strickland, Partner, WilmerHale to Rep. Raul Grijalva, Chair, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. and Rep. Rob Bishop, Ranking Republican, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. (July 17, 2019) (on ?le with Comm), Letter frorn Thomas Strickland, Partner, WilmerHale to Rep. Raul Grijalva, Chair, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. and Rep. Rob Bishop, Ranking Republican, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. (July 23, 2019) (on ?le with Comm), Letter from Thomas Strickland, Partner, WilmerHale to Rep. Raul Grijalva, Chair, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. and Rep. Rob Bishop, Ranking Republican, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. (Aug. 1, 2019) (on file with Comm.) Hon. Raul Grijalva December 20, 2019 Page 2 disturbing internal reports which outline years of human rights abuse cases associated with partners and work.5 Additionally, the Department produced more than 1,200 pages of documents in response to our Congressional oversight about how international conservation grants are awarded.6 Our investigation led the Department to question ?the adequacy of the controls in place to effectively and transparently monitor the use of United States taxpayer resources that support conservation and traf?cking goals . . . 3?7 Ultimately, an internal review of grants resulted in the Department withholding $12.3 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funds from multiple grantees.8 While international conservation grants play an important role in protecting wildlife, the United States cannot be party to violations of basic human rights. I am con?dent that we both recognize gaps in the Department?s accountability of grants which necessitates a meaningful public discussion to ensure proper safeguards are in place and enforced. Convening these hearings is an appropriate and effective way to begin addressing needed accountability measures in this important area of the Committee?s jurisdiction. Sincerely, Rob Bishop Ranking Republican Committee on Natural Resources cc: The Honorable TJ Cox, Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight Investigations The Honorable Louie Gohmert, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Oversight Investigations The Honorable Jared Huffman, Chairman, Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife The Honorable Tom McClintock, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife 5 See INVESTIGATION REPORT ON THE SALONGA NATIONAL PARK (Draft Report, March 2019) at WWF-HRNCOM- 00000255 (in 2013, three men were beaten and had their genitalia tied together with ?shing wire as eco-guards interrogated them), Id. at (in 2002, a woman was raped by coo-guards). 6 Letter from Hon. Susan Combs, Assistant Sec?y Pol?y, Mgmt., Budget, U.S. Dep?t of the Interior to Rep. Raul Grijalva, Chair, H. Comm. on Nat. Res. (Sept. 17, 2019) (on ?le with Cemm.) 7 Id. at 2. 8 E-mail from Of?ce of Congressional Affairs, US. Dep?t of the Interior, to H. Comm. on Nat. Res. Staff (Sept. 30, 2019, 11:05 EST) (on ?le with author).