Hastings: House on track for early May offshore drilling votes

His bills would force regulators to process offshore-drilling permit requests more quickly and would expand greatly the offshore regions available for oil-and-gas development, among other provisions.

A partial government shutdown looms after Friday if Capitol Hill Republicans, Democrats and the White House don’t reach a deal on federal spending. But Hastings said the mark-up — unlike other committee plans — will go forward regardless.

“While all other Natural Resources Committee hearings will be postponed should there be a lapse of appropriations, this mark-up will occur as announced. The Committee’s work to mark up the legislation is essential to the ability of the House to fulfill its planned constitutional legislative activities,” Hastings said.