(US Government/ Wikimedia Commons)

Rep. Doc Hastings (R., Wash.), announced Thursday at he will not seek reelection in 2014.

Mr. Hastings joined Congress in 1994 after winning in the GOP wave election. He has served as the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee since 2011, where he enforced the safety of offshore drilling, and increased American energy production. 

With the departure of Congressman Hastings, the number of retiring House lawmakers comes to 18-seven Democrats and 11 Republicans.

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