ICYMI: Rep.Vasquez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Public Lands from Being Sold Off in Backdoor Deals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the bipartisan Public Lands Integrity Act, a commonsense bill to protect America's public lands from being sold off to the highest bidder through the budget reconciliation process.

"Treating public lands as another item on a balance sheet goes against the will of the people, and Americans have made it clear that our public lands are not for sale," said Vasquez.

Learn More: NM U.S. Rep. Vasquez introduces bill to prevent 'last-minute, backdoor deals' to sell public lands

The Public Lands Integrity Act is endorsed by various environmental groups including the American Rivers, American Whitewater, Alaska Wilderness League, America Outdoors Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, Conservation Lands Foundation, The Conservation Alliance, Grand Canyon Trust, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Wild, The Nature Conservancy, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, Outdoor Alliance, Outdoor Industry Association, Protect Our Winters, Sierra Club, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited, Trust for Public Lands, Vet Voice Foundation, and The Wilderness Society. It is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT). The bill's companion in the Senate is sponsored by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).

This bill builds on the success of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, which Rep. Vasquez co-founded last May and of which all four sponsors are members. Last summer, bipartisan Public Lands Caucus members helped successfully defeat attempts to sell off millions of acres of public land under the Republican tax law. This bill would ensure that the reconciliation process could not be weaponized to carry out public lands sales in the future.

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