Sierra Club Statement on Senate Committee’s Markup of Public Lands Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered 15 bills largely focusing on conservation, public lands, and wildfire prevention.

Among the bills considered during the markup session, the committee's first legislative markup since September, were the following:

• S. 2015, the National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025, which would increase the use of prescribed fire on and around national forests. The bipartisan bill passed through the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the last Congress, but it failed to become law.
• S. 1341, the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which would add land to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness.
• S. 1787, the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, which would protect private water rights.

The committee also considered S. 1860, the Brian Head Town Land Conveyance Act, a bill that could reopen the possibility of selling off public lands to private developers. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), would give away 24 acres of public land in the Dixie National Forest to the ski resort town of Brian Head, Utah.

In response, Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:

"Our public lands are Americans' true common ground. Today's votes show that protecting these treasured landscapes is one issue that can bring together both sides of the aisle. Sen. Lee should take note from his colleagues - the American people want these places protected, not sold off to developers."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.