Members of Congress are proposing to sell off 3 million acres of public. If approved, current legislation would mandate the sale of up to three million acres of US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in eleven western states for housing opportunities over the next five years.
Affordable housing may be needed in the United States however, this legislation is an attempt to bypass existing laws, avoid the established public comment process, and divert monies away from conservation-based agencies. In past public land sales, the revenue went to conservation funding and activities. This action reduces our natural spaces and diminishes our outdoor infrastructure.
Instead of using revenue to improve public land management, this action would redirect the money largely to the general Treasury to be spread across the entire federal government. In other words, it turns public land into a short-term revenue source, with no guarantee that those dollars will come back to support land, wildlife, water, or public access. The 5% proposed for deferred maintenance is a drop in the bucket to what would otherwise come back to the agencies.
This proposal represents a sweeping federal directive to dispose of 2–3 million acres of public lands in the next five years. It accelerates land sales, largely eliminates public processes, and transfers most revenue to the treasury instead of back into critical land management. Furthermore, it makes available an additional 250 million acres for consideration of sale upon notification by an interested party. If enacted, this would significantly reshape landownership and development patterns across key Western states and is a slippery slope to similar actions in the future. It does not clearly specify that lands sold shall be for the direct purpose of affordable housing opportunities. Loose language in the bill allows for large developers and wealthy individuals to buy and use the land for the benefit of only a select few. The bill wipes out any requirement that the government weighs the potential benefits of a land sale against lost recreation, clean water, wildlife, cultural resources, and other values.
The United States of America is envied as one of the few countries in the world that protects lands for public use. Americans have millions of public acres to visit and explore with more that 500 million visitors accessing public lands every year. There are currently 640 million acres of public lands that provide hunting, angling, and recreational opportunities as well as managed habitat for thousands of wildlife and plant species.
Join the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and many other organizations in opposing this legislation to sell our protected public lands. Selling land is a one-time payday for the permanent loss of our treasured resources. Much of this land
has been identified as a long-term source of revenue from timber and oil and gas royalties, while still maintaining access for the public to hunt, fish, camp, hike, and enjoy. We believe this legislation provides no meaningful long-term public benefits and only serves to benefit a select few.
Tell Senator Cassidy and Senator Kennedy that you oppose the sale of our nation’s public lands for private gains. You can leave a message for Senator Kennedy: (202) 224-4623 and for Senator Cassidy: (202) 224-5824.
