Latest news with #publicland
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conservatives Turn On GOP Senator Over Plan To Sell Off Millions Of Acres Of Public Land
People across the political spectrum hope Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) makes like a tree and leaves national forests — and other federally owned land — alone. Last week, the Lee-led Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released a draft proposal, intended for inclusion in the so-called 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' that would mandate the sale of between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of public land owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in the American West. Lee has framed the proposal as a means to increase affordable housing, and emphasized that it excludes national parks, national monuments, and designated wilderness areas from being sold. Critics have expressed skepticism that the bill would do much to mitigate the housing crisis, contending that it would only result in the public being barred from land they now enjoy. 'I don't think it's clear that we would even get substantial housing as a result of this,' Sen. Martin Heinrich (N.M.), the energy committee's ranking Democrat, told the Associated Press. 'What I know would happen is people would lose access to places they know and care about and that drive our Western economies.' Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke (Mont.) has also spoken out against the plan. 'I have said from day one I would not support a bill that sells public lands,' he wrote Wednesday on X. 'I am still a no on the senate reconciliation bill that sells public lands.' Public backlash really began to grow this week, after The Wilderness Society, a conservation organization, published a map it said showed the areas that could potentially be up for grabs. The proposal only allows for the sale of 3.3 million acres, but it's not clear exactly where that land will come from. The nonprofit identified more than 250 million acres of land it said make up the pool from which the land to be sold could be drawn. The group said it used public data to determine which federal lands would be susceptible to sale, based on the legislation's text as of Monday. Lee called the map 'misleading' and said it included some areas that would be excluded from his bill. Julia Stuble, Wilderness Society Wyoming state director, has defended the map's accuracy, telling Cowboy State Daily that the provision's wording indeed left everything on the group's map open to potential sale. The proposal has drawn condemnation from lawmakers, environmental groups and outdoor enthusiasts of a range of political stripes. Lee drew strong condemnation from many of his fellow conservatives in particular, who have slammed the proposed sell-off as a betrayal of the American people. Lee defended himself in a Saturday episode of Glenn Beck's podcast, blaming the backlash on 'falsehoods being circulated by the left.' The New GOP Platform Has An Alarming Agenda Item Trump's Second-Term Blueprint Would Take A Wrecking Ball To Public Lands JD Vance Made An Eye-Popping Suggestion During The Debate
Wall Street Journal
16 hours ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
America's Big, Beautiful Land Sale
Uncle Sam owns nearly half of the land west of the Rockies, and GOP lawmakers want to give states and businesses a tiny piece of the action. Selling a small amount of federal land would raise revenue and spur development, so why are some Republicans trying to protect the government's hoard? The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee announced a plan last week to sell public land as part of the GOP's reconciliation bill. The proposal designates about 258 million acres of land—40% of federal holdings—as potentially available for sale. It directs the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to sell up to 3.3 million acres from these designated zones. The areas up for sale would exclude land with dedicated uses such as national parks and monuments, and land previously leased for mining, energy production and other activities. The plan directs federal agencies to prioritize selling land that is near existing roads or suitable for home-building. Agencies would consult governors before auctioning land in their states, and state and local governments would have the right to make an offer before private bidders. The selloffs would put unused resources in the hands of owners who commit to invest. The available land includes areas that are sometimes used for cattle grazing, but ranchers and other users would have ample time to comment before these parcels are sold. The sales would also raise money to offset tax cuts in the rest of the bill.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Sacramento's Cosumnes River Preserve could be impacted by U.S. sale of federal land for housing
U.S. considers selling more than 16 million acres of federal land in California for housing U.S. considers selling more than 16 million acres of federal land in California for housing U.S. considers selling more than 16 million acres of federal land in California for housing SACRAMENTO — The U.S. Senate is considering selling over 16 million acres of federal land in California to turn into housing, including in Sacramento. The plan is part of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," or budget reconciliation bill, which proposed putting over 250 million acres of public land in western states for sale, including land governed by the Bureau of Land Management U.S. Forest Service. The spot in Sacramento that could be impacted is the Consumnes River Preserve. "We were out there for about three hours this morning and it's a prize. It's really something worth saving," said Josh Schermerhorn, who was enjoying the Consumnes River Preserve with his wife Kathy on Tuesday. Senators who support this bill said selling federal land will generate upward of $10 billion for the government. "The thought of the sale of public lands is pretty un-American," said Katie Hawkins, California program director of the Outdoor Alliance. Hawkins said they are suspicious of the proposal because there are no safeguards in the plan that would prevent pretty much anyone from buying it. "Whether it's extraction, timber sales or if it's development for wealthy developers or even foreign interest," said Hawkins. Her other concern is whether the land is really meant to be built on. Historically, the area has seen flooding with waters spreading across nearby wetlands and rice fields. "I think flooding is natural," said kayaker Kather Schermerhorn. "This is an area that's not hurting anybody and to let it be natural." Mike Lee, a Republican Senator from Utah, has been pushing for the federal land to be sold, but not everyone in his party is on board. "It is so important that the acquisition or disposition of any of these lands be made only after significant and meaningful local input," said Republican California Rep. Kevin Kiley. Kiley openly opposed the idea on the House floor several weeks ago. The House voted against it, but the proposal is still alive on the Senate side. "We have other places where housing could be built and it doesn't have to be on a pristine, precious preserve," said Kathy. A staff member from one of the 10 organizations within the Consumnes River Preserve Partnership told CBS13 that the land is not meant to be built on and thinks solving the housing crisis should not cost Americans losing natural gems. Other California land that could be impacted includes parts of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Joshua Tree. Democratic U.S. Senator Alex Padilla sent CBS13 this statement about the proposal: "Make no mistake, this latest Republican proposal is riddled with anti-environment provisions meant to create the largest public land sell off in recent memory to subsidize their tax cuts for billionaires. If Republicans have their way, we will never get our public lands back once they are privatized. Our public lands and natural spaces are some of our nation's greatest gifts and I will do everything I can do to protect them." The Senate has until July 4 to decide on this bill.
E&E News
12-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Committee releases megabill text with land sales
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released its portion of the Republicans' megabill Wednesday, formally reinserting language on public land sales. The text would require 'the prudent sale' of certain Bureau of Land Management and forest lands, according to a summary. The land would be used for 'housing, increased timber sales, geothermal leasing, and compensation of states and localities for the cost of wind and solar projects on federal land.' Advertisement The House-passed version of the megabill didn't include a Natural Resources Committee amendment on land sales after some Republicans — mainly Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) — balked at the prospect.
Bloomberg
04-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Senate to Add Public Land Sales to Help Pay for Trump's Tax Cuts
Senate Republicans plan to add the sale of public land into their version of President Donald Trump's massive package of tax cuts, according to a key lawmaker. Senator Mike Lee, the chairman of the committee with jurisdiction of energy and public land, told reporters Wednesday that a version of the plan would be included in their portion of the budget bill the panel plans to make public, likely on Monday.
