ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST STANDS WITH CONSERVATION PARTNERS IN OPPOSING PUBLIC LAND SELL OFF PROPOSALS BY CONGRESS

As Congress continues to consider the “Big, Beautiful” reconciliation legislation, Advocates for the West has joined conservation allies nationwide in signing a unified position paper opposing any potential provisions within the bill to transfer or sell public lands. While western legislators in the House of Representatives successfully removed such provisions from the House version of the bill, concerns are reigniting as Senator Mike Lee (UT) signals plans to reintroduce them in the Senate. 

The continued insistence from some officials on quickly selling off such a vast array of public lands through the budget reconciliation process is particularly alarming — given the traditional process for considering sell offs that is rooted in place-based needs, rigorous public input, and adequate environmental review. 

Moreover, doing so now could set a harmful precedent of Congress selling off lands with little due process whenever it is in need of revenue, putting millions of acres of land in every corner of the West at risk. 

“America’s public lands are foundational to our national identity, our economy, our climate resilience, and our way of life. Decisions that forever affect the future of our public lands must be made carefully, transparently, and with the public interest at heart,” the position paper states. 

This unprecedented assault on our nation’s natural heritage in support of a radical, corporate-driven agenda will have generational negative consequences for all sorts of American communities, businesses, special places, and wildlife. The position paper — signed by dozens of leading conservation organizations and counting — calls on legislators to once again reject this proposal, and turn their focus to investing in the stewardship and accessibility of public lands for generations to come.