Calling on Congress to protect public lands
Trump istration wants to open more federal land for development
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A new bipartisan group of lawmakers is now forming in Washington to protect public lands.
Democrats and Republicans in the House say all Americans can benefit from the country taking better care of public lands - and protecting them from private purchase.
Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke says public land use is not a red versus blue issue.
“It’s an American issue. And we should use it in that context of being red, white and blue.”
Zinke co-chairs the new Public Lands caucus with Democrat Gabe Vasquez. The New Mexico Democrat recently introduced a bill to ban public land sales to private companies.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M. says, “Public lands are this country’s great equalizer. On the water, on the land, or in the back country, we all benefit from foundations laid by great conservation leaders.”
The caucus was announced shortly after the House Natural Resource Committee approved some public land sales to fund the budget.
Republican Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) says it’s about compromise, “A lot of times, you come up with things like, should we have an open pit mine at the entrance to Yellowstone Park. I think we all agree no. But finding other places where we can have the minimum impact.”
With a bipartisan group of veteran lawmakers, the new caucus says they expect to achieve results.
Rep. Debbie Dingell is a Michigan Democrat, “All of us as we do things, that, they’re hearings. It’s not done in the dead of night. And that we have good, bipartisan discussions with everyone impacted at the table.”
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