URGENT ACTION: Tell Congress to Reject Public Land Sales Provision in Budget Reconciliation Deal!

Photo: U.S. National Park Service

Congressional leaders are proposing to sell off federal public lands as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget reconciliation package!

This latest action comes at a time when our nation's public lands are already facing unprecedented threats from a White House administration and Congress that has often been openly hostile to even the most basic conservation or environmental principles—much less the federal agencies that manage our nation's public lands, and the conservation and environmental protection laws and regulations already on the books.

There are many terrible aspects to the proposed FY 2025 budget—including provisions that are intended to weaken the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), and leasing provisions that would make it easier (and cheaper) than ever for oil and gas companies to pollute public lands, among other things.

But now, some in Congress are attempting to put provisions into the FY 2025 federal budget to put our public lands firmly—and permanently—into private hands. U.S. Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-2) and Mark Amodei (R-NV-2) have put forward an amendment that would put 170,942 acres of public land immediately on the chopping block in Nevada and Utah, and authorize the U.S. Interior and Agriculture departments to sell up to an additional 369,443 acres as well.

This amendment does not require any requirement that the land serve a public benefit (e.g. schools, fire stations, affordable housing, etc.), and it places no restrictions on how those lands can be used—meaning those lands could very well end up as golf courses, strip malls, luxury resorts, or virtually anything else a private developer might wish.

But the most insidious aspect of this amendment may be the dangerous precedent this move would set for other public lands. If Congress approves this public lands sale, it's highly likely that it won't be the last.

Public lands are the places where ALL Americans can camp, hunt, fish, hike, and experience the healing power of nature. These lands often hold important historic, cultural, and Indigenous sites that tell the story of our nation. These lands provide critical wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species, watersheds that provide clean water to communities, and are a vital (and irreplaceable) tool in mitigating the worsening effects of climate change.

Your Voice Matters!

The federal fiscal year budget reconciliation process is different from the regular legislative process in that there is NO filibuster option—it is instead decided by a simple majority "yea/nay" vote. That means that every potential swing vote in Congress matters!

Public lands are too important to be sold off for the benefit of a wealthy few—they belong to ALL of us! Tell your congressional delegation to say "NO!" to any budget reconciliation bill that includes provisions to sell our public lands!

Click HERE for more information and take action today!

The House is expected to vote on the reconciliation bill next Tuesday or Wednesday, making this an all hands on deck urgent request. We know that Rep. Ciscomani can speak out against this amendment and we urgently ask him to press congressional leaders to strip the Amodei-Maloy Amendment from the final bill.

Here’s how you can help:

 Call Rep. Ciscomani's office —urge him to press congressional leaders to strip the Amodei-Maloy Amendment from the final bill

• Washington DC Office -  (202) 225-2542
• Tucson Office -  (520) 881-3588

 Send an email or letter HERE expressing your concern about the sale of public lands in the budget reconciliation package.
 Share this message with friends, family, and your community. Public pressure matters—let’s make it count.

Together, we can help protect our public lands from being sold off without public input. Time is short—let’s act now!

More Information:

Public lands sales the new threat to GOP megabill (EENews)

-Great Old Broads for Wilderness