Commentary: WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 19, 2017) - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced an amendment to strip language (Title II Section 2001) in the Fiscal Year 2018 Republican budget resolution that provides fast-track authority to sell off America’s public lands. The budget resolution is currently being considered on the Senate floor.
“The Republican budget would give fast-track authority to auction off over a billion dollars of public lands in New Mexico and across the West. The White House has already asked Secretary Zinke which lands don’t deserve protection and now Senate Republicans are intent on making it even easier to privatize the places sportsmen and other New Mexicans rely on for recreation and to put food on the table. My amendment would strike this billion-dollar bill of sale for our lands and reject the opportunistic politicians and their financiers, like the Koch Brothers, who want to dispose of America’s national forests, conservation lands, and open spaces.
“America’s public lands are part of the fabric of our democracy, and they support our way of life and our local economies. Anyone voting to fast-track the sale of these lands should be ashamed and can no longer pretend that they are committed to standing with the American people and protecting our public lands, water, and wildlife for our children and all future generations to enjoy.”
A copy of the amendment is available here.