Should we implement environmental policies to preserve and manage land?
Bill Summary
This large, bipartisan bill puts forth plans to manage and protect federal land through programs and research. Included are land exchanges, public land and national forest management, and hunting regulations. It allots resources for national park research, reallocation, and management as well as overall wildlife and water conservation. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation Program. This bill passed in the Senate and will be considered in the House in suspension of the rules. Sponsor: Senator Lisa Murkowski (Republican, Alaska)
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Opponents say
• “[N]ot all public lands must be federal public lands. States and local communities are more knowledgeable on how to properly maintain and use these lands that are in their own backyards and directly impact their livelihood. In contrast, the federal government has a poor track record with little accountability, mismanagement, and maintenance backlogs.” - Sen. Lee (R, UT)
• “[T]he bill moves federal lands policy in the wrong direction by failing to reform federal land acquisition programs and adding new restrictions to how Americans are allowed to use land already under federal control.” - Sen. Lee (R, UT)
• The bill is a patchwork of different policies that benefit individual senators, but does nothing to address larger threats to our environment such as climate change.
• “[T]he bill moves federal lands policy in the wrong direction by failing to reform federal land acquisition programs and adding new restrictions to how Americans are allowed to use land already under federal control.” - Sen. Lee (R, UT)
• The bill is a patchwork of different policies that benefit individual senators, but does nothing to address larger threats to our environment such as climate change.
Proponents say
• “[S. 47] would expand protections for our national parks and allow for the meaningful change of some park designations. The bill would also bring two new sites into the National Park System, telling new American stories.” - National Parks Conservation Association
• “It touches every state, features the input of a wide coalition of our colleagues, and has earned the support of a broad, diverse coalition of many advocates for public lands, economic development, and conservation.” - Sen. McConnell (R, KY)
• “The bill represents a bicameral and bipartisan agreement to achieve locally driven and nationally important public land management priorities. If enacted, it will be a historic win for conservation, management and protection of our public lands” - Sen. Daines (R, MT)
• “It touches every state, features the input of a wide coalition of our colleagues, and has earned the support of a broad, diverse coalition of many advocates for public lands, economic development, and conservation.” - Sen. McConnell (R, KY)
• “The bill represents a bicameral and bipartisan agreement to achieve locally driven and nationally important public land management priorities. If enacted, it will be a historic win for conservation, management and protection of our public lands” - Sen. Daines (R, MT)
- Murkowski Speaks to the Senate Passage of Natural Resources Management Act (Press Release)
- What’s in the Natural Resources Management Act (Outside Online)
- Senate to Pass Bipartisan Natural Resources Management Act (U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: Video on YouTube)
- Warner, Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of Bill That Permanently Reauthorizes Land & Water Conservation Fund (Press Release)
