News broke today that some members of Congress are considering sales of public lands in the reconciliation bill.
“We are incredibly concerned about recent news that Congress and the Trump administration are considering selling off our nation’s public lands to pay for the budget reconciliation bill. Our public lands are not just a number on a spreadsheet or a budget line item—they are the parks and forests that Americans enjoy for outdoor recreation; they are sacred sites for Native communities; and they are home to vegetation and wildlife that create delicate and irreplaceable ecosystems. They are also critical economic drivers for communities and businesses across the nation: access to protected public lands is vital for the $1 trillion outdoor recreation economy,” said Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. “While we recognize the importance of solving the affordable housing crisis, particularly in the Mountain West and in gateway communities, broad sales of public lands in or near national parks and forests is not the solution. Any efforts to build affordable housing must be targeted, bipartisan, and transparent. The Conservation Alliance and our more than 200 member companies urge President Trump and leaders in Congress to balance our nation’s budget without recklessly sacrificing America’s cherished public lands.”
The Conservation Alliance harnesses the power of businesses from a wide range of industries to protect outdoor spaces and wild places. TCA will continue to advocate for protected lands and waters as the budget reconciliation process moves forward.
Media contact:
The Conservation Alliance
Lilly Zoller
lilly@conservationalliance.com
(248) 302-1553
