Our public lands have been under fire this past month. The public has spoken – we won’t allow our lands to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Check out the time-stamped updates below regarding public lands sales and actions to take.
Cover photo: Jack Brauer
Wednesday, July 16th
LANDS ARE OFF THE BILL… BUT STILL UNDER ATTACK
We stopped the public lands sell-off, but Congress and the administration are still selling them out.
Thanks to bipartisan public outcry to protect our public lands (THANK YOU for speaking up!), public lands sell-offs were struck from the Big, Beautiful Bill.
But the budget bill still did our lands dirty by mandating more fossil fuel and timber development on USFS and BLM land, cutting royalty rates for oil and gas, allowing polluters to pay for expedited environmental review and reduced public input, and slashing budgets for land management agencies, putting communities at greater risk of catastrophic wildfire and paving the way for more industrial development.
So, what can we do? Keep holding our representatives accountable! In other words – give ’em hell. On the phone, over socials, by email, whatever way you wish. Specifically, let Rep. Hurd know that we not only expect to keep public lands public, we expect a say in how OUR public lands are managed. No “fasttracking” mines or oil and gas wells. No “streamlining” environmental reviews to bypass our voices. No backroom deals between agencies to sell off “underused” federal lands for housing. Public lands are a core issue for Colorado voters, and we’ve had enough of the D.C. horse trading with our lifestyle and heritage.
More attacks are on the way, and we need all of Colorado’s delegation to champion public lands. Keep reminding them of your expectations.
Tuesday, July 1st
PUBLIC LANDS SELL-OFFS ARE OUT OF THE BUDGET BILL!
Facing nationwide, bipartisan outrage at his repeated efforts to sell off millions of acres of public lands, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has finally withdrawn sell-off language from the “big beautiful bill.”
Thanks to YOU, Colorado’s congressional delegation came out strongly against sell offs, helping to kill the provision. Rep. Hurd released a joint statement opposing public land sales with Rep. Neguse last week, and promised to stand with his district against sell-offs in last week’s tele-town hall.
But legislative and administrative threats to public lands persist. Moments ago, the Senate passed H.R. 1 after the longest vote-a-rama in Senate history (26 hours), sending it back to the House for final passage. The bill allows polluters to pay their way out of environmental review, mandates expanded oil and gas leasing on public lands, and slashes billions of dollars in clean energy incentives.
Meanwhile Ag. Secretary Brooke Rollins plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which would open 59 million acres of protected national forest to logging and road building, and Interior Secretary Doug Burghum is exploring administrative ways to sell off BLM lands, which he has repeatedly described as America’s “balance sheet.”
We need our delegation to be champions for public lands, and they respond to you. THANK YOU for raising your voices, and stay tuned for ways to hold our elected officials accountable and defend our public lands!
Friday, June 27th
Land Grab Lee is back again. Within twelve hours of the parliamentarian’s ruling against his public lands sell off scheme, Senator Lee reintroduced yet another version, even posting “Stay tuned. We’re just getting started.”
This marks the third revision of the sell-off proposal in the last 10 days, crafted behind closed doors, without public input or scrutiny.
Congressman Jeff Hurd released a joint statement with Rep. Neguse on Wednesday saying “Republican or Democrat—representing red, purple, or blue districts—one sentiment continues to ring true: public lands are not for sale.” Tell Rep. Hurd THANK YOU and to Keep up the Fight!
We encourage Rep. Hurd to join Rep. Zinke and the growing coalition of Western House Republicans who have drawn a hard line on public lands sell-offs, saying “If a provision to sell public lands is in the bill that reaches the House floor, we will be forced to vote no.”
Tuesday, June 25th
Thanks to a massive outpouring of outrage from communities across the West, our governmental officials are listening. This week, the Senate Parliamentarian struck down Senator Lee’s scheme to sell off public lands, ruling it a violation of the Byrd Rule. That means the current sell-off language is officially out of the budget reconciliation bill.
But “Land Grab” Lee isn’t backing down. He’s already promised to rewrite the proposal, this time zeroing in on BLM lands near communities—including treasured spots around Durango like Animas City Mountain, Horse Gulch, East Animas climbing areas, and Perins Peak.
Hunters, he’s listening to you. This revised version threatens to sell off critical winter range across the West—habitat essential for healthy deer and elk herds.
We need our Congressional leaders to take a firm stand: absolutely NO sell-offs, NO compromises.
Reach out to Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet today. While you’re at it, let Rep. Jeff Hurd know that any public land sell-off must be rejected if it returns to the House.
Take action today:
- CLICK HERE for talking points, draft emails and social posts, contact information for representatives, and upcoming events.
- Contact Senator Bennet here
- Contact Senator Hickenlooper here
- Contact Representative Jeff Hurd here
- Become a member of SJCA and help us continue our work advocating for these areas we cherish
