A few weeks ago, the rivers and freshwater flowing through America’s public lands faced an historic threat. The U.S. Senate was on verge of passing a massive spending bill that included a provision to auction millions of acres of our public lands and waters across 11 Western states.
But thanks to supporters like you, a nationwide groundswell of opposition convinced Congressional leadership to remove the public lands sell-off provision from the bill. A historic victory for public lands over an historic threat to them. Every voice can start an avalanche, and yours did just that.
The Author Wallace Stegner famously described America’s public lands, particularly national parks, as “America’s best idea.” Millions and millions of Americans across the political spectrum who hunt, fish, swim, paddle, play, and get their drinking water from public lands understand why. And they understand that selling off America’s backyard is to trade one of our best ideas for arguably the worst. It’s the difference between knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing, as Oscar Wilde once said.
While it’s true that selling off public lands might benefit somebody somewhere, that person is not you. You’ll be the one footing the bill, and it’s a bill you can’t afford. It will come due the day comes when take your kid to your favorite fishing spot and see a high fence across the river, now polluted, with a sign from a multinational mining corporation that says “Property of X Corporation. Keep Out — No Trespassing.”
Montana Congressman and former Secretary of Interior Zinke, who led the charge in the U.S. House against the sale, summed up the importance of defending public lands best: “Our public lands is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. It’s an American issue, and we should use it in that context of being red, white and blue.”
keep momentum strong for public lands
Public lands are the birthright of every American, and access to clean, reliable water is a need that cuts through all social and political divisions.
And it is in that spirit that all Americans must remain vigilant about defending public lands and the values they provide. Because the attacks won’t stop coming. We can count on future backroom deals in Congress to dispossess the public or attempts to repeal foundational laws and policies that ensure our system of public lands management. Already foundational policies like the Public Lands Rule, the Roadless Rule, Public Lands Rule, and our system of National Monuments are under attack. Such policies are vital to ensuring balanced management of multiple uses for conservation and development.
Success in an effort like this has many authors but extra special thanks go out to the following members of Congress — Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Sen. Martin Heinrich, (D-NM), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) , Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR), and Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).
Defending public lands must always remain a red, white, and blue issue. Continuing to lend your voice is the only way to keep it that way. Don’t ever let them fence us in.
