Ask Your Elected Officials to Vote Against Disposal of Public Lands

After his initial proposal was rejected by the Senate Parliamentarian earlier this week, Senator Mike Lee is still trying to dispose of up to 1.2 million acres of public lands, despite widespread public opposition. His newly-released budget amendment targets land near communities for disposal; these are the places where Americans hike, bike, run, and spend time outdoors every day. 

The voices of constituents have been so important for protecting public lands throughout the budget reconciliation process and now is not the time to slow down! Thank you for advocating for the CDT and the entire Continental Divide Landscape.

If you live in Idaho, Montana, or Colorado’s third district (Southern Colorado and the Western Slope), call your elected officials TODAY. 

Here’s what to say: Let them know that you are a constituent. Thank them for their support of public lands so far! Ask them to vote “no” on any budget package that includes the mass disposal of public lands. 

Here’s how to contact them: 

Montana:

• Senator Tim Sheehy: 202-224-2644
• Senator Steve Daines: 202-224-2644
• Representative Ryan Zinke: 202-225-5628
• Representative Troy Downing: 202-225-3211

Idaho:

• Senator Mike Crapo: 202-224-6142
• Senator Jim Risch: 202-224-2752
• Representative Mike Simpson: 202-225-5531

Colorado:

• Representative Jeff Hurd: 202-225-4676

If you live in Wyoming, call Senators Barrasso and Lummis and Representative Hageman today! If you don’t live in a CDT state but you’re represented by a Republican, your call will still be impactful. 

Here’s what to say: Let them know that you are a constituent. Tell them that you oppose the sale of public lands through the budgeting process. 

Here’s how to contact them: 

• Representative Hageman: 202-225-2311
• Senator Barrasso: 202-224-6441
• Senator Lummis: 202-224-3424

The new budget amendment would require the Bureau of Land Management to dispose of between 600,000 and 1.2 million acres of public lands. Some quick facts: 

• The amendment still does not allow for public input during the disposal process. This amendment skirts existing methods for selling public land to benefit communities, and takes local voices out of the conversation. 
• The amendment is intentionally vague, in order to allow for more land to be disposed of and used for purposes that communities do not support. The amendment still does not include any provisions to ensure that the housing built on sold lands is affordable. 
• Areas as close as 1,000 feet from the CDT are still eligible for development. Communities and portions of the CDT in New Mexico and Wyoming are particularly vulnerable. 

As soon as Friday night, the House and Senate could start “vote-o-rama,” where the two chambers must reconcile the differences in their budget bills – such as this amendment. This means that elected officials in both chambers have a chance to stand up for public lands right now. 

Republican lawmakers from CDT states could play an essential role in ensuring that our public lands stay public. Due to slim margins in both chambers, strong opposition from a few Republican lawmakers could keep the sale of public lands out of the budget. In the last month, Republicans from along the Continental Divide have been champions for keeping public lands public. Now, they need to know that their constituents support them in this fight, and that disposal of public lands is broadly unpopular across the West!