Rep. Gabe Vasquez Blasts Backroom Senate Deal to Steal 3.3 Million Acres of Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued a strong condemnation of a last-minute provision added to the Senate reconciliation proposal that would authorize the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public lands across the American West.

“As an avid outdoorsman, conservationist, and co-founder of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, I am outraged by the Senate’s last-minute attempt to sell off millions of acres of our public lands. Just weeks after our efforts rejected a similar effort in the House, this new provision is even worse, threatening up to 3.3 million acres of public lands across the West, including right here in New Mexico.

“There’s been no public input and no consultation with the communities who live, work, and depend on these lands. And the proposal itself doesn’t even require public hearings on the disposal of the land. Stripping public lands out of the hands of the American people to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy is not just bad policy — it’s morally indefensible.

“Our public lands are not a bargaining chip and they are not a piggy bank for billionaires. They are our legacy. I will fight this shameless attempt to sell off the soul of the West with everything I’ve got to make sure your children and grandchildren can enjoy these lands for generations to come.”

Rep. Vasquez has been a vocal champion for land conservation, rural economic development, and outdoor access, and will continue to work with allies across the aisle to defeat this provision and safeguard the public lands that belong to all Americans.

In addition to Rep. Vasquez’s statement, click here to read the statements of outdoor and conservation organizations in response to Senator Lee’s proposal. 

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