Rep. Amodei Moves to Sell off Nevada Public Lands With Midnight Amendment

NEVADA - In the middle of the night, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced a last-minute amendment to a massive budget reconciliation package that mandates the sell-off of public lands. The House Natural Resources Committee approved the amendment and the broader package along party lines. This package will be folded into a broader budget reconciliation proposal that could be voted upon by Memorial Day.

Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director with Institute for a Progressive Nevada, issued the following statement:

“Public lands in this country have been the enduring symbol of public trust for over a century. But this amendment, passed in the dead of night, is an unequivocal betrayal of that trust. This bell cannot be unrung, and once these lands are sold, they will forever cease to be public lands. If selling off our natural heritage to the highest bidder to appease corporate bottom lines and tax cuts for the wealthy is so important, Congress ought to give it the full light of day and the debate it deserves. Instead, this federal legislative shortcut represents a reckless and shortsighted move that will permanently deprive not just the land itself, but the people and jobs that land supports. We strongly oppose any measure that would sell our public lands with so little accountability.”

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