Rep. Simpson co-sponsors bipartisan public lands bill to prevent sell-off threats
Rep. Simpson co-sponsors bill to limit sale of most public lands, a signal for coming budget reconciliation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Contact:
John Robison, Public Lands & Wildlife Director, Idaho Conservation League, (208) 345-6933 x 213
Rob Mason, Idaho State Director, The Wilderness Society, (208) 207-8084
Alexis Pickering, Executive Director, Conservation Voters for Idaho, (208) 580-3281
BOISE, ID — Rep. Mike Simpson has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would limit the sale or transfer of most public lands by the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service, and require congressional oversight of any public lands disposal. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) reflects the longstanding and widely held belief that public lands belong to all Americans and should be passed down to future generations for the benefit of all.
Rep. Simpson’s co-sponsorship of the Public Lands in Public Hands Act comes at a critical time for our national public lands. The 119th Congress has taken several actions that set the stage for an attempt to sell or transfer our public lands. Most recently, last week the Senate rejected a proposal that would have prevented the sale of our public lands during the budget reconciliation process that is currently underway in Congress. In the House, reporting from early April made it clear that the House Natural Resources committee is seriously considering selling our public lands as part of the same budgeting process. Meanwhile, the state of Utah is still pushing a campaign for the “disposal” of 18.5 million acres of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, even though the Supreme Court recently declined to hear their case.
Rep. Simpson’s support for the Public Lands in Public Hands Act is a strong statement that keeping our national public lands in public hands is central to Idaho values, the Idaho way of life, and the freedom that all Idahoans have to get out and enjoy our national public lands. Preventing the privatization of public lands is a bipartisan issue—and selling off public lands should be a non-starter in the budget reconciliation process.
John Robison, Public Lands and Wildlife Director for the Idaho Conservation League, said:
“Congressman Simpson just earned a tip of the hat from everyone who is venturing out on public lands this weekend. Whether you are out adventuring on a single track, jeep road, river, or mountain, or just enjoying the views out your window, please join us in thanking Congressman Simpson for stepping up for American Public Lands. We also invite Senator Risch, Senator Crapo, and Representative Fulcher to celebrate and champion Idaho’s public lands by supporting this bill and committing to keeping Public Lands in Public Hands. Public lands are our common ground.”
Rob Mason, Idaho State Director for The Wilderness Society, said:
“Rep. Simpson deserves a big round of thanks for his continued support of our national public lands. Access to these lands is integral to the high quality of life that we all enjoy here in Idaho. Privatizing our public lands by selling them to the highest bidder would forever change the freedom that Idahoans currently have to access our public lands for recreation, work or the other numerous benefits that they provide. We hope that the rest of our congressional delegation will join Rep. Simpson in supporting our national public lands and rejecting any effort to privatize or transfer them out of public hands.”
Alexis Pickering, Executive Director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, said:
“Thank you to Representative Simpson for making it clear that our cherished public lands are not for sale now and never will be. We hope to see Idaho’s full delegation join Representative Simpson in sponsoring and working to pass this legislation, so we can put to bed any attempts to transfer, privatize, or sell-off our public lands and refocus our efforts on effective and collaborative management of the lands we all love.”
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ICL’s mission is to create a conservation community and pragmatic, enduring solutions that protect and restore the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the land and wildlife you love.
The Wilderness Society’s mission is to unite people to protect America’s wild places.
CVI’s mission is to create the political environment to protect the natural environment by safeguarding our democracy, clean air and water, and natural places.