Two House lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation Friday aimed at preventing federal public lands from being quietly sold off through the budget reconciliation process, a tactic conservationists have feared for years.
Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) are behind the Public Lands Integrity Act, which would require any decisions about selling or disposing of federal land to go through the full legislative process, complete with public debate, committee hearings, and a formal vote, rather than getting buried inside a massive budget package.
For Ciscomani, his district encompasses some of Arizona's most recognizable outdoor destinations, from the towering saguaros of Saguaro National Park to Mount Lemmon and the trails winding through Sabino Canyon.
The notion that any of those places could be quietly transferred out of public hands through a budget maneuver is something he's been vocal about opposing.
“This legislation protects these treasured spaces and helps ensure future generations can experience and enjoy the same natural beauty that makes Arizona and our country so special,” he continued.
Supporters of the Bill
The bill arrives at a moment of genuine tension over federal land management across the West, and Outside groups have taken notice.
Trout Unlimited, the Arizona Trail Association, and the Arizona Wildlife Federation have all thrown their support behind the legislation, each arguing that public lands belong to ordinary Americans, not budget negotiators looking to balance the books.
Supporter of the act, Michael Cravens, Arizona Wildlife Federation, explained how roughly a year ago, a last-minute amendment to a reconciliation bill came dangerously close to authorizing public land sales before ultimately being defeated.
That near-miss rattled conservation groups, and many argue the underlying pressure to treat public lands as a budget tool has never fully gone away.
Ciscomani's Continued Effort
Along with Ciscomani serving on the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, he has worked to build a record on this issue. He helped introduce the Chiricahua National Park Act through the House earlier this year with bipartisan support, a bill that now awaits action in the Senate.
"Our public lands should never be subject to backroom deals or rushed budget negotiations. Selling or disposing of them through reconciliation is the wrong approach," said Ciscomani.
Whether the bill advances in a packed legislative calendar is far from certain, but Ciscomani and Vasquez appear intent on forcing the conversation.
"Public lands are America’s best idea, and they belong to all of us and must remain in the public trust," Vasquez continued. "Treating public lands as another item on a balance sheet goes against the will of the people, and Americans have made it clear that our public lands are not for sale.
