Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** In the dead of night, House committee votes to sell off public lands
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Wednesday, May 7, 2025
House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman, Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
The House Natural Resources Committee voted to sell off thousands of acres of national public land ([link removed]) in a late-night amendment to the reconciliation bill making its way through Congress.
The marathon markup session lasted the entire day and into the night, as Democrats on the committee introduced a string of amendments that would keep higher royalty rates on oil and gas production and protect public lands. When those members asked Republicans to debate or defend their spending bill, the majority members sat in silence ([link removed]) , often for minutes at a time, rather than explain their vote. At one point, the sound of crickets played in the hearing room ([link removed]) while Rep. Joe Neguse waited in a futile effort to discuss the reconciliation bill. In all, the committee rejected more than 120 amendments to the bill.
But as midnight approached, Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada and Celeste Maloy of Utah introduced an amendment that would require the Interior Department to sell about 11,000 acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah ([link removed]) . As they had done throughout the day, Republicans on the committee refused to say for what purpose. Amodei claimed the sale "would generate billions in federal revenue." The first version of the bill released last week did not contain any land sell-off provisions.
“This is just some truly odious sausage at 11:20 p.m. at the end of a long markup,” Ranking Member Jared Huffman ([link removed]) said ([link removed]) . “Any member of Congress that votes for this is just surrendering any semblance of good process. The integrity of the legislative process is dead if you do this.”
The land sell-off was the lone amendment to pass over the 12-hour markup session. In the end, the committee voted 26-17 to advance the legislation. One Democrat, Rep. Adam Gray of California, joined Republicans to vote for the bill.
Chairman's stock buys draw attention
Rep. Bruce Westerman, the chair of the Natural Resources Committee, got called out by members of his committee ([link removed]) earlier in the day for buying stock in oil, gas, and mining companies that would benefit from the pro-industry budget reconciliation bill.
During the markup session, Rep. Yasmin Ansari revealed information from Westerman's recent financial disclosure ([link removed]) , which included purchases of shares in mining companies BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, and Rio Tinto, as well as oil giants BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Suncor. After his stock purchases were made public, Westerman backpedaled and claimed the shares were bought by an investment adviser without his knowledge ([link removed]) , and that he was "in the process" of selling them.
The spending bill Westerman passed early Wednesday morning ([link removed]) would lower royalty rates for those oil and gas companies when they drill on public lands, and reverse Biden-era policies that limited mining in states like Alaska and Minnesota. The bill would also let companies buy their way to a fast tracked environmental review ([link removed]) that would be immune from legal challenges under the National Environmental Policy Act.
** Quick hits
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Billboards across the country slam DOGE cuts to national parks
National Parks Traveler ([link removed]) | Phoenix New Times ([link removed]) | Arizona Daily Star ([link removed]) | Arizona Public Media ([link removed]) | Axios Miami ([link removed]) | NBC Miami ([link removed]) | Axios Philadelphia ([link removed])
Rocky Mountain National Park among hardest hit by Musk's firings
Axios Denver ([link removed])
Analysis: Congress' tax bill is selling out America's lands and waters
The Land Desk ([link removed]) | Center for American Progress ([link removed])
Agriculture secretary insists firefighters are ready despite departure of more than 4,000 USFS employees
E&E News ([link removed])
Controversial oil train could quintuple oil exports from northeastern Utah
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Indigenous activists see Trump's Columbus Day rhetoric as cause for continued advocacy
Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
A private ranch in Texas, just saved from development, is about to become public land
Texas Monthly ([link removed])
Opinions: Public lands are a national treasure and must not be sold
Tracy Stone Manning [Writers on the Range ([link removed]) ] | Drew McConville [The Hill ([link removed]) ] | Karen Meredith [Sacramento Bee ([link removed]) ]
** Quote of the day
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” Without hyperbole, this is surely the most aggressive attack on the environment, public lands and clean energy that Congress has ever seen. It is just breathtaking what they are doing, and all of it to enable giveaways to Big Oil and tax cuts for billionaires. It’s just shameful.”
—House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman, E&E News ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@u.s.forestservice ([link removed])
Ride safely, stay in control while biking on national forests.
✔️The forest is for everyone. Be considerate of hikers and equestrians.
✔️Always wear a protective helmet and other gear.
✔️Ride single file in the middle of the trail to avoid widening the trail.
✔️Yield right-of-way to other trail users. Horses spook when they see an unfamiliar object, especially one that moves quickly and quietly.
✔️Slow down and use caution when passing others.
✔️Control your speed at all times and approach turns in anticipation of someone around the bend.
(USDA Photo by Preston Keres)
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