(Feb. 16, 2017) Washington D.C. A resolution introduced yesterday highlights the necessity of public lands for hunting and fishing, jobs, local economies and healthy fish and wildlife populations.
Representatives Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Dave Reichert (R-WA), introduced the bipartisan, concurrent resolution Expressing the sense of Congress that Americas Federal public lands are national treasures that belong to all Americans. The resolution comes in contrast with other efforts on both state and federal levels that would transfer or sell public lands to the highest bidder.
Trout Unlimited strongly supports the resolution and appreciates the leadership displayed by its sponsors.
Public lands, literally, helped define the character of the nation as we settled the West,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Our politics divide us, but the public lands and waters that define and sustain us, should not. Conservation is a cultural issue, not a political one. From the actions of President Theodore Roosevelt to President Barack Obama, conservation of our public lands and waters is interwoven into who we are as Americans.
We look forward to working with the resolutions sponsors and other members of Congress to keep public lands in public hands,” continued Wood.
And there is much more to be done. We must adequately fund natural resource agencies to ensure that they have the money to be good land stewards. Fix the practice of fire borrowing and enact the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act. These are the kinds of solutions that will move our country and our outdoor traditions forward.
For more information, or to tell Congress why public lands matter, go to Trout Unlimited’s newly launched Action Center.
