Sixteen lawmakers in the House of Representatives have formed the Public Lands Caucus, which aims to “(conserve) America’s public lands and (expand) access for all Americans.” The caucus was formed as a direct response to members of the House who authorized the sale of public lands in the latest budget bill (which has yet to head to the House floor for a full vote).
Montana Representative Ryan Zinke, a Republican who served as Secretary of the Interior in Donald Trump’s first administration, formed the caucus alongside Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico. Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) are the other two founding members of the caucus.
“Public lands aren’t red or blue issues, it’s red, white, and blue,” Zinke said in a statement. “The bipartisan Public Lands Caucus brings together lawmakers who don’t agree on much, but we agree on and are ready to work together to promote policies that advance conservation and public access.”
The caucus has members from both sides of the aisle, including seven Republicans. Conservation of public lands and improving access are at odds with historical stances by most Republicans, who tend to favor energy and housing development ahead of recreation and conservation.
Zinke spoke to this about-face in detail with Outside, telling the magazine that he favors a multi-use approach to federal lands management. That includes resource extraction and development, in addition to recreation and conservation.
Zinke cited an example from his tenure as Interior Secretary of what multiple-use looks like in his mind. He oversaw an expansion and upgrade of staff housing inside Yellowstone National Park, according to Outside, “which was the ‘highest and best use’ for the public land on which it was built.”
The CEOs of both Trout Unlimited and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership have publicly thanked Zinke for forming the caucus, and thrown their support behind his efforts to conserve public lands.
“On behalf of Trout Unlimited members across the nation, I thank Congressmen Zinke and Vasquez and the members of the newly minted bipartisan Public Lands Caucus for their leadership upholding our legacy of public lands,” Chris Wood, TU CEO, said.
The public lands caucus certainly has its work cut out as they try to balance a multi-use approach against the Trump administration’s desire to develop more energy production in America.