“I do not support Rep. Mark Amodei’s lands bill for several reasons. It was brought to the House Natural Resources Committee despite opposition from Clark County and without consulting local stakeholders or the rest of the federal delegation. Proposals to sell public lands should be done openly because public lands belong to all of us.

I also do not support the budget amendment because it rips off the people in Southern Nevada. It sells off 65,000 acres in Clark County without any offsets for conservation. Furthermore, the land would be sold for “billions” and the money would go directly to the U.S. Treasury with no financial benefit for outdoor recreation, protecting critical ecosystems, or wildfire protection in Southern Nevada.

Developments proposed in the amendment would also siphon off precious water resources as we struggle with prolonged drought, and raise costs for needed infrastructure to accommodate projected growth.

I believe a lands bill should encourage infill to use existing infrastructure and conserve water. This bill does just the opposite.”



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