Rep. Neguse Statement on Removal of Nevada & Utah Public Lands Sale in Republicans’ Disastrous Budget Bill

Washington, D.C. — After public outrage swelled following Congressman Joe Neguse’s exposure of House Republicans’ last-minute move to force the sale of thousands of acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada, the amendment was stripped from the reconciliation bill. The provision at issue would have mandated the sale of 11,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Utah and at least 500,000 acres in Nevada, all to pay for tax cuts benefiting the country’s wealthiest citizens.

Rep. Neguse, Ranking Member of the Committee on Federal Lands, unveiled Republicans’ disastrous scheme during the House Natural Resources Committee’s midnight markup of the budget reconciliation bill earlier this month, and further amplified opposition to the provision during the House Rules Committee 21-hour marathon markup this week. 

“As my Republican colleagues push forward with a disastrous scheme to strip millions of Americans of health care, food assistance, and more—all to fund a $7 trillion tax giveaway to billionaires—House Democrats remained consistent in our pursuit of the truth. For literally the last 29 hours straight — and pushing back day after day, week after week prior — my colleagues and I continue to stand in firm opposition to this reckless legislation,” said Congressman Neguse. 

“While I am proud to see our efforts result in the removal of Republicans’ plan to sell off treasured public lands in Nevada and Utah, I continue to be deeply concerned for the sweeping threats this bill still poses to critical conservation and public oversight programs. It’s time for common sense to prevail and for more members of the Republican Conference to speak up for the folks they were elected to represent, working with us to champion beliefs I know we’ve long shared, like the protection of America’s prized public lands.”

The Colorado Congressman also serves as a member of the House Rules Committee where he spent more than 20 hours straight exposing the so-called “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” He used his platform to hold Republicans accountable for their effort to kick nearly 14 million Americans off health care and strip food assistance for 11 million others, while running up the national deficit by nearly $4 trillion. Neguse also sought to shine a light on other disastrous inclusions tucked into the 1,000-page legislation, including an effort helmed by Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to federal judges' ability to enforce contempt of court penalties.