Zinke and Downing hold the line against public land sales
Montana’s congressional delegation were part of a coalition that got public land sales removed from the budget bill
Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, both Republicans from Montana, joined a coalition of 14 legislators that were key in the removal of a provision to sell public lands in the tax bill supported by President Trump. Zinke, along with Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico, created the coalition of congressmen mostly from western states.
“Our public lands are not a Republican or a Democrat issue. They are an American issue, and we should use them in that context of being red, white and blue,” Zinke said during the press conference announcing the caucus’ formation.
“In Montana, public lands, public land access, hiking, hunting, fishing are incredibly important to us. You could say it’s in our veins, making sure that we are being stewards of these incredible assets,” said Downing.
The caucus was successful in convincing the House Rules Committee to remove the provisions for the sale of public lands from President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” which had included a provision for the sale of BLM and USFS lands near Las Vegas, Neveada and St. George, Utah for the purpose of turning them into affordable housing.
“I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands. Once the land is sold, we will never get it back. God isn’t creating more land,” Zinke said in a press release.
The move by Zinke, who described the defense against public land sales as his San Juan Hill, referring to a famous battle won by Teddy Roosevelt, brought praise from retired Madison District Ranger Mark Petroni.
“I am pleased and appreciative of Congressman Zinke's effort to remove the sale of public land from the House Budget Bill,” said Petroni. “It appears that at least in the short term, no new sales of public land are pending. I am hopeful that he will continue to protect public land by ensuring that forest management, including wildfire management, will be science based, in compliance with environmental laws and available for public involvement.”
After the removal of the public land sales stipulation, both Zinke and Downing endorsed the reconciliation bill.
The bill was the latest declaration against the sale of public lands in Montana. In March the Montana State Legislature refused to pass a bill that would support a legal bid by the state of Utah to assume ownership of 18.5 million acres of federal land. The proposal, introduced by Rep. Tom Millet, R-Marion, was voted down by a tally of 34-66 on the House floor.