HUNTER, ISSA VOTE TO ALLOW GIVEAWAYS OF FEDERAL LANDS

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Cedar Creek Falls in Cleveland National Forest, located in San Diego’s East County

January 8, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa joined with the House Majority in voting for a rules change would allow giveaway of federal lands to states, local governments, or tribes.  Potentially, such giveaways could include national parks such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. It also encompasses all other public lands; here in San Diego these include Cleveland National Forest, federal recreation areas and national wildlife preserves.

The provision is part of House Resolution 5, a rules package approved by a 233 to 190 vote. San Diego’s Democratic representatives Susan Davis, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas voted against the measure.

Republicans have claimed some federal lands have fallen into disrepair and that local governments would be better positioned to handle such properties for local benefits. 

But Democrats warn that if protected federal lands are given away to local governments or tribes, cash-strapped local entities could later sell off those lands to developers.  They contend that federal public lands should be managed for the benefit of all Americans, not just local communities.

The measure changes rules that costs be considered before any transfer can be made of federal lands that generate revenues for the U.S. Treasury, such as visitor fees, logging, grazing, or energy extraction.  Any lost revenues would have to be offset through other revenue sources or budget cuts before public lands could be disposed of – until now.

The new rule approved by House Republicans would eliminate that requirement.

Arizona Congressman Rep. Raul Grijalva, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, called the change “outrageous.”  In a letter to fellow Democrats he wrote that the rule change will allow Congress to “give away every single piece of property we own, for free, and pretend we have lost nothing of any value. Not only is this fiscally irresponsible, but it is also a flagrant attack on places and resources valued and beloved by the American people.”

Alan Rowsome, senior government relations director for The Wilderness Society, accused Congressional Republicans of “declaring open season on federal lands.”

Ironically, it was Republican President Theodore Roosevelt who first established America’s national parks, forests and monuments systems as a means of forever preserving our most cherished places, as well as protecting environments for camping, fishing and hunting. 

President-Elect Donald Trump has not embraced that view, nor has his nominee as Secretary of the Interior, Congressman Ryan Zinke, a Montana Republican. In fact, Zinke resigned as a GOP convention delegate last summer over this issue.   Trump told Field and Stream last year that he believes “We have to be great stewards of this land” and that public lands should not be sold off during troubled times.

Whether or not Trump would defy the Republican-controlled Congress to sign bills giving away public lands, however, remains to be seen.

Want to tell your Congressional member your views on this issue and their vote?  Here's how to reach them:

49th district – Daryl Issa (R)

e-mail:  http://issa.house.gov/contact/contact-me

Washington:  Phone (202) 225-3906; fax (202) 225-3303

Vista:  Phone (760) 599-5000; fax (760)  599-1178

Website:  www.house.gov/issa

District office: 1800 Thibodo Road, #310 Vista, CA 92083

Website: http://issa.house.gov/

 

50th district – Duncan Hunter (F)

e-mail: https://forms.house.gov/hunter/webforms/zipauthen_contact.shtml

Washington D.C.  Phone: 202-225-5672 Fax: 202-225-0235

El Cajon:  Phone: 619-448-5201 Fax: 619-449-2251

District office:  1611 Magnolia Ave., Suite 310 El Cajon, CA 92020

Website: http://www.hunter.house.gov/

 

51st district -  Juan Vargas (D)

e-mail: https://vargas.house.gov/contact/email-me

Washington D.C. Phone: 202-225-8045 Fax: 202-225-9073

San Diego Phone: 619-422-5963 Fax: 619-422-7290

District office:  333 F Street, #A Chula Vista, CA 91910-2624

Website: http://vargas.house.gov/

 

52nd District -- Scott Peters (D)

e-mail:  http://scottpeters.house.gov/contact

2410 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-0808 Fax: 202-225-2558

4350 Executive Drive, Suite 105 San Diego, CA 92122

 Phone: 858-455-5550

Website: http://scottpeters.house.gov/

 

53rd district:  Susan Davis (D)

e-mail:  www.house.gov/susandavis/contact.shtml

Washington: Phone: (202) 225-2040; Fax: (202) 225-2948

San Diego:  Phone: (619) 280-5353; Fax: (619) 280-5311

District office: 2700 Adams Avenue, #102 San Diego, CA 92116

Website: www.house.gov/susandavis

 

Don’t know who your Congressional representative is?



Type in your zip code at this link to find out:  www.house.gov/writerep

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Comments

Federal or local control?

The big question is: Who is better at managing public lands? The Federal government or State, County or Tribal governments? It seems to me that local control is more accountable to local needs. To be taken seriously it is important to avoid exaggeration and hysteria. This headline seems more like a political party talking point than a legitimate concern.

Ocotillo and McCain Valley BLM Lands

Both areas have wind farms opposed by the residents and the public. Both are on Federal recreation lands. Something's already wrong.

not an outrage

the federal government does control too much land and the states and local government should have more authority. As control is ceded, costs transfer to the new agency yes, but that is tax money no longer used so the tax revenue can go to the new agency , zero lose

sorry east county but the article is hysteria and not balanced or thoughtful