I strongly support efforts to protect our public lands and believe we need to manage these resources in a manner that will help ensure healthy forests and open ranges. In recent years there have been many attempts which appear to be less about protecting our public lands and more about limiting multiple-use activities in these areas. Unfortunately, these efforts come at the expense of these limited resources and the American public. These attacks on Wyoming's quality of life must be met with strategic plans to safeguard our interests.
These areas are important legacies to our children and grandchildren, and we must work to ensure they are managed wisely. Although there are areas in Wyoming that are unique and should be managed for single-use purposes, such as wilderness and national parks, the vast majority of the federal land in our state can support numerous activities.
Multiple-use is the backbone of Wyoming's economy. Since 50 percent of our state is owned by the federal government, we must have access to a large portion of this land for commercial, recreation and other purposes. Restricting access to public lands in Wyoming is contrary to our core values. I will continue my work to ensure our public lands remain available for public enjoyment long into the future, and that they continue to be managed for various purposes.
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