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| May 19, 2006 |
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| WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced the U.S. House of Representatives blocked the sale of public lands, including up to 14,000 acres in Montana, by not including, in the 2007 Interior Appropriations bill, a Bush Administration plan that called for land sales. The House overwhelmingly voted against selling public lands as part of the $25.9 billion 2007 Interior Appropriations bill passed last night. “This represents a real victory for Montana’s many sportsmen and women that enjoy our public lands,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations. “We’re one step closer to having a bill signed into law that doesn’t allow for the sale of public lands. I’ve said all along that the sale of these lands to fund other government operations isn’t a sensible plan and I’m glad to see many of my colleagues agree with me.” Earlier this year, a Bush Administration budget plan called for the sale of public lands in the Western U.S., with the intent of generating funds for the Treasury and to pay for government programs. Rehberg successfully fought to have the land sales language removed from the 2007 Interior spending bill. The Bush Administration proposed the sale of 300,000 acres of national forests, including 14,000 acres in Montana, to provide funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. Rehberg, a sponsor of the Act, has repeatedly called for a separate funding option that would fully fund rural schools. “It’s apparent more and more members of Congress realized that the one-time sale of a permanent asset didn’t make sense and it endangered hunting and fishing opportunities in the West,” added Rehberg. “We’re going to find another way to fund the Secure Rural Schools Act and I think we’ll see more practical proposals brought forward to help us accomplish that goal.” The14,000 acres in Montana that are part of the proposal include over 1,000 acres in the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests, almost 3,000 acres in the Flathead National Forest and almost 3,900 acres in the Kootenai National Forest. Rehberg’s 2006 accomplishments on preventing land sales in Montana: ü Began crafting legislation designed to protect hunting opportunities for sportsmen and women on federal public lands. ü Urged the House Budget Committee to fully fund the Secure Rural Schools Act without using one-time profits from land sales. ü Fought for and succeeded in an extension of the comment period on land sales. ü Sponsored the Right-to-Ride Act, protecting sportsmen’s access to public lands. (This legislation was passed by the House this week.) ü Removed language calling for the sale of public lands from 2007 Interior Appropriations bill. (This legislation was passed by the House this week.) |
