Revised Senate bill includes updated Lee language to sell public lands
Share this @internewscast.com


The 940-page bill Senate Republican leaders unveiled Friday night to implement President Trump’s agenda includes a section pushed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to sell public lands, although a smaller amount of land than was in a provision rejected earlier in the week by Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.

The updated language in the bill directs the secretary of the Interior Department to select for sale not less than 0.25 percent and not more than 0.50 percent of the Bureau of Land Management’s land with certain restrictions.

The Interior secretary would be directed to “dispose” of land that has the “highest value,” is nominated for sale by state and local governments, is adjacent to existing developed areas, has access to existing infrastructure and is suitable for residential housing.

Any land sold by the Interior Department must be used solely for the development of housing or to build infrastructure to support housing.

Federally protected land including national monuments, national recreation areas, components of national wilderness and components of national wild and scenic rivers would be excluded from sale.

Interior would not be allowed to sell public lands located more than five miles from the border of a population center of at least 1,000 people.

The revised language reduces the amount of land the Interior Department would be allowed to sell compared to legislation Lee unveiled earlier this month.

The earlier text directed the Interior secretary to select between 0.5 percent and 0.75 percent of Bureau of Land Management land for sale.

The Senate parliamentarian on Monday ruled that the original language mandating the sale of millions of acres of public land from both the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service violated the Byrd Rule.

The Byrd Rule determines what legislation is eligible to be protected from a filibuster and allowed to pass the Senate with a simple-majority vote. Provisions must be primarily budgetary in nature to comply with the Byrd Rule.

The provisions would apply to public lands in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

The issue is controversial, even among Republicans.

Five House Republicans this week said they would vote against the bill if the provision remained in it when it came back to the lower chamber.

Senate Republicans are racing to pass the Trump agenda megabill this weekend despite a number of uncertainties. Leadership had hoped to hold a vote Saturday but the timing remains fluid.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Stanford Students Face Trial: Unpacking the Impact of Campus Activism and Pro-Palestinian Protests

SAN FRANCISCO – A significant legal proceeding commenced on Friday involving five…

Urgent Alert: Endangered Lake County Man Reported Missing – Authorities Seek Public Assistance

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities in Lake County have labeled a missing…

Venezuelans in Central Florida Face Uncertainty as They Monitor Developments in Their Homeland

ORLANDO, Fla. – Following the removal of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro…

Empowering Virginia’s Women: Strong Futures Initiative Tackles Substance Abuse Recovery for Mothers

Norton, Va. (WJHL) — In a significant step towards community health improvement,…

Introducing K-9 Bonnie: West Ridge High School’s Newly Appointed Search-and-Rescue Officer

In the bustling halls of West Ridge High School in Blountville, Tennessee,…

Hampton High Basketball Team Celebrates Homecoming Victory in Newly Rebuilt Gym Post-Hurricane Helene

The atmosphere was electric at Hampton High School on Friday night as…

Truck Crashes into Indian Trail Middle School Entrance, No Injuries Reported

In a surprising turn of events at Indian Trail Middle School in…

Unlocking Hope: How VR Headsets Transform Lives Inside California Prisons

CHOWCHILLA, Calif. – Jacob Smith has spent 20 years behind bars, yet…

Ukrainian Drones Ignite Russian Oil Depot in Retaliatory Strike Following Moscow’s Hypersonic Missile Launch

KYIV – A Ukrainian drone attack ignited a blaze at an oil…

Fetty Wap’s Early Release: The Unexpected Freedom of the Rap Icon

Rapper Fetty Wap expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards his family, friends, and…

BWXT Unveils Comprehensive Resource Hub for Jonesborough High-Purity Depleted Uranium Initiative

In Jonesborough, Tennessee, BWX Technologies (BWXT) has taken a significant step to…

Timothy Busfield Faces New Mexico Child Sex Abuse Allegations: A Developing Legal Battle

On Friday, New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant for Timothy Busfield,…