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

Heightened Fire Risk Develops Across Central Florida as Drought Conditions Intensify

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida is bracing for the onset of a severe…

Rubio Visits Caribbean to Strengthen US Ties Amid Venezuela and Iran Challenges

WASHINGTON – This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to…

Supreme Court Ruling on Trump’s Tariffs Introduces Uncertainty, Yet Markets Remain Stable

BANGKOK – In a significant legal development, the U.S. Supreme Court has…

Hegseth and Anthropic CEO to Convene Amid Escalating Debate on Military AI Utilization

In a significant development in the intersection of technology and defense, U.S.…

Jonesville Man Sentenced to Life for Rape: Justice Served in High-Profile Case

JONESVILLE, Va. (WJHL) — In a significant legal decision, Lee County Commonwealth’s…

16-Year-Old Apprehended in Connection with Gang-Related Shooting Injuring Four Juveniles in Parramore

ORLANDO, Fla. – In a significant development, Orlando police announced on Monday…

Thief Nabbed in Flood Relief Heist: Copper Wire Stolen from Flag Pond Storage

A man from Chuckey was taken into custody on Sunday night following…

Massive Meth Bust: TBI Nabs Major Distributor with 8-Pound Haul

In Greene County, Tennessee, a coordinated investigation involving multiple agencies has culminated…

Unraveling the ‘Goldilocks’ Conditions Behind the Northeast’s Epic Blizzard Snowfall

WASHINGTON – A powerful nor’easter has pummeled the Northeast, dumping nearly three…