House Republicans Push to Sell Public Lands in Nevada and Utah

Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Then Rep.-elect Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., stands on the East Front of the Capitol after participating in a class photo of newly-elected members of Congress, Nov. 15, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans have added a provision to their sweeping tax cut package that would authorize the sale of thousands of acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah, prompting outrage from Democrats and environmental groups who called the plan a betrayal that could lead to increased drilling, mining and logging in the West.

Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee adopted the land sales proposal early Wednesday morning. The initial draft had not included it amid bipartisan opposition.

The land sale provision put forward by Republican Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada and Celeste Maloy of Utah would sell thousands of acres of public lands in the two states, and calls for some of the parcels to be considered for affordable housing projects.

Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd voted against the provision and Rep. Joe Neguse , D-Colo., called it "deeply irresponsible."

"Public lands shouldn't have a price tag on them. But (President) Donald Trump and his allies in Congress are working like mad to hand over our public lands to billionaires and corporate polluters to drill, mine and log with the bare minimum oversight or accountability,'' said Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program. The lands potentially for sale "belong to all Americans.

House Republicans Propose Selling Public Lands in the West