The normal process for House bills begins in the committee with jurisdiction over the issue, and for H.R. 803, the massive wilderness bill that just passed the House, that would be the House Natural Resources Committee. The bill sponsor instead went straight to the Rules Committee where Democrats make up 9 of the 13 members. With a Democratic majority, the bill passed out the Rules Committee and onto the House for the floor vote in four short days. It was an underhanded ploy by the majority to avoid a transparent discussion as to whether the nation wants to lock up more of America’s land.
Here is what is in the bill:
* Creates 1.5 Million Acres of New Wilderness
* Withdraws 1.2 Million Acres from Mineral Production
* Designates 1,200 Miles of New Wild and Scenic Rivers
* Expands 110,000 acres of national monument land
* Adds 400,000 acres of recreation, conservation, and special management areas
Many of the lands under consideration in this bill do not meet the basic characteristics to be considered wilderness. The bill also raises critical national security concerns. The areas designated for permanent mineral withdrawal contain rare earth minerals our nation needs for high tech products, batteries, and other key products, now being imported from Europe and China.
The Bill’s sponsor, Rep. DeGette (D-Co), from Denver, added the portion of the bill that converts over half a million acres of Rep. Boebert’s district into Wilderness without taking an acre out of her own area. And in the spirt of Speaker Pelosi, some of the Wilderness boundary descriptions in the bill are so fuzzy, Members didn’t know exactly what lands they were taking before voting for its passage.
The bill passed the House with a vote of 227-200. Eight Republicans voted for the bill. They are: Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Garcia (R-CA), Mace (R-SC), Meijer (R-MI), Simpson (R-ID), Smith (R-NJ), Upton (R-MI), Van Drew (R-NJ). One Democrat broke ranks and opposed the bill: Gonzales, (D-TX)
The bill now moves to the Senate where proponents are expecting a tougher fight. Your Senators need to know you oppose this bill.
U.S. Senate Members Directory
H.R. 803 - Liberty Matters Action Alert
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