Statement from Trust for Public Land CEO on Congressional House Committee’s Vote to Mandate the Sale of Public Lands
Denver, CO – Trust for Public Land CEO and President Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser issued the following statement upon news that the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee voted to mandate the sale of public lands in Western states.
“Congress has shown us what is possible when lawmakers come together to expand outdoor access, protect natural resources, and invest in the communities that depend on them. Just recently, bipartisan support and approval for legislation like the EXPLORE Act demonstrated how public lands can be part of the solution—especially for communities facing housing challenges and infrastructure issues, like with what you see in gateway communities across the West. Unfortunately, this week’s vote by the House Natural Resources Committee to direct the sale of public lands runs counter to that progress—and to the will of the American people.
Public lands must serve communities, both now and for future generations. These places provide more than just open space—they are engines of economic growth, hubs of outdoor recreation, and lifelines for public health and community connection. Selling off these lands to private interests breaks the promise made to all Americans that these shared spaces will remain protected, accessible, and available to everyone.
Selling or disposing of public lands is not what the American people want. Our recent national polling makes this clear: 74% of Americans oppose closing public lands, and 71% oppose selling them. These numbers are consistent across political lines, regions, and demographics. Simply put, Americans love their public lands and want to see them protected and available to future generations—not sold off.
We commend the newly formed bipartisan Congressional Public Lands Caucus and stand with them and Caucus Chairs Representatives Zinke and Vasquez, in defending public lands from shortsighted proposals. For more than fifty years, TPL has worked with the broadest mix of communities to solve urgent challenges—like the need for housing—through creative, place-based solutions. We’ve seen how land conservation can also help address housing shortages when communities, public land agencies, and policymakers come together at the table. We welcome the opportunity to work with Congress and the Administration to advance such solutions.
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About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
