Statement from Trust for Public Land on the Launch of the U.S. Senate’s Bipartisan Stewardship Caucus
Washington, DC — Upon news of the official launch of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan Stewardship Caucus, Trust for Public Land (TPL) issued the following statement from CEO and President Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser:
“Trust for Public Land commends Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) for their bipartisan leadership in launching the U.S. Senate Stewardship Caucus to advance responsible management and protection of our nation’s public lands. At a time when federal lands face increasing pressures and more Americans than ever are turning to the outdoors to hike, hunt, and connect with nature, their bipartisan effort in the Senate could not be more vital.
We know that America’s public lands generate significant economic value, support small businesses, and promote health and well-being in communities across the country. But our nation’s public lands are not only economic engines, and a cherished national resource—they are a unifying force that enjoys broad, bipartisan support. TPL looks forward to working with the Senate Stewardship Caucus to ensure these shared spaces remain open, healthy, and accessible for generations to come.
Trust for Public Land thanks U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Katie Britt (R-AL) and Steve Daines (R-MT) for their Congressional leadership and continued support of public lands, and all the lawmakers who ensure public lands, outdoor spaces, and historic places are a part of our national fabric for generations to come.”
Bipartisan action was critical this year in rejecting ill-informed proposals to sell off public lands across the West and protecting the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Across the country and across party lines, Americans have made it overwhelmingly clear: they want to invest in public lands and do not want to see their public lands auctioned off to the highest bidder. National polling by TPL and YouGov shows that nearly three-quarters of Americans oppose closing or selling them, reflecting strong bipartisan support for protection. According to the National Park Service, in 2024 visitors to national parks spent more than $29 billion in nearby communities, generating $18.8 billion in labor income and $56.3 billion in economic output nationwide.
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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 $111 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
