Bennet, Merkley, Wyden, Heinrich Introduce Legislation to Block Sale of Federal Public Lands

 Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls, and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here . M About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Merkley, Wyden, Heinrich Introduce Legislation to Block Sale of Federal Public Lands Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, led Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, Ron Wyden (D-Ore), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the Senate […] Apr 30, 2026 | Press Releases Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, led Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, Ron Wyden (D-Ore), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to introduce the Public Lands Integrity Act. This bill would ensure that America’s public lands cannot be sold as part of a fast-tracked process in a budget reconciliation bill, which allows for passage in the Senate by a simple majority vote. During consideration of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , the Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that passed in July 2025, the Senate nearly approved a provision to sell one to three million acres of federal public lands to generate revenue to pay for other Republican priorities. Bennet worked to build strong bipartisan opposition alongside lawmakers, states, counties, and sportsmen’s groups across the West. The Senate ultimately abandoned the provision. Today, under current rules, any senator could propose expedited public land sales in a future budget reconciliation bill and the Public Lands Integrity Act would eliminate that option. “Public lands make Colorado, Colorado,” said Bennet. “They’re the foundation of our economy, and they represent treasured parts of our communities, our geography and our history. Congress must never use fast-tracked Senate procedure to sell Americans’ public lands to fund short-term partisan spending. Not now, not ever.” “Oregonians and folks across America are united with a clear message—our public lands are not for sale,” said Merkley. “These beloved natural treasures belong to all of us, contributing to the spirit and economies of communities all over the United States. As Republicans attempt to rip away public lands from public use, I will fight like hell to protect and preserve our public lands for generations to come.” “Republicans have proved they will stop at nothing to sell off our country’s public lands to the highest bidder,” said Wyden. “This bill would help keep public lands in public hands by closing arcane loopholes that allow Republicans to carry out their fantasies of selling our beloved forests and lands off to billionaires. “Public lands belong in public hands. The Public Lands Integrity Act will protect access to our public lands by preventing Senate Republicans from selling them off to bankroll massive, unchecked spending on ICE and Border Patrol — or to finance future tax giveaways for their billionaire donors,” said Heinrich. America’s public lands are owned by the public and managed to provide public benefits in perpetuity. This legislation would prevent the sale of federal public lands through expedited Senate procedures under the budget reconciliation process by amending the Congressional Budget Act’s (CBA) “Byrd Rule.” The reconciliation process – established under the CBA – allows legislation affecting revenue and spending to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. To prevent the inclusion of unrelated policy, Congress amended the CBA to include the “Byrd Rule,” which makes “extraneous” provisions subject to a point of order and a 3/5th majority vote. Bennet’s proposal would define provisions resulting in the sale, transfer, or disposal of federal public lands as extraneous, making it significantly harder to permanently dispose of public lands that provide long-term benefits to the American people. Bennet has long been a fierce champion for Colorado’s public lands. In June 2025, Bennet slammed Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell up to 3 million acres of public land as out of touch with Colorado and the American West. He also released a joint statement with U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co