LaMalfa introduces bill blocking radical Biden land grab 050721

Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.

Congressman LaMalfa PRESS RELEASE - May 7, 2021

LaMalfa Introduces Bill Blocking Radical Biden Land Grab

30 x 30 program being pursued by Biden administration seeks to lock up at least 30% of all U.S. lands and waters by 2030

(Washington, DC) - Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) joined Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03) and 21 other House Republicans in introducing the 30 x 30 Termination Act to block the radical 30 x 30 program being pursued by the Biden administration that seeks to lock up at least 30% of all lands and waters in the country by 2030. The federal government already manages 640 million of acres of land, the vast majority of which is in the West. More than 750 million acres of federal waters are already locked up through unilateral designations under the Antiquities Act. But the 30 x 30 land grab would place an additional 681 million acres of land and water under government control or elevate federal lands to a more extreme status that prevents use of these lands, all within in the next nine years. In addition to private lands, hundreds of millions of acres currently managed for multiple-use or economic development are threatened. Yesterday, the Biden administration released a report that made clear the administration is moving forward with this dangerous land grab put forth by extremist environmentalist groups.

LaMalfa said, "The federal government already possesses millions of acres it already cannot manage well. We have witnessed millions of acres of forest land burned in recent years, wild horse populations that grow exponentially and are in peril, and a backlog of national parks maintenance and closure. Why the government would seek to add hundreds of millions of acres to its holdings is senseless. Before locking up more land and water in perpetuity without Congressional approval, we should implement the reforms necessary to properly manage the federal government's current possessions, leading to countless benefits like reducing wildfire risk, better utilization of natural resources to supply our renewable energy demand, and getting more water to our farmers, ranchers and urban users soon to be under rationing."

Boebert said, "Joe Biden can give it a fake name and try to disguise its identity but moving forward with the 30 x 30 program is another radical pander to Green New Deal activists and extremist enviros funded by George Soros that believe the federal government should control every aspect of our daily lives, including our land. The Biden administration has made clear they will ignore the input of opposing counties when adding more federal land to the rolls and that they believe grazing, responsible energy production and other land uses that contain emissions should be prevented on federal lands. Locking up 30% of all our land and water within the next decade is a dream killer for future generations and local economies and will also prevent Americans from utilizing their public lands and enjoying the outdoors. In the West, we are all too familiar with government land grabs, and we can see this one coming from a mile away. I'm honored to have so much support from Americans throughout the country for my bill that seeks to block the 30 x 30 program and prevent this government expansion."

Rep. Michael Guest (MS-03) said, "Biden's executive order to place almost one-third of American lands under government control is an extreme overreach. The American dream is rooted in the ownership and stewardship of private lands for recreational and economic purposes. This landgrab is another example of the Biden Administration's priority of expanding government control over the resources that belong to the American people."

Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-09) said, "President Biden's radical 30 x 30 program represents yet another liberal power grab. The federal government should not be taking more federal land for themselves. Americans are dealing with enough overreach and control from this Administration as is, the least the President could do is not add to it,"

Rep. Pat Fallon (TX-04) said, "Over six hundred million acres of land and seven hundred and fifty million acres of water currently sit under management of the federal government, locked up from nearly any form of utilization. Radical environmentalists are seeking to drastically expand those numbers under the Biden administration, snatching valuable land and water from both private use and economic development. I'm proud to cosponsor Congresswoman Boebert's bill which would halt the Biden administration's radical land grab agenda and preserve the property rights of all Americans."

Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03) said, "I hear daily from Nebraska farmers and ranchers who, already dependent on their access to and stewardship of the land, are deeply concerned about the potential of this arbitrary goal impacting their lives and livelihoods. Westerners have a proud history of protecting and preserving our natural treasures, and future decisions should be science-based and broadly incorporate local stakeholders. I am proud to cosponsor the 30 by 30 Termination Act because rural communities in the American West deserve to have the loudest voice in determining how to protect local lands and water, not Washington bureaucrats."

Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) said, "The Biden Administration's plans to drastically increase federal land holdings is another disastrous land grab and will undermine federalism, local self-government, and private property rights under the guise of Biden's radical Green New Deal-focused agenda. The federal government cannot properly manage the hundreds of millions of acres it currently controls; and it has no business taking on any more from states, localities, or private entities. Congress should empower private citizens to own and manage property, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington."

Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13) said, "The Biden administration's latest executive power grab is designed to lock up our country's vast land resources from energy development. This is yet another example of this administration putting its left-wing base first, and hardworking Americans last. I'm proud to join Rep. Boebert's bill to reverse this dangerous overreach and ensure that the federal government is not able to unilaterally prevent America's natural resources from being utilized."

The 30 x 30 Termination Act:<https://boebert.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/boebert.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/BOEBER_048_xml%20v4_0.pdf>

1. Nullifies Section 216 of Executive Order 14008 which<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad> contains the 30 x 30 program.
2. Prohibits federal funds from being spent to carry out the 30 x 30 program, the report in Section 216, and any substantially similar program.
3. Ensures no net-loss of non-federal land in counties and states that already contain 15% or more federal land.
4. Ensures no net-loss of multiple-use activities in states unless such action has been authorized by Federal statute.
5. Prohibits withdrawing federal lands from mineral development without Congressional approval.
6. Prohibits unilateral 30 x 30 designations under the Antiquities Act in counties and states that already contain 15% or more federal land.
Also joining as cosponsors of the bill are Reps. Scott Perry (PA-10), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Ken Buck (CO-04), Dan Bishop (NC-09), Tom Emmer (MN-06), Randy Weber (TX-14), Bob Good (VA-05), Don Bacon (NE-02), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Brian Babin (TX-36), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Pete Stauber (MN-08), and Austin Scott (GA-08), Tom Tiffany (WI-07).
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

====================================================

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml