Christopher Barnard

American Conservation Coalition Verified account @ACC_National · 9h

ACC wants America's natural heritage conserved and put to its highest and best use. That means keeping the land hunters, anglers, ranchers, and families depend on in public hands. Any targeted land swaps or sales must ensure public access and promote conservation values.

That position matters right now because the Interior Department's new strategic plan, released this week, commits to shrinking the federal estate by offering states, localities, and Tribes the chance to buy federal land. It's the first time Interior has officially said it wants to sell, and the plan names no parcels, acreage, timeline, or pricing but asserts a portion of the proceeds would go back to buyers for conservation elsewhere. It should be noted that a strategic plan is not legal authority to sell public lands.

Federal public lands are foundational to Western economies, wildlife conservation, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. While there are certainly management challenges at the federal level, policymakers should address these through adequate funding, improved agency capacity, and stronger partnerships with states, Tribes, and local communities. These efforts can ensure that localized management is prioritized without sacrificing access.

The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, for example, illustrates why federal land transactions must be governed by specific congressional authorization, clearly established geographic boundaries, and enforceable requirements. It should not be interpreted as a precedent for broad administrative efforts to reduce federal land ownership across the West.

A sale is permanent, though, and broad-based sales with no map and no rules put the wrong land at risk. ACC will judge any proposal on whether it keeps hunting, fishing, and recreation access open, protects critical habitat and watersheds, puts land with local governments that will actually manage it, and sends the proceeds back into conservation on the ground. The burden should rest with proponents to demonstrate why disposal is necessary and why continued federal ownership cannot meet the stated management objectives.

Public land should keep working for the people who use it, and the land worth selling should be chosen in the open, one parcel at a time.

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Jace Yarbrough Verified account @JaceYarbrough · Nov 4

Victory!

To the people of #TX32: THANK YOU for putting your trust in me to be your next Congressman!

Ours was one of only a handful of Republican pickups on a tough night across the country. That is a testament to the dedication and the incredibly hard work our volunteers and supporters put in on this campaign.

My mission in Washington is to continue to earn your trust and make you proud.

This victory belongs to you!

Yours in the fight,

Jace.

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