NDAA Protects & Employs Public Lands

Posted for Congressman Steny H. Hoyer

The largest public lands and wilderness preservation bill passed since 2009 was the result of a “balanced agreement that both conserves the environment while allowing for economic development,” said House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer about the public lands provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2015.

The provision adds 250,000 acres of new wilderness designations, conserves 400,000 acres of public land from development, and creates 15 new national parks or expansions.

The provision also expands a program to expedite oil-and-gas drilling permits and accommodates a land swap to permit a large copper mine.

The House passed the $585B defense bill in early December in a largely bipartisan vote of 300-119.  The Senate passed the bill on a week later in an 89-11 vote, despite some GOP senators objections to the inclusion of the lands package and its language that designates 250,000 acres of new wilderness.

After the House passed the bill on Dec. 4,  Congressman Hoyer said, “I was glad that Democrats and Republicans were able to reach a balanced agreement that both conserves the environment while allowing for economic development to take place in certain areas.  While it is not perfect legislation, it has the support of conservation groups like the Wilderness Society, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the National Wildlife Federation that recognize how important it is to move forward with the work of lands preservation.  I will continue to push for commonsense conservation policies that strike a balance between economic development and the need to protect America’s greatest natural treasures.”

Source: The Hill
Image of Wilsonville Memorial Park courtesy of M.O. Stevens