*Update as of Friday, December 19th: Hopeful news just in from yesterday’s action alert to save our national parks and public lands, and a huge thanks to everyone who mobilized! After strong pressure from the conservation community, Sen. Lee refiled his amendment without the provision that would have weakened national park and public land protections. That’s real progress – and proof that collective advocacy works! But still, we’re not fully out of the woods yet. The Senate left for recess without voting on the appropriations package and there’s always the risk that new language could be added when lawmakers return in January. This is what happens when park and public land advocates raise our voices – online and in the halls of Congress. Together, we pushed back this threat and together we’ll stay vigilant and ready for whatever comes next.
Our national parks are under immediate threat, and we need your help to protect them! Earlier this year, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) pushed a proposed provision that would have put more than 250 million acres of public land on the chopping block and for sale, with a mandated sale of up to 2-3 million acres within five years. With your help, the provision was successfully thrown out.
But now Senator Lee is back with an even more dangerous amendment… Lee Amendment #3972 would remove protections in the Interior appropriations bill that require the Department of the Interior to maintain our national parks. If it passes, it opens the door to selling off, transferring or giving away America’s most treasured public lands – including our national parks.
This isn’t abstract – every year, 332 million people visit our national parks, monuments, seashores and historic sites. These lands protect irreplaceable wildlife and ecosystems, from bears to wolves, and preserve the stories that define who we are as a nation.
It is clear how special and critical our national parks are, now we need to remind our legislators. Once public lands are sold, they’re gone forever. Take action today to send an email to your Senator and urge them to vote NO on Lee Amendment #3972.
