Summer for many Idahoans means getting outside and enjoying our beautiful state. Whether it’s hiking in the Boulder White Clouds, rafting through the Frank Church Wilderness on the Salmon River, fishing for brown trout on Henry’s Fork, or camping with the family at the City of Rocks, many Idahoans spend their summer months exploring our great state’s natural beauty. It’s these special adventures close to home with our family and friends that gives us our unique quality of life here in Idaho.
Unfortunately, politicians both at home and in D.C. aren’t taking the summer off and Conservation Voters for Idaho has been hard at work to ensure we continue to protect our natural heritage for future generations.
Last Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador’s bill HB 2316 passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. The Self Sufficient Community Lands Act proposes a state seizure pilot program targeting National Forest lands and is part of a larger anti-public lands agenda. They’ve got their sights on 4 million acres of National Forest lands – that’s the total of the Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness and Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, COMBINED.
This isn’t the first time Congress has seen this bill, HB 2316 made its way through the House in 2013 but thankfully didn’t make it any farther.
Closer to home, in March of this year Idaho State Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) introduced a memorial (HJM 14) in support of Labrador’s bill, encouraging Congress to implement the state seizure pilot program, and that was only 1 of the 3 anti-public lands bills introduced by Boyle last session.
As Boyle and Labrador continue to play politics with our public lands both here and in D.C., we need you to let them know that Idaho values our natural legacy and that we won’t stand by and watch them seize our public lands only to be sold off to the highest bidder.
Sign our petition today and become a public lands advocate!
Then get outside and enjoy our great state.