The bipartisan Public Lands Caucus has formed in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Reps. Gabe Vasquez, D-NM, and Ryan Zinke, R-MT
A Public Lands Caucus has formed in the U.S. House of Representatives, where the bipartisan group says it will work to conserve the nation's public lands while increasing access to them.
The group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats includes Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, a former Interior secretary, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico, who earlier this year introduced the Public Lands in Public Hands Act.
“I follow the Theodore Roosevelt motto that public lands are ‘for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,’ and that means making sure we both conserve and manage those lands to ensure public access for the next generation,” Zinke said Wednesday during a media gathering. “Public lands aren’t red or blue issues, it’s red, white, and blue. The bipartisan Public Lands Caucus brings together lawmakers who don’t agree on much, but we agree on and are ready to work together to promote policies that advance conservation and public access. I look forward to working with Co-Chair Vasquez, the vice chairs, and all the members of this caucus so future generations can enjoy the same opportunities to hunt, hike, fish, make a living and enjoy our uniquely American heritage.”
“Public lands are where I learned to fish, hunt, and connect with my family and culture—and those experiences shaped who I am,” said Vasquez. “These lands don’t belong to one party or one group of people; they belong to all of us. The Public Lands Caucus is about protecting that birthright—bringing Democrats and Republicans together to preserve access, defend conservation, and invest in the outdoor economy that powers rural communities like mine in southern New Mexico. This is personal for me, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to keep our public lands in public hands.”
Other initial members on the caucus are:
- Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06)
- Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-02)
- Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25)
- Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)
- Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-02)
- Rep. Jen Kiggan (R-VA-02)
- Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA-06)
- Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-01)
- Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV-04)
- Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04)
- Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV-03)
- Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06)
“We should be focusing on expanding public access to federal lands, not auctioning them off,” said Dingell. “And we should be investing in our National Parks System and National Wildlife Refuges, not making it harder for Americans to visit these special places. I’m proud to be vice-chair of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus because conservation has historically been, and should continue to be, a priority regardless of party. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect our precious natural resources, federal lands, and beloved species.”
“Idahoans live in Idaho because we love our public lands," said Rep. Simpson. "This trend is common across the West, where public lands are a part of our daily lives. As a lifelong Idahoan and chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I remain committed to preserving access to our public lands and defending our way of life. Being named vice chair of the Public Lands Caucus is an honor, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure future generations can enjoy the same benefits that we do today."
The caucus generated wide support from the outdoor industry.
"Public lands are part of the shared national identify of Americans,” said Rachel Franchina, executive director, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals. “They are treasured places — both close to home and in iconic protected areas — for people to spend time with family and friends, recharge themselves and reconnect with nature. The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals supports Representatives Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez’s Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus. High-quality experiences on public lands are something the vast majority of American value and their commitment to ensuring access to our shared heritage is more important now than ever.”
“Public lands make hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation activities accessible for millions of Americans,” said Kellis Moss, managing director of federal affairs for Ducks Unlimited. “Some of our most critical conservation programs, such as NAWCA, invest in habitat on public lands. We’re glad to see Congress prioritize conserving America’s natural places for the next generation of outdoorsmen and women, and we’re happy to support the Public Lands Caucus in this effort.”
“The creation of the Public Lands Caucus is a significant and welcome step forward in protecting and expanding access to our public lands and waters that power America’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy and enrich the lives of millions of Americans. Keeping public lands public is a business imperative. There couldn’t be a more important time to stand up for America’s best return on investment and keep public land selloff out of reconciliation,” Whitney Potter Schwartz, senior vice president, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “ORR thanks Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Ryan Zinke for their leadership and all the bipartisan members of the Caucus who have come together to champion public lands access, stewardship, and infrastructure investments. We look forward to working with the Caucus to ensure that public lands remain public and continue to be a foundation for outdoor experiences, local economies, and healthy communities for generations to come.”
“The NWTF extends deep gratitude to Congressmen Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership in founding the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus,” said Jason Burckhalter, Co-CEO, National Wild Turkey Federation. “This crucial effort bolsters the unique American public trust, ensuring our public lands—vital habitats for wildlife, cornerstones of our hunting heritage, and cherished spaces for outdoor recreation—remain a shared resource, held in trust for all citizens, preserving their accessibility and stewardship for future generations.”
“America's upland hunters and grassland advocates applaud today's launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus,” said Ariel Wiegard, vice president of government affairs, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “We stand ready to work with Reps. Vasquez, Zinke, and the other Caucus members to advance public land conservation policies, increase and improve habitat and access, and energize and engage the upland conservation community. America’s grassland and sagebrush shrub-steppe ecosystems are among the most at-risk environments in the world. We are confident this Caucus will help ensure our treasured public lands deliver the promise of more wildlife and more hunters, alongside other natural resource and quality of life benefits, to the American people.”
“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers strongly supports the creation of the Public Lands Caucus and thanks Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for bringing together a bipartisan force to defend against ongoing threats to sell or transfer our wild public lands,” said Devin O’Dea, Western policy & conservation manager, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Our public lands define who we are as Americans — places where anyone, regardless of background, can hunt, fish, camp or explore. The Public Lands Caucus is a crucial step in ensuring our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife endure.”
“According to the American Horse Council’s latest economic impact study, 39 million U.S. households include a horse enthusiast, with recreational trail riders representing the largest segment of the equine industry — underscoring the critical need for access to public lands,” said Julie M. Broadway, president, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation. “Conserving public lands, supporting local economies, and ensuring access for all Americans is essential to the equine community, and we strongly applaud the creation of this congressional caucus as a step toward protecting these shared resources.”
“The Western Landowners Alliance applauds the formation of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus to protect our public lands and thanks Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership on this issue,” said Lesli Allison, CEO, Western Landowners Alliance. “Care for our public lands is a priority across party lines and fence lines in the West. Western Landowners Alliance members steward tens of millions of acres of private and public land, and recognize the challenges facing federal land management and budgets. We are also acutely aware of the nation’s real housing deficit. But disposal of federal land is not a practical solution to either problem.”
“Public lands are the source of clean drinking water for millions of Americans,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO, American Rivers. “The rivers that flow across our national parks, forests, and rangelands provide recreation and awesome scenic beauty to our country. We are excited to continue working with Congress to support the protection of these lands and rivers on behalf of all Americans. Thank you to Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for launching this caucus.”
“Public lands are the backyard of the little guy, demonstrating our commitment to leaving the world a better place for our children than the one we inherited from our parents,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “On behalf of Trout Unlimited members across the nation, I thank Congressmen Zinke and Vasquez and the members of the newly minted bipartisan Public Lands Caucus for their leadership upholding our legacy of public lands. Preventing large-scale transfer or sale of federal public lands helps to maintain access to some of the best places to fish and hunt on the planet. We look forward to working with the caucus to keep it that way.”
“On both sides of the aisle, Americans cherish our public lands,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “From the Northern Rockies of Montana to the Gila Mountains of New Mexico, these lands and waters provide invaluable opportunities to millions of hunters and anglers. We join our nation’s sportsmen and women in thanking Representatives Zinke and Vasquez for their leadership in forming the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus which will continue to advance America’s outdoor legacy.”
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