Huffman Releases Interior Department Letter Opposing GOP Effort to Overturn Public Land Protections

Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released a letter from the Department of the Interior (DOI) that rebukes House Republicans’ unprecedented attempt to roll back long-term land management plans in Alaska, North Dakota, and Montana through the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

In a response to Rep. Huffman’s inquiry, DOI made clear that Resource Management Plans (RMPs) approved under Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 are not considered “rules” subject to CRA repeal. This directly undermines the legal premise of three CRA resolutions introduced by House Republicans that seek to void years of public engagement, scientific review, and Tribal consultation.

“The answer to this question is no,” DOI wrote in the letter, referring to whether RMPs qualify as CRA-covered rules.

The RMPs targeted by the Republican resolutions took years to develop and reflect broad public input, including from local communities, Tribes, and conservation experts. A recent poll from the National Wildlife Federation found that 75% of voters oppose efforts by Congress to eliminate existing public land management plans.

Ranking Member Huffman is calling on Congress to reject H.J. Res. 104, 105, and 106 and protect the integrity of public land management processes.

Read the full letter here.

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Press Contact

Ana Unruh Cohen
(202) 498-3487

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