Huffman Slams Republican Effort to Undermine Property Rights and Grassland Conservation
Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the Committee’s passage of H.R. 839, a bill that would block the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge Land Protection Plan from being implemented:
"This bill is one of the most backwards proposals I’ve seen in this committee — and that’s saying something. H.R. 839 would stop private landowners from establishing easements or voluntarily selling or donating their land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation.
“Republicans voted for a bill that tells private landowners what they can and can’t do with their own property, simply because they don’t like the idea of conservation.
“The Land Protection Plan is entirely voluntary. It offers a new market opportunity for willing landowners, respects those who opt out, and helps restore one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth: our native grasslands.
“But Republicans want to shut it down, regardless of what private landowners want. Congress has no business interfering with a landowner’s right to choose conservation. This bill puts politics over science, ideology over economics, and government control over private property.”
Background
H.R. 839 undermines America’s wildlife refuges by blocking voluntary conservation partnerships between private landowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It sets a dangerous precedent that undermines local, science-based conservation efforts and weakens protections for critical habitats in one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet: the Southern High Plains.
At the heart of the bill is the Muleshoe Land Protection Plan, which establishes an “acquisition boundary” within which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can work with willing landowners to incorporate or manage land as part of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. Participation is entirely voluntary, and landowners retain full control over their property and can choose whether or not to engage.
This would establish long-term conservation protections for additional habitat necessary to support grassland birds and wildlife. The Plan was developed through extensive public engagement, numerous public meetings, and local input, including landowners who support the plan.
The legislation passed in the Natural Resources committee markup on July 23, 2025, with all Republicans on the committee voting for the legislation. Every Democrat opposed the bill.
Press Contact
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