U.S. Rep. Vasquez (D-N.M.) and Zinke (R-MT) launch new bipartisan public lands caucus
U.S. Reps. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) and Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana, on May 7, 2025 announced a new bipartisan public lands caucus. (Photo courtesy U.S. Rep. Vasquez's office)
Amidst upheavals in public land management, budget proposals to cut millions in funding from conservation and an amendment by House Republicans approving the sale of federal lands in two states, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday announced a new bipartisan public lands caucus, co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana, to oppose the sale of public lands.
'Public lands are where I learned to fish, hunt, and connect with my family and culture — and those experiences shaped who I am,' Vasquez said in a statement. '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.'
In addition to Vasquez and Zinke, the caucus includes 12 additional members, equally divided from both major parties.
'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 in a statement. '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.'
The initiative earned quick praise from the national Outdoor Recreation Roundtable nonprofit, whose Senior Vice President Whitney Potter Schwartz described the new caucus in a statement as '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.'
Also in public lands congressional news, Democratic U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on Wednesday sent a scolding letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum over the advancement of authority to former DOGE staffer Tyler Hassen, accompanied by a list of questions regarding Hassen's employment. The Interior Department, Heinrich notes in the letter, 'plays a vital role in managing public lands, safeguarding cultural resources, and engaging in responsible energy development. Delegating sweeping authorities and responsibilities to a non-Senate confirmed person in violation of the Vacancies Reform Act is baffling and extremely troubling.'
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