Democrats don’t get representative government in BLM hearing on conservation leases.

Democrats Show Misunderstanding of Land Management Rules in House Hearing

House Republicans offered a platform to key stakeholders Wednesday to hear from those most likely to face severe consequences from a sweeping new proposal from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

During Wednesday’s hearing on land management rules, Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee demonstrated a blatant misunderstanding of the purpose behind the hearing and the point of representative government. Meanwhile, House Republicans provided a platform for key stakeholders to voice their concerns about the BLM’s new proposal.

New BLM Rules Threaten Multiple-Use Doctrine

In March, the BLM unveiled new rules to establish “conservation leases” within the framework of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976. The nearly 50-year law stipulates that federal lands must be managed under a “multiple-use mandate,” ensuring that public property is available for a wide range of activities, from mining to grazing. The new rules, however, threaten to unilaterally eliminate the multiple-use doctrine at the direction of unelected bureaucrats. Wyoming rancher and State Senator Brian Boner told The Federalist the proposal would be “detrimental” to any rancher who grazes on BLM land.

The BLM’s new rules, which were unveiled in March, aim to establish “conservation leases” within the framework of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976. However, these rules threaten to eliminate the multiple-use doctrine, which ensures that federal lands are available for a wide range of activities. Wyoming rancher and State Senator Brian Boner has warned that the proposal would be “detrimental” to any rancher who grazes on BLM land.

Republicans Bring Forward Key Stakeholders

Lawmakers Wednesday heard testimony from a panel of four witnesses from western states where the rules will have the most impact. Of the 245 million acres managed by the BLM, more than 90 percent lie in the nation’s 12 western states. Republicans brought forward Montana Prairie County Commissioner Todd Devlin, Nevada Director of Agriculture J.J. Goicoechea, and Arizona Mohave County Supervisor Chairman Travis Lingenfelter to testify on the agency proposal.

During Wednesday’s hearing, House Republicans brought forward key stakeholders from western states where the BLM’s new rules will have the most impact. These stakeholders included Montana Prairie County Commissioner Todd Devlin, Nevada Director of Agriculture J.J. Goicoechea, and Arizona Mohave County Supervisor Chairman Travis Lingenfelter.

Democrats Hammer Absence of Senior Leadership from the Department of the Interior

“I will note as we’re getting started on this hearing that this is an Oversight hearing over primarily a BLM rule, and I think it’s noticeable to note that BLM is actually not present in the room because they were not invited,” said New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury in her opening remarks. “While it’s important to hear from our communities, I think in our Oversight role, it’s important to hear from the agencies themselves.”

Democrats on the committee criticized the absence of senior leadership from the Department of the Interior during Wednesday’s hearing. New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury noted that the BLM was not present in the room because they were not invited, but she also emphasized the importance of hearing from the agencies themselves in their Oversight role.

BLM’s Absence Becomes Primary Talking Point Among Democrats

The BLM’s absence from Wednesday’s hearing became a primary talking point among Democrats on the committee. Natural Resources Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar of Arizona was quick to remind the ranking member that BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning appeared before the committee last week.

The BLM’s absence from Wednesday’s hearing became a primary talking point among Democrats on the committee. Natural Resources Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gos