Huffman, DeGette Applaud Biden Administration Finalization of Rule to Protect and Conserve Public Lands

Huffman, DeGette Applaud Biden Administration Finalization of Rule to Protect and Conserve Public Lands

Announcement follows efforts by DeGette and Huffman to secure protections for lands throughout the United States

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Diana DeGette (CO-01) applauded the Biden Administration for finalizing the Conservation and Landscape Health rule.

"Protecting public lands is so important to my constituents, to Californians, and to the millions of people who treasure the spectacular wild places our country has to offer. But all of those places are at risk from the escalating climate crisis and biodiversity loss," said Representative Huffman. "Representative DeGette and I have been pushing for BLM to make addressing those crises at the forefront of their latest rulemaking, and I'm grateful to see the finalized rule meets that mark. With this move, the Biden-Harris administration is showing they will stand up for the will of the people and what's best for the planet - not greedy polluters - so we can preserve public lands for future generations."

"The United States is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and these public lands provide recreational opportunities, increase tourism, and support biodiversity. Beyond these impacts, public lands play an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change and improving the health of our planet," said DeGette. "Today's final rule is a significant accomplishment for land conservation and wildlife protection, and I am proud that BLM and the Biden Administration are continuing to lead in defending our natural world. Protecting public lands is good public policy, and I have been working in Congress to pass meaningful legislation that conserves public lands in Colorado and throughout the country. I will continue to ensure that even more public lands will be protected and enjoyed for generations to come."

The Conservation and Landscape Health rule provides tools for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to improve the resilience of public lands in the face of a changing climate and biodiversity loss, conserve important wildlife habitat and intact landscapes, plan for development, and better recognize unique cultural and natural resources on public lands.

The announcement from BLM follows sustainedefforts by Reps. DeGette and Huffman to urge the Biden Administration to finalize this rule.

BLM's Public Lands Rule is nearly universally popular; a recent analysis found that 92% of public comments submitted on the proposed rule were supportive. The support for the rule reflects a broader sentiment about conservation and public lands among most Americans. In the West, for example, where the vast majority of BLM lands are located, 82% of voters across the political spectrum support a national goal of conserving America's public lands and waters over the next decade.

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