Rep. Kevin Kiley Calls for Meaningful Local Input of Public Land Sales

In response to the public land sales language in the Senate budget reconciliation bill, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has issued the following joint statement along with several other leaders in California’s Third District.

“It is crucial that any decisions made regarding the acquisition or disposition of public lands be made only after significant local input. Our district is home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the United States, and is a source of clean water, jobs, tax revenue, and recreation. Local buy-in is the key to preserving these spaces and guaranteeing that our policies benefit the people we represent. I will not support legislation that excludes local leaders from having a meaningful seat at the table for these important decisions,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley.

“In partnership with local governments, Congress recently reauthorized the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA), which conserves land and sends the unambiguous message that Tahoe is not for sale. Decades before that, Congress ratified the bistate compact that governs land use planning at Lake Tahoe. Altogether, the Senate proposed language would reverse 50 years of standing land policy at Tahoe. Thank you, Rep. Kiley, for fighting for our public lands,” said Julie Regan, Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).

“Local and regional governments cannot be relegated to an advisory role in decisions related to the sale of our federal lands. The goal of affordable housing is one we all share, but the Senate language will not make measurable progress toward that goal, and instead would put local governments on defense, responding to nominations made by outside groups that may or may not align with local planning. I support Rep. Kiley in his effort to make sure local input is part of the discussion of public land sales,” said Cindy Gustafson, Placer County Board of Supervisors.

“Tahoe is not for sale! We strongly urge the Senate to remove this language in the reconciliation bill and instead work with local governments and local Indian tribes on sensible land policy that can achieve our shared goals to advance housing while protecting our natural resources,” said Brooke Laine, El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.

You can watch Rep. Kiley’s full House floor remarks here.