1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

America’s 640 million acres of public lands are not excess assets to be liquidated—they are a national inheritance. Our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, monuments, deserts, rivers, and grasslands safeguard clean air and water, sustain irreplaceable wildlife habitat, and power a $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that supports millions of American jobs. Above all, these lands belong to the American people—not private developers, not corporations, and not the highest bidder. Yet today, these lands face growing pressure to be sold off, transferred, or quietly privatized. Once public lands are gone, they are gone forever. When they are carved up and sold, Americans lose access, wildlife loses habitat, and future generations lose a piece of their country. That is why Congress must act now to pass the Public Lands in Public Hands Act (H.R. 718), reintroduced by Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM). This bipartisan legislation would ensure that America’s public lands cannot be sold or transferred without the explicit approval of Congress, creating a necessary safeguard against backroom deals and reckless giveaways. This should not be a partisan issue. Public lands are one of the few things Americans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly agree on: they must remain public. Hunters, anglers, hikers, ranchers, tribal communities, small businesses, and families all rely on access to these lands. Selling off public lands would not solve fiscal challenges. It would instead sacrifice clean water sources, wildlife corridors, wildfire resilience, tourism economies, and outdoor traditions for short-term profit that benefits a small few. Congress has a duty to protect the resources entrusted to it—not auction them off. The American people expect you to defend what belongs to them. Pass the Public Lands in Public Hands Act and send a clear message: America’s public lands are not for sale. Protect them. Preserve them. Keep them in public hands.