Oppose Border Lands Conservation Act to Protect Wilderness Areas

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senator Mike Lee's proposed Border Lands Conservation Act and to urge you to use your platform to protect our nation's wilderness areas. This bill poses a severe threat to the integrity of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which currently safeguards 112 million acres of pristine natural heritage. The Border Lands Conservation Act would grant the Department of Homeland Security unprecedented authority to construct roads, land aircraft, and install surveillance technology across wilderness areas. While initially reported to affect only regions within 100 miles of our borders, analysis suggests its impact could extend to all wilderness areas nationwide. This sweeping legislation would permit not only the construction of roads and barriers but also the deployment of surveillance systems, use of motor vehicles, and potentially even logging under the guise of 'fuels management'. Our wilderness areas represent the last vestiges of untouched natural landscapes in America. They provide critical habitats for wildlife, preserve biodiversity, and offer unparalleled opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. The proposed bill would irreversibly damage these fragile ecosystems and undermine the very essence of wilderness as defined by the 1964 Wilderness Act. Senator Lee's history of attempting to weaken protections for federal lands is concerning, and this latest effort is particularly alarming. The potential elimination of the roadless rule, coupled with this new legislation, would open up our last remaining pieces of true wilderness to development and degradation. I urge you to take a stand against the Border Lands Conservation Act and any similar attempts to weaken wilderness protections. Please use your influential position to advocate for the preservation of our current wilderness laws and regulations. Our natural heritage is irreplaceable, and once lost, it cannot be restored. The consequences of this bill extend far beyond environmental concerns. It sets a dangerous precedent for overriding established conservation laws in the name of border security, without proper consideration of the long-term ecological and cultural impacts. We must find ways to address security concerns that do not come at the cost of our most precious natural resources. I implore you to speak out publicly against this bill, work with your colleagues to block its passage, and reaffirm your commitment to protecting America's wilderness areas. Future generations deserve to inherit the same unspoiled landscapes that we have been entrusted to protect. Your leadership on this issue is crucial, and I, along with many other constituents, will be closely watching your actions to ensure our wilderness remains truly wild.