Denver—After allowing dozens of conservation bills to die, the 112th Congress is the first in seven decades to fail to protect new public land in the United States.
The Center for Western Priorities (CWP) released a review, Friday, of public land protection bills that were introduced during the last Congress, but never became law. The legislative branch’s failure was particularly noticeable in the West, where many national parks, monuments and wilderness are located, and residents overwhelmingly support conservation efforts.
“Over the last two years, Westerners witnessed Congress’s complete and total failure to protect our lands and heritage,” said Greg Zimmerman, CWP’s Policy Director. “Last year, 77 percent of Westerners questioned in the Conservation in the West Poll said they strongly agreed that national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife areas are an essential part of their state’s quality of life. Unfortunately, congressional leaders have turned a deaf ear to that desire. It makes one wonder who they are listening to.”
“Our review shows representatives and senators introduced dozens of bills to protect new public lands. It’s incredible that not one of those bills made it into law.”
“For the first time in seven decades, Congress didn’t protect a single new acre of public land. It’s a shame that Westerners had a front row seat to witness this failure.”
The Failed 112th: A Sample of Unsuccessful Public Lands Conservation and Protection Bills.
| Name of Bill | States Benefitted | Introducing Legislator |
| Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act | New Mexico, Tennessee, Washington | Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D] Rep. Doc Hastings [R] |
| Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act | Colorado | Rep. Jared Polis [D] |
| America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2011 | Utah | Sen. Richard Durbin [D] Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D] |
| Organ Mountains—Dona Ana County Conservation and Protection Act | New Mexico | Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D] |
| Colorado Wilderness Act of 2011 | Colorado | Rep. Diana DeGette [D] |
| Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act | New Mexico | Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D] Rep. Ben Ray Lujan [D] |
| San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2011 | Colorado | Sen. Mark Udall [D] |
| Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2011 | Montana | Sen. Max Baucus [D] |
| Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act | Utah | Rep. Jim Matheson [D] |
| Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Act | New Mexico | Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D] |
| Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act of 2012 | Colorado | Sen. Michael Bennet [D] |
| Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2011 | Montana | Sen. Jon Tester [D] |
| Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act | New Mexico | Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D] |
| Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act | Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming | Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D] |
(Feature image: John B. Kalla, Flickr)