FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2021
DENVER—Today, the House of Representatives passed the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act by a vote of 227-200. This landmark legislation would protect 2.7 million acres of lands and waters in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Washington.
In response, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Policy Director Jesse Prentice-Dunn:
“This historic legislation is a major step towards protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030, a bold goal that can conserve our national heritage and support local economies. The components of this bill are not flashes in the pan— they are the result of years, if not decades, of advocacy from local communities seeking to protect landscapes they depend on.
“It is no mistake that in recent years some of the largest bills to pass through a gridlocked Congress have been ones to protect our iconic public lands. Indeed, poll after poll shows that voters across the country strongly support protecting our lands, waters, and wildlife for future generations.”
Recent polling from the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project has found that Westerners support a wide range of conservation proposals and care deeply about clean air and water, wildlife, and public lands, regardless of party affiliation.
LEARN MORE
- Report: How conserving 30 percent of the United States’ lands and waters can protect biodiversity, combat climate change, and benefit all Americans [Center for Western Priorities]
- Western voters say “go big” on protecting public lands, conserving nature, and tackling climate change [Westwise]
- Issue Brief: Protecting 30 percent of America by 2030 [Center for Western Priorities]