Senator calls removal a “major victory” for public lands

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich announced Sunday that provisions allowing the sale of public lands — included in what Republicans dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” — have been removed from the legislation after what he described as widespread public backlash.

“Today is a major victory for our public lands,” Heinrich wrote in a statement. “Because of you, the lands that we cherish will remain OURS.”

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A post shared by Senator Martin Heinrich (@senatormartinheinrich)

The so-called land sale provisions had been included in an early draft of the Republican-led reconciliation package.

New Mexico — and southern New Mexico in particular — could have seen sweeping consequences had the land sale provisions remained. The now-struck language in the reconciliation bill, revealed in a marked-up copy of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) substitute amendment (#2360), would have opened the door to the sale of certain federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies. While the draft did not explicitly name parcels, public lands advocates raised alarms about the potential for large-scale disposals near military installations, national monuments and critical habitat corridors — including areas in Doña Ana, Luna and Otero counties.

Heinrich’s office provided documentation showing that the proposal was struck from the amendment after what he described as “an outpouring of Americans who used their voices to pressure Republicans … to keep public lands in public hands.” On social media, Heinrich called the original provision “an attack on every New Mexican.”

In his statement, Heinrich warned opponents not to revive similar efforts.

“To those already plotting to go after our public lands another way: Don’t. Unless you like losing.”

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.