The Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) report that the House Committee on Appropriations favorably voted the FY 2017 Interior and Environment appropriations bill to the House of Representatives by a vote of 31-18. The bill addresses a number of priorities for the livestock industry, including language regarding the Greater Sage Grouse and full defunding of … Read More
Landowners Rights Upheld Challenging WOTUS
The Supreme Court in United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc., set a precedent that landowners may challenge the Corps’ jurisdictional determination specifying that a piece of property contains a “water of the United States.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed an amicus brief in support of Hawkes. NCBA President Tracy Brunner, said this is a … Read More
Colorado Rancher Testifies Before House Committee
This week, fourth generation rancher Robbie LeValley, of Western Colorado, testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the potential consequences of the Administration’s critical habitat policy. LeValley’s meeting with the House comes in response to a rule recently finalized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that intends to change the regulations for designating critical habitat. While the Service … Read More
PLC & NCBA Say Senate Turned Back on West
As part of the Energy Security and Research Bill (S.2012) passed by the U.S Senate, the Public Lands Council (PLC) said the Senate inappropriately included a provision permanently reauthorizing the $900 million Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) with a requirement that not less than 40% of LWCF money be spent on federal acquisitions. In the process, the Senators voted … Read More
Cattle Industry Fighting BLM Land Use Plans
An amicus brief was filed on Tuesday by The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Public Lands Council (PLC), along with support from the Idaho Cattle Association, the American Farm Bureau, and the Idaho Farm Bureau regarding restrictive land management plans from theBureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The land management plans, specifically the sub-regional Greater Sage … Read More
Obama Uses Antiquities Act to Lock Off 1.8 Million Acres
The Public Lands Council (PLC) is once again less than impressed with how President Obama has improperly leveraged the Antiquities Act of 1906 to lock up millions of acres of the American West. In a press release touting the designation of Sand to Snow National Monument, Mojave Trails National Monument, and Castle Mountains National Monument – a total of 1.8 … Read More
OCA Supports Hammond's Not Illegal Activity
A story impacting agriculture has been brewing out west for the last couple of days. National news outlets have picked it up and it seems everyone has an opinion of the Hammond family ranchers who were re-sentenced after already spending time in jail after pleading guilty to arson on federal lands. But the story doesn’t end there. A self-proclaimed militia … Read More
Private Property Rights Threatened by White House
The White House issued a statement threatening a veto of Rep. Mac Thornberry’s (R-Texas) bill, H.R. 2130, the Red River Private Property Protection Act. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis called the veto threat another example of egregious federal overreach. NCBA President Philip Ellis said, “The President’s threat to veto the Red River Private Property Protection Act is par … Read More
House Passes Bill to Address Abuse of EAJA
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council applaud the House passage of H.R. 3279 Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), requires oversight and transparency of funds awarded under EAJA. Philip Ellis, NCBA president and Wyoming rancher, said the bill is critical to leveling the playing field between … Read More
Environmental Group Makes Misleading Claims
According to the Public Lands Council (PLC), the Center for Western Priorities released a study showing the economic benefits of the proposed Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument in Arizona. The study cited claims that a positive impact of $51 million from land management operations, grazing, mining, and forestry in addition to tourism would result from the designation. PLC President … Read More