Wyoming Senators Unite to Defend Public Lands from Large-Scale Federal Selloffs

A bipartisan coalition of Wyoming lawmakers advanced a resolution Tuesday declaring the state’s opposition to broad, indiscriminate sales of federal public lands, following emotional testimony from teachers, miners, students, and outdoor enthusiasts. The Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee voted 5-0 to send Senate Joint Resolution 9 to the full Senate.

“For 17 years, I’ve been taking my junior high students out onto the public lands that surround our small town,” testified Jordan Seitz, a teacher at Encampment Public School. His students have found stromatolite fossils, explored historic mine sites, replanted burned wilderness areas, and helped wildlife officials collar bighorn sheep. “My students’ favorite memories over the years are always related to the adventures we go on,” he said.

The resolution, introduced by Sen. Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, with 38 co-sponsors, responds to recent federal proposals that have raised concerns about “broad, quota-driven or large-scale sales of federal public lands as a policy or revenue mechanism, without sufficient local input or analysis.”

It warns that widespread disposal of public lands could shift “significant long-term costs for access, wildfire response, infrastructure and law enforcement onto state and local governments without dedicated funding.”

Sen. Stacy Jones, R-Rock Springs, said the resolution had filled her inbox. “Overwhelmingly, I don’t think I’ve got one single email that was against this,” she said.

Marshall Cummings, president of a local representing over 600 trona miners, testified that energy workers have proven responsible development and land protection can coexist. “This resolution protects our lands, our economy, our heritage and our voice,” he said.

Sunday Schuh, a Cody High School senior who works at an outdoor gear shop, described public lands as essential to her community’s economy. “Tourists come to Cody to go to Yellowstone, to go to the Shoshone National Forest,” she said. “It’s a huge part of our economy.”

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce noted that 55% of sage-grouse core area and 55% of big game crucial winter range lie on federal public lands.

The resolution declares that “the Wyoming Legislature opposes any state or federal legislation or policy that promotes the broad or indiscriminate sale or exchange of public lands” and demands that federal agencies “respect existing land management frameworks, county land-use plans and the voices of local communities.”

If passed, the resolution will be sent to the president, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.