May 2, 2025 (press release) –
Washington, DC — Trust for Public Land [TPL] issued the following statement in response to the announcement of the newly founded bipartisan Public Lands Caucus in Congress.
Statement from Myke Bybee, Senior Director of Federal Relations at Trust for Public Land:
“Trust for Public Land strongly commends Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) for their bipartisan leadership in launching the Public Lands Caucus and introducing legislation — The Public Lands in Public Hands Act — which affirms the importance of our shared national landscapes. With Congress and the Administration considering proposals to sell off federal land, and as Americans visit public lands in record numbers—to hike, hunt, and connect with nature—their leadership could not come at a more critical time.
These spaces generate significant economic value, support small businesses, and promote health and well-being in communities across the country. But public lands are not only economic engines and a cherished national resource—they are a unifying force that enjoys broad, bipartisan support. New national polling commissioned by TPL, only reinforces this: with 74% of Americans oppose the closure of national public lands, and 71% oppose selling them. The public has made its position clear: we need more public lands, not less.
We thank Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for forming this congressional caucus and advancing legislation that reflects these public values. Their efforts build on a legacy of recent bipartisan conservation achievements like the Great American Outdoors Act and the EXPLORE Act and will help ensure access to outdoor spaces for generations to come. TPL looks forward to working with the new caucus to safeguard the places that bring us together and strengthen our communities.”
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $93 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
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