** House passes historic legislation to fund parks and conserve public lands
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Thursday, July 23, 2020
Pine Forest Range Wilderness in Nevada. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM ([link removed])

Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act ([link removed]) , a historic public lands conservation package, on a 310-107 vote. The bill fulfills Congress’ 55-year-old promise to the American people to use offshore drilling proceeds to invest in our nation’s public lands, and is the culmination of decades of bipartisan work ([link removed]) . The bill is now headed to President Trump to be signed into law.

The bipartisan legislation provides permanent funding ([link removed]) for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund and directs billions ([link removed]) toward addressing the national parks maintenance backlog. This funding will protect ecosystems, ensure equitable access to nature ([link removed]) , and promote outdoor recreation economies that strengthen local communities ([link removed])

Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement ([link removed]) , “In a time when there is so much division in our country, public lands have the ability to unite us. We celebrate this important bipartisan conservation effort, and hope that it can be the beginning of an ongoing conversation about how our public lands must play a role in our country’s economic recovery.”


** Today: Join the "Road to 30" virtual tour in Nevada
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Join ([link removed]) the Center for Western Priorities and the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) today at 11am PT/2pm ET for a virtual discussion about the bold vision ([link removed]) of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and water by 2030, and how Nevada grassroots efforts and Bureau of Land Management lands can support this goal ([link removed]) . The event will
feature New Mexico Senator Tom Udall, who is leading the 30x30 effort in Congress, as well as Nevada Assemblyman Howard Watts, and CLF Senior Field Director Jocelyn Torres. RSVP here ([link removed]) , and tune in live via YouTube ([link removed]) or Facebook ([link removed]) . To learn more about conservation on BLM lands, check out our new blog ([link removed]) and interactive story map ([link removed]) .

Quick hits


** New Mexico's draft rule would cut venting and flaring of methane by 98 percent
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Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])


** House passes historic legislation to fund parks and conserve public lands
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New York Times ([link removed]) | Denver Post ([link removed]) | Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed]) | Politico ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Roll Call ([link removed]) | Washington Post
([link removed])


** Trump administration transfers federal land in Arizona and New Mexico to Army for border wall construction
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Las Cruces Sun-News ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])


** BLM National Conservation Lands are essential to reaching the goal of protecting 30% of America by 2030
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Westwise ([link removed])


** Mixed reactions in Wyoming to Trump administration efforts to gut environmental reviews
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])


** Montana Senator Jon Tester introduces bill to protect Badger-Two Medicine area
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Missoulian ([link removed].)


** Colorado public lands proposals included in sweeping defense authorization bill
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Colorado Public Radio ([link removed]) | Aspen Daily News ([link removed])


** The Sierra Club reckons with the racist views of its founder, John Muir
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Passing the Great American Outdoors Act is quite simply the most significant investment in conservation in decades. It’s a huge win for wildlife, our national treasures, our economy and all Americans who enjoy our public lands for solace, recreation and exercise, especially amid this pandemic.”
—Collin O’Mara ([link removed]) , president of the National Wildlife Federation
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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At the lowest point in North America, patterns emerge on the parched earth as if scribbled by a person driven mad by the heat. @DeathValleyNPS ([link removed]) is a surreal & wonderous place.
Pic by Wayne Newland ([link removed] ([link removed]) ) #California ([link removed])

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