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Rep. Boebert Introduces 30 x 30 Termination Act to Block Biden Land Grab

May 7, 2021

Today, Representative Lauren Boebert (CO-03) introduced the 30 x 30 Termination Act  to block the radical 30 x 30 program, a massive land grab being pursued by the Biden administration at the behest of extremist environmentalists, that seeks to lock up at least 30% of all lands and waters in the U.S. by 2030.

Representative Lauren Boebert stated: “Joe Biden can give it a fake name and try to disguise its identity but moving forward with the 30 x 30 program is another radical pander to Green New Deal activists and extremist enviros funded by George Soros that believe the federal government should control every aspect of our daily lives, including our land. The Biden administration has made clear they will ignore the input of opposing counties when adding more federal land to the rolls and that they believe grazing, responsible energy production and other land uses that contain emissions should be prevented on federal lands. Locking up 30% of all our land and water within the next decade is a dream killer for future generations and local economies and will also prevent Americans from utilizing their public lands and enjoying the outdoors. In the West, we are all too familiar with government land grabs, and we can see this one coming from a mile away. I’m honored to have so much support from Americans throughout the country for my bill that seeks to block the 30 x 30 program and prevent this government expansion.”

Background: Today, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) introduced the 30 x 30 Termination Act to block the radical 30 x 30 program being pursued by the Biden administration that seeks to lock up at least 30% of all lands and waters in the U.S. by 2030.

Yesterday, the Biden administration released a report that was all fluff and no substance but made clear the administration is moving forward with this dangerous land grab put forth by extremist environmentalist groups.

The 30 x 30 land grab seeks to “preserve or conserve” 30% of all lands and waters in the U.S. by 2030. Private lands are not exempt from this initiative. Hundreds of millions of additional acres currently managed for multiple-use or economic development are threatened by this land grab. The federal government already manages 640 million of acres of land, the vast majority of which is in the West. More than 750 million acres of federal waters are already locked up through unilateral designations under the Antiquities Act. But that’s not good enough for the extremist environmentalists pushing the 30 x 30 land grab who claim an additional 681 million acres of additional land and water must be put under government control or elevated to a more extreme status that prevents use of these lands, all within in the next nine years.

The 30 x 30 Termination Act:

  1. Nullifies Section 216 of Executive Order 14008 which contains the 30 x 30 program.

  2. Prohibits federal funds from being spent to carry out the 30 x 30 program, the report in Section 216, and any substantially similar program. 

  3. Ensures no net-loss of non-federal land in counties and states that already contain 15% or more federal land.

  4. Ensures no net-loss of multiple-use activities in states unless such action has been authorized by Federal statute.

  5. Prohibits withdrawing federal lands from mineral development without Congressional approval.

  6. Prohibits unilateral 30 x 30 designations under the Antiquities Act in counties and states that already contain 15% or more federal land.

22 Members of Congress joined Representative Boebert in introducing her bill including:

Representatives Michael Guest (MS-03), Chip Roy (TX-21), Scott Perry (PA-10), Ted Budd (NC-13), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Ken Buck (CO-04), Dan Bishop (NC-09), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Tom Emmer (MN-06), Randy Weber (TX-14), Bob Good (VA-05), Don Bacon (NE-02), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Brian Babin (TX-36), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Pete Stauber (MN-08), and Austin Scott (GA-08), Tom Tiffany (WI-07).

U.S. Congressman Doug LaMalfa said: “The federal government already possesses millions of acres it already cannot manage well.  We have witnessed millions of acres of forest land burned in recent years, wild horse populations that grow exponentially and are in peril, and a backlog of national parks maintenance and closure. Why the government would seek to add hundreds of millions of acres to its holdings is senseless. Before locking up more land and water in perpetuity without Congressional approval, we should implement the reforms necessary to properly manage the federal government’s current possessions, leading to countless benefits like reducing wildfire risk, better utilization of natural resources to supply our renewable energy demand, and getting more water to our farmers, ranchers and urban users soon to be under rationing.”

U.S. Congressman Michael Guest said: “Biden’s executive order to place almost one-third of American lands under government control is an extreme overreach. The American dream is rooted in the ownership and stewardship of private lands for recreational and economic purposes. This landgrab is another example of the Biden Administration’s priority of expanding government control over the resources that belong to the American people.”

U.S. Congressman Dan Bishop said: “President Biden’s radical 30 x 30 program represents yet another liberal power grab. The federal government should not be taking more federal land for themselves. Americans are dealing with enough overreach and control from this Administration as is, the least the President could do is not add to it,”

U.S. Congressman Pat Fallon Said: “Over six hundred million acres of land and seven hundred and fifty million acres of water currently sit under management of the federal government, locked up from nearly any form of utilization. Radical environmentalists are seeking to drastically expand those numbers under the Biden administration, snatching valuable land and water from both private use and economic development. I’m proud to cosponsor Congresswoman Boebert’s bill which would halt the Biden administration’s radical land grab agenda and preserve the property rights of all Americans.”

U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith said: "I hear daily from Nebraska farmers and ranchers who, already dependent on their access to and stewardship of the land, are deeply concerned about the potential of this arbitrary goal impacting their lives and livelihoods. Westerners have a proud history of protecting and preserving our natural treasures, and future decisions should be science-based and broadly incorporate local stakeholders. I am proud to cosponsor the 30 by 30 Termination Act because rural communities in the American West deserve to have the loudest voice in determining how to protect local lands and water, not Washington bureaucrats."

U.S. Congressman Chip Roy said: "The Biden Administration’s plans to drastically increase federal land holdings is another disastrous land grab and will undermine federalism, local self-government, and private property rights under the guise of Biden’s radical Green New Deal-focused agenda. The federal government cannot properly manage the hundreds of millions of acres it currently controls; and it has no business taking on any more from states, localities, or private entities. Congress should empower private citizens to own and manage property, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington."

U.S. Congressman Ted Budd said: “The Biden administration’s latest executive power grab is designed to lock up our country’s vast land resources from energy development. This is yet another example of this administration putting it’s left-wing base first, and hardworking Americans last. I’m proud to join Rep. Boebert’s bill to reverse this dangerous overreach and ensure that the federal government is not able to unilaterally prevent America’s natural resources from being utilized.”

Supported by: Governor Pete Ricketts (NE), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Americans for Limited Government, Arizona Liberty (Sedona, AZ), Arizona Power Authority, Arizona Rock Products Association, Baker County (OR), Catron County (NM), Center for Renewing America, Citizens For America (Sedona, AZ), Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition, Colorado Snowmobile Association, Colorado Wool Growers Association, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Conservatives for Property Rights, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Custer County (ID), Dolores County (CO), Elko County (NV), enCore Energy Corp, Flexilis Forestry LLC, Frontier Applied Sciences, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce (CO), Idaho State Snowmobile Association, Idaho Recreation Council, Industrial Minerals Association – North America, Jefferson County (NE), Keith County (NE), Las Animas County (CO), Less Government, McDavitt Township (MN), Mesa County (CO), Moffat County (CO), Montrose County (CO), Mountain Capital Partners, New Mexico Business Coalition, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, Off-Road Business Association, Inc., One Voice for Off-Road Motorized Recreation, Range Association of Municipalities & Schools (MN), Rio Blanco County (CO), Roughrider Policy Center (ND), Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AZ), Niobrara County (WY), Trails Preservation Alliance (CO), United Four Wheel Drive Associations, United Snowmobile Alliance, Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson (AZ), Silver Cliff Mayor H.A. "Buck" Wenzel (CO), Denver Lumber Company President Scott W. Yates, Protect Americans Now President John Richardson, New Mexico Federal Lands Council President Bebo Lee, Grant County Cattle Growers' Association President Buddy Eby and Dr. Dan Eichenbaum.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts: “Thank you to Congresswoman Boebert and everyone who is stepping up to stop President Biden’s radical climate agenda and the 30 x 30 plan. It will take an all-hands-on-deck effort to stop the Biden-Harris Administration. They are attempting to undermine the prerogative of states and private landowners to manage their land and natural resources. Together, we can push back on federal overreach and protect our way of life.”

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy: “The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution sets the policy and clear protection for private property. This is overreach of federal power overstepping on the sovereignty of Alaska and the rights of Alaska.” Nowhere in the laws of our nation is the authority granted to the President to unilaterally change the policies governing land use in America. I am committed to ensuring that Alaska’s lands are well managed for the benefit of our entire state.”

Custer County Idaho Board of Commissioners Chairman Wayne F. Butts: “For years Custer County, Idaho has struggled with the reality of living and working in a county that is already nearly 97% federally managed. We have recently seen two new wilderness areas added, bringing our county to 44% wilderness. Because of the resulting economic and social difficulties, our Comprehensive Land Use Plan specifies no net loss of private land, and no new wilderness. We look around and see burned out forests, lost multiple use, and shrinking access. We see that the best land management is closest to the private sector. The Biden administration's 30X30 looks like a disaster heading our way- federal government management increased exponentially across the country. We wholeheartedly support Mrs. Boebert's proposed remedy in the 30X30 Termination Act, with its provisions protecting multiple use, access, and private land.”

Garfield County Colorado Commissioner Tom Jankovsky: “Garfield County commends you on taking the lead to stop formal authorization of the 30 x 30 program advanced by the Biden Administration. For Counties such as ours, further restrictions on the use of our lands will substantially harm our local economy. Sixty-two percent of Garfield County is already owned by the federal government, where daily we battle the top-down policies from Washington D.C. that harm our citizens, our economy and our lands. Although the new Administration promises to work with us, they have failed to answer our direct request to meet with us on their 30 x 30 proposal. Instead, they have taken away our ability to reject a federal land acquisition under the Land and Water Conservation Fund. We need more local control and less federal bureaucracy over our lands and economies to ensure the continued multiple-uses, sustained yields and viability of our natural resources. Your bill will help protect Garfield County from this radical attempt to restrict more of our land.”

Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Diane Schwenke: “The 30 x 30 plan without major revision or guardrails will destroy the livelihoods of hardworking farmers and ranchers, kill jobs in rural communities and flies in the face of individual liberty and property rights…all in nine short years.  We applaud Representative Boebert for pushing back on behalf of those of us who knows our lands much better than anyone in D.C.”

Elko County Nevada Commissioner Rex Steninger: “Absolutely, idling 30 percent of our land and water is idiotic. Placing land and water in conservation takes it out of production. Particularly under the Biden Administration, I fear the government would target areas it deemed important to the Quixotic battle with climate change. Nationally, that for sure would mean the end of our short-lived energy independence and could also mean the end of our long-lived food independence. Here at home in Nevada, our land is already nearly 90 percent federally owned. Federally owned land is tax exempt, which means our governments here must make do with a very small taxable base. Lincoln County, Nev., for example, has only one percent of its land on the tax roles. We in Nevada can't stand any more land removed from those tax roles.”

Cherry County Nebraska Commissioner Tanya Storer: “Cherry County is the nation’s #1 beef cow producing County. The economy of our County is dependent on livestock production and the majority of the land is used for livestock grazing, managed through private ownership. Cherry Counties history of private ranching stewardship runs deep and the management practices of landowners over the generations has resulted in more vegetative cover in the Sandhills, which has not only increased the productivity but also the habitat for wildlife, a natural secondary benefit. America’s history is deeply rooted in private property, limited government and a free market system. There is no need to create a stakeholder relationship between Government and private industry and we firmly believe a move in that direction would hinder good management decisions.”

Catron County New Mexico Commissioner Anita A Hand: “Catron County has over 2.7 million acres of Federal Lands. Catron County depends on the natural resources for our economic base which is primarily agriculture. Under the undefined 30 x 30, the protected areas are viewed as a threat to rural America. Catron County was prosperous with our timber industry, but with the designation of critical habitat for endangered species our timber industry was destroyed, and other industries are threatened. Farmers and Ranchers are defined by the land in their pursuit to provide food and fiber for the nation and are constantly trying to improve the land and the habitat while making a living. This 30 x 30 will not recognize the efforts of agriculture short of giving up some of their rights.”

Baker County Oregon Commission Chair Bill Harvey: “It is critical that Rep. Boebert’s 30 x 30 Termination Act passes. Baker County encompasses 51.5% of federally managed lands. The County has already had general forests reduced by 70% leaving only 30% for multiple uses including timber harvest, grazing, mining, and enjoyment of our citizens. If the 30 x 30 program is adopted, it will decimate the already struggling County economy. Simply, the County and its citizens cannot afford to lose any more land use.”

Moffat County Colorado Commissioner Melody Villard: “Moffat County is in complete support of this bill to stop the 30x30 land grab. Moffat County, we already host 339,036 acres of Wilderness Study Areas (9 WSA’s) and Lands With Wilderness Character. Moffat County hosts 10’s of thousands of acres of private perpetual conservation easements.  Moffat County hosts, over 150,000 acres of National Monument, 14,000 acres of US Fish and Wildlife Refuge, and 10’s of thousands of acres of State Wildlife Areas, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, and other conserved lands. Furthermore, every single acre of public land in Moffat County is protected and conserved with an active federal land management plan, far exceeding 30% conserved lands in Moffat County.”                              

Jefferson County Nebraska Commissioners Vice Chairman Gale Pohlmann: “Our county has very few federal or state lands and is primarily agriculture based income. We depend on property taxes to support our schools, local government agencies, and county government. If this is not stopped it would be economically devastating to our county and would seriously erode our tax base.”

Catron County New Mexico Commissioner Haydn Forward: “I am in favor of supporting Boebert’s bill in opposition to 30 X 30 Plan. Do take note of the others in opposition. All western states that potentially will carry the loss of private property and self-governing privilege.”

President of Citizens for Renewing America Russ Vought: “Under President Trump, we expanded American use and enjoyment of land and water. Now, President Biden is taking away our backyards and national parks and shorelines for his progressive climate change agenda. We applaud those stopping this land grab.”

Competitive Enterprise Institute Director of Center for Energy and Environment Myron Ebell: “CEI enthusiastically supports Representative Boebert’s bill to stop any attempts to implement the 30 by 30 project.  Thirty by 30 rivals the Wildlands Project and the Endangered Species Act as the most audacious federal land grab and lock-up ever attempted.  It presents a huge threat to the environmental health and economic survival of rural America and not just the federal lands West.” 

The Industrial Minerals Association President Chris Greissing: “The impact of the COVID-19 virus on our nation’s supply chains should have served as a wake-up call that the United States must become less reliant on foreign sources for our manufacturing needs. The Industrial Minerals Association is very concerned that the 30 x 30 initiative from President Biden’s Executive Order 14008 would only exacerbate this reliance on foreign nations such as China and Russia to meet our mineral needs. The IMA supports the ‘30 x 30 Termination Act’ which prevents the arbitrary removal of an additional 30% of all lands and waters in the United States from development by 2030.  The first-step the federal government must take to strengthen our supply chain is implement policies that will promote a stronger domestic minerals industry, as minerals are the raw material feedstock necessary for much of our agricultural and manufacturing needs.”  

Off-Road Business Association Inc.’s Scott Jones: “The motorized community vigorously supports the 30x30 Termination Act as we are deeply concerned that the unintended consequences of 30x30 will hugely outweigh any benefits to recreation.  Creating another Wilderness Study Area or Roadless Area inventory management situation must be avoided at all costs and currently 30x30 does that.”

Freedom Forum Radio’s Dr. Dan Eichenbaum: “The right to own private property that cannot be arbitrarily regulated or confiscated by the government is the moral and constitutional basis for individual freedom.”

This past Tuesday, Congressman Boebert joined Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources in a Forum on the 30 by 30 program.

In March, Congresswoman Boebert and more than 50 Members of the United States Senate and U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Bident expressing serious concerns that the “30 by 30 initiative will be used as a method to undermine private property rights, circumvent the multiple-use mandate, and lock up more land.” In April, 15 Governors also sent a letter to President Biden opposing the 30 x 30 plan and warning that this radical program would “violate property rights and hurt the economy.”

Read the full text of the bill HERE.