The inclusion of a public lands package within the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has drawn varying reaction from Republican lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
The lead Republican in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski celebrated the advancement of the bipartisan series of public land bills that will – among an estimated 70 projects – designate 245,000 acres as protected wilderness while allowing another 110,000 of federally owned land to become available for economic development.
Murkowski said much work has gone into creating the package, which is viewed as a compromise between environmental groups and business interests.
“This is the culmination of two years of effort by members on both sides of the aisle and from both chambers,” Murkowski said. “The balanced package we have developed is largely focused on unlocking the federal estate to bring economic prosperity and good-paying jobs to western states.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called including the public lands package in the NDAA a disservice to members of the military.
“With the military’s shrinking budget, it is offensive that this bill would be used to fund congressional pork,” Cruz said. “And, at a time where jobs are scarce and the federal government has removed billions of acres of land from productive use, Congress should not be restricting more than a half-million new acres.”
The defense bill is among the final legislation expected to be approved during the 113th Congress.