Senator Reid has said that he will call up the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2008 during the post-election session, and we look forward to the Senate taking action next week. This important conservation package includes 15 wilderness bills which will protect nearly 2 million acres across 8 states, ensuring more places for Americans to hike, hunt, fish, camp, canoe and otherwise enjoy. In addition, it contains myriad bills for water projects, land exchanges, and heritage areas that have economic impacts for local communities. If they are delayed another two years, these communities will be hurt by lost opportunities.
There are many important issues for this Congress to deal with in its final days, and at the top of the list is the economic stimulus package and the auto industry rescue, but the Senate can not only take measures to improve the economy today, but also protect a natural legacy. Protecting a significant amount of public land and moving lands bills forward that local communities are depending on - many of which have been in the works for years - should also be a priority for the 110th Congress.
