House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today following passage of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act:

“After using every legislative trick in their procedural playbook, Democrat leaders finally managed today to pass a $10 billion, 1200-page bill without fair and open Congressional review.  The appalling lack of transparency in this process is even more troubling because this bill increases unchecked federal spending, denies disabled individuals’ true access to wilderness areas, weakens our border security, and prohibits American-made energy production and new jobs on federal lands. Democrat Leaders also failed to use this legislation to restore Americans’ Second Amendment rights on federal park lands that were struck down last week by a federal judge.

House members proposed bipartisan amendments to address each of these issues – but Democrats blocked their consideration.  The passage of this bill is another disappointing display of heavy-handed Democrat tactics that rely on secret, backroom bill writings that are then jammed through without any opportunity for alternatives or improvement.”

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