Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I rise today to talk about a subject you know a lot about, as we share serving the great State of Nevada. I am here to talk about public land management in Nevada and the challenges that my State--our State--is facing as our communities continue to grow.

Some in this Chamber may be unaware, but my State of Nevada is unique. We have the highest percentage of land owned by the Federal Government. Eighty-five percent of our State is made up of Federal land. Let me repeat that: 85 percent. This means Nevada has to rely on Federal legislation to do things like making land available to provide more affordable housing, more schools, more parks, more churches, more fire stations, and police departments in every single county in Nevada.

Think about that. We need to pass bills here in Congress, in Washington, and have the President sign them into law to do local things that most other States can just have their local governments do.

That is why in Washoe County, the second largest county in the State, those types of everyday actions--well, they just haven't been taken in years, and we are starting to feel it.

Over the last few decades, Nevada has brought in new industries and created good-paying jobs in and around Washoe County. From Reno to Sparks, we are creating jobs in technology, critical minerals, battery recycling, and so much more. This is leading to an economic and population boom that, frankly, is helping our residents prosper. But it is also placing a great strain on things like the supply of housing.

But, again, because 85 percent of Nevada is made up of public lands, Washoe County relies on resource management plans to grow our community. Well, I am sad to say this, but the current plans on the books--and you know this too well, Madam President--they are more than 20 years old. So even as the population of the county has grown more than twice the rate of the overall U.S. population in the last decade, we are using current plans over 20 years old. As our State grows and more people move in, it is critical that we take steps to manage responsible growth and development of our local communities so we protect our beautiful public lands and we support our Tribes and economic development, alike.

Without new Federal legislation, Washoe County is stuck. They are just stuck. It can't grow, it can't accommodate its increasing population, and it can't protect the spaces where people recreate or come to visit in our beautiful State.

For the last few years, I have been working closely with a diverse range of local stakeholders, from conservation and outdoor recreation groups to local governments and Tribal leadership, to draft a proposal that has the best balance. We released a working draft, and we took public input from Nevadans, and we developed my Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act, or, as we know it, the Washoe County lands bill.

I am going to tell you a little bit about the bill.

My bill is balanced. It is thoughtful. It has a thoughtful approach that I worked on for more than 4 years to do a few things. We have to allow for new economic development opportunities. We have to make more land available for affordable housing; this is on the top of everyone's list. We want to protect nearly 1 million acres of land for recreation in our gorgeous State. We want to convey parcels to local entities for public purposes, like schools and water treatment facilities. And we want to place some of our land into trust for three different Tribes in northern Nevada.

This bill has broad, local support from Republicans and Democrats, alike, in Nevada. I introduced the final version of this bill nearly 1 year ago. It has gone through a committee hearing. It has been marked up, and it has been passed out of committee. My team and I spent years discussing this legislation with relevant committees, and for months-- literally, for months--we have been working to include this bill in a public lands package.

We have consistently reached out to Senators and staffs on both sides of the aisle to get the bill passed--a bill very specific to Nevada, for the benefit of Nevadans. And we have an open door for any recommended changes to get this critical legislation across the finish line. And yet we still haven't been able to get a vote here in the Senate.

One thing I want to tell you for sure is I am not going to allow typical Washington gridlock like we have seen here to block this bill that my constituents--our constituents--are relying on for more affordable housing, stronger communities, and for protected lands.

So, today, I am taking matters into my own hands. I stand here, today, asking for my colleagues' cooperation to support the State of Nevada, to support our ability to grow and build our communities, and protect and preserve the beauty in our great State, and support the passage of my Washoe County lands bill by unanimous consent.

604, S. 3593; that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

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Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I look forward to continuing to work with the Senator from Wyoming on approving this bill. But for me, today, it is beyond disappointing that Washington's business-as-usual approach is once again getting in the way of my bill passing.

The legislation would not cost any additional taxpayer money, and it would not directly impact any State other than Nevada. And it would allow Washoe County to be able to serve its business community, Tribal communities, and the people who live there. All it is going to do is protect our outdoor spaces, support local Tribal communities, and expand economic development opportunities, including the much needed affordable housing, desperately needed by so many.

Today's outcome is frustrating. I want to assure the people of Nevada that my colleagues and I will continue to work on this issue. It is not settled, and the fight to get Nevada lands for us to be able to use in smart ways is not over. I will reintroduce this legislation next Congress, and I will continue fighting until my Washoe County lands bill is passed and Nevadans are better able to responsibly build in and protect our State.

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