Appropriations Committee Supports Gosar-Pearce Effort to Block Merger of BLM State Offices

Statement

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill this week and released the accompanying bill report which includes language directing the BLM not to merge the Arizona and New Mexico field offices:

"I am pleased that the House Appropriations Committee heard the call of Congressman Steve Pearce (NM-02) and I to include strong language in the Interior Appropriations process directing the Bureau of Land Management not to merge the Arizona and New Mexico BLM field offices.

"The bipartisan Committee didn't mince words and condemned this misguided proposal stating, 'The Committee directs the Bureau not to consolidate the Arizona and New Mexico State offices and reminds the Bureau that office consolidation proposals are subject to the Committee's reprogramming requirements.'

"Neither Arizona nor New Mexico would benefit from this ill-advised plan by the BLM. Residents of both states would experience permitting delays, job losses, increased wildfires and less efficient land management as a result of this terrible proposal. Congressman Pearce and I have worked tirelessly to stop this disastrous attempt by the BLM, and we will continue to do everything in our power to prevent this misguided idea."

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