Amodei’s federal land sale amendment provokes bipartisan outrage

Rep. Mark Amodei, Nevada's sole Republican in Congress, spearheaded an amendment included in the House Republicans' budget package to sell off nearly 450,000 acres of federally owned public lands in Nevada, encompassing counties such as Clark, Washoe, Lyon, and Pershing. The amendment, co-sponsored by Rep. Celeste Maloy of Utah, mandates land sales within two years and directs proceeds to the U.S. Treasury rather than Nevada, diverging from longstanding practices like the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that funneled such revenues back to the state. While Amodei argued the sales would address housing and development needs and generate billions in federal revenue to help offset tax cuts, Democrats and conservation groups strongly opposed the measure, citing potential disruptions to tribal lands, historic sites, and local conservation funding. The amendment passed along party lines in the House Natural Resources Committee after an extensive debate lasting over 13 hours, with Democrats condemning the process and the reallocation of land sale proceeds. The land sales are presented as a Nevada-centric solution to the challenges posed by the state's 80% federally owned land, but critics view the amendment as detrimental to Nevada's economic and environmental interests. The controversy highlights deep divisions over federal land management and state benefits from such assets amid broader budget reconciliation efforts.