ICYMI: Committee Republicans Vote to Sell Off and Sell Out Our Public Lands, Including the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

WISCONSIN - In a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee markup, all Republican committee members voted in favor of an amendment which would nullify the Roadless Rule and put 45 million acres of national forests at risk, including the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Just last Thursday, about 100 Wisconsinites attended a Town Hall in Rhinelander in support of the Roadless Rule.

Committee Republicans also voted unanimously to approve H.R. 3937, a bill that sells 14 acres of land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest - including all mineral rights - to a private company. By legislating this sale, Republicans have effectively removed any opportunity for public input or environmental review, including if future development damages the surrounding area.

In response, Elizabeth Ward, Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter Director released the following statement:

"Our forests aren't for sale, plain and simple. But Republicans are relentlessly trying to sell them off to the highest bidder, putting our wildlife and lands at risk for generations. This isn't what Wisconsinites want or what our ecosystems need. We want to maintain beautiful spaces for recreating and exploring. We want to be able to take our children to the places we love. To meet the challenge of climate change, we have to double down and protect these vital spaces. Repealing the Roadless Rule paves the way to destroy the remaining wildest places we have in Wisconsin."

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.