1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose House Joint Resolution 24, which would express support for Utah's misguided attempt to seize control of federal public lands. Transferring ownership of our cherished public lands to state governments would open the door to privatization and loss of access for hunters, anglers, hikers, and all who enjoy these national treasures. Public lands in federal stewardship belong to all Americans and must not be handed over to narrow interests. Montana's 8 million acres of federal public lands generate annual royalties of $55 million for the nation, but these irreplaceable landscapes provide even greater value through conservation of wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and a high quality of life that attracts residents and businesses to our state. Transferring federal public lands to state control would impose unsustainable financial burdens for management and risk sacrificing these priceless assets. Montanans cherish our public lands and outdoor heritage. We must not support measures threatening to diminish these national treasures through privatization or short-sighted resource extraction. I urge you to stand up for responsible stewardship of America's public lands by opposing HJ 24. Our public lands legacy is too precious to compromise.