Public land sale vote could come today

[montana500]

wilderness-sportsman.com


"WASHINGTON (AP) — Mining industry critics braced for a House vote on a budget bill that includes a provision that could allow the sales of millions of acres of public lands.

The provision would overturn a congressional ban on letting mineral companies and individuals buy public lands at cheap prices if they hold mineral deposits.

“If this provision became law, it could literally lead to the privatization of millions of acres of public land, including national park and national forestland,” said Dave Alberswerth, public lands director for The Wilderness Society."

[acmejack]

1. It Sure Does!

FLOOR SCHEDULE AND BILL SUMMARY

Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (12 bills):
H.R. 1564 - Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District Conveyance Act of 2005 (Rep. Hastings - Resources)
H.R. 1972 - Franklin National Battlefield Study Act (Rep. Blackburn - Resources)
H.R. 3507 - Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2005 (Rep. Issa - Resources)
H.R. 3721 - To amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to allow certain commercial vehicles to continue to use Route 209 within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and to allow the National Park Service to continue to collect fees from those vehicles, and for other purposes (Rep. Sherwood - Resources)
H.R. 3981 - To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out certain land exchanges involving small parcels of National Forest System land in the Tahoe National Forest in the State of California, and for other purposes (Rep. Doolittle - Resources)
S.161 - Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005 (Sen. McCain - Resources)
H.R. 318 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent Farms located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes (Del. Christensen - Resources)
H.R. 323 - To redesignate the Ellis Island Library on the third floor of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, as the "Bob Hope Memorial Library" (Rep. Engel - Resources)
H.R. 326 - To amend the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Act of 2000 to adjust the boundary of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area and to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance under that Act (Rep. Grijalva - Resources)
H.R. 1790 - Child Medication Safety Act of 2005 (Rep. Kline - Education and the Workforce)
H.R. 856 - Federal Youth Coordination Act (Rep. Osborne - Education and the Workforce)
H.Con.Res. 288 - Recognizing the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and reaffirming support for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act so that all children with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment (Rep. Castle - Education and the Workforce)

TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK

The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule: on Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. The House will consider fourteen bills under Suspension of the Rules and H.R. 1065 - United States Boxing Commission Act (Rep. Stearns - Energy & Commerce) (Subject to a Rule). In addition, the House may also consider tomorrow or any day this week H.R. 4241 - GOP Reconciliation Bill (Rep. Nussle - Budget) (Subject to a Rule).