Senate Republicans Introduce Language Into the One Big Beautiful Bill to Sell Off 2.5 Million Acres of Public Lands in Eleven Western States
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Congress Passes Big Beautiful Bill Which Provides Handouts To The Fossil Fuel Industry
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2025
CONTACT: Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director, Nevada Wildlife Federation: Kuhlman@nvwf.org 
Senate Republicans Introduce Proposal to Rollback Fossil Fuel Reforms
NEVADA- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has introduced a proposal that sets back fossil fuel leasing to the 19th century. The proposal largely rollbacks the updated reforms that became law when the Inflation Reduction Act was passed. The language states that the royalty rate reverts back to 12.5%, mandates oil and gas lease sales in areas with no known fossil fuel deposits and prevents the Bureau of Land Management from conducting conservation mitigation measures.
Based on the latest polling, nearly three-in-four Nevadans say drilling should be restricted to areas where there is a high likelihood of producing oil and gas. This is of particular importance because the vast majority of Nevada’s public lands have little or no potential for oil and gas. The majority of Nevadans also agree that oil and gas companies should pay their fair share when profiting off of public lands.
“Our nation has produced more oil and gas in the last 5 years than any other nation in the history of the world. This has resulted in the fossil fuel industry recording profits in the billions of dollars. However, decision makers in Washington D.C. are still making sweetheart deals and ignoring public opinion on how westerners want our lands managed,” said Russell Kuhlman, executive director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “The irony is that most fossil fuel production happens on private land. Yet, this administration seems determined to waste time looking for oil where there is not any and force 19th century energy production onto a 21st century landscape.”
About Nevada Wildlife Federation: The Nevada Wildlife Federation is an affiliate of National Wildlife Federation and the oldest statewide conservation organization dedicated to sustaining Nevada’s wildlife through conservation and education.
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