Protect public land. Oppose Steve Pearce for BLM Director.

Lisa Ballard

Last year, the Senate rejected proposals to sell off federal public land. We applaud the bipartisan rejection of that plan, especially the leadership shown by Montana Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy. Soon, U.S. Senators will face another crucial decision facing American public land and its very existence for this and future generations of Americans. Soon, former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce will face a Senate hearing to consider his nomination to serve as Director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Call Senator Daines directly at (406)-549-8198 and Senator Sheehy at (406)-441-1069 and ask them to oppose Steve Pearce as BLM Director.

As a member of Congress, Steve Pearce supported selling off public lands and sponsored legislation to allow federal public lands to be sold off to private interests. Pearce has criticized President Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation legacy and called to “reverse this trend of public ownership of lands.” The next BLM director is of critical interest to Montanans, as the agency oversees more than one-third of the nation’s public lands, including more than 8 million acres in Montana.

Given Pearce’s well-known opposition to public lands, it is surprising that Senator Daines initially called Pearce “a great pick.” Pearce must face tough questions during his upcoming confirmation hearing and vote in the U.S. Senate, which could happen in the coming weeks. Senator Daines sits on the committee that will first review Pearce’s nomination and will be a decisive vote to approve or reject the nominee.

A recent survey of Montanans showed that 75% of us oppose the Pearce nomination. And for good reason. Recent analysis of the impact of federal land sell off in Montana would increase grazing fees for our ranchers and farmers by 1,600% and choke off access for hunters and anglers.