In a recent statement from her office, Senator Cortez Masto criticized Representative Amodei for including a significant sell-off of Nevada public lands in the reconciliation bill. She described it as one of the biggest land grabs in the state’s history.
‘Insane plan’
Cortez Masto pledged to vigorously oppose the proposal, calling it an “insane plan” that would divert funds from vital areas like water conservation and public schools in Nevada. She accused Amodei of pushing the plan under the cover of darkness to support a Republican tax bill that benefits billionaires, vowing to fight it with all her might.
Amodei defended his actions by stating that Nevada’s population relies too heavily on Congress to make decisions about federal land, particularly in addressing housing shortages. However, Cortez Masto argued that Amodei acted unilaterally without consulting the Nevada delegation, pushing for the sale of up to 200,000 acres of public land in Clark County to fund the Republican tax bill.
She criticized the move for disregarding the consultation provisions of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and diverting funds from conservation, wildfire prevention, and public schools in Nevada, as well as the Southern Nevada Water Authority, ultimately shortchanging the state of billions of dollars in future revenues.
Prior federal land-use actions
Cortez Masto has been actively involved in efforts to utilize federal land in Nevada. In 2023, she facilitated an agreement between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of the Interior to sell federal lands to the state at a reduced rate for affordable housing projects in Southern Nevada.
Despite this progress, the current political landscape poses challenges, with Republicans advancing their agenda even in the face of opposition. Cortez Masto continues to advocate for stakeholder involvement in land ownership decisions to benefit Nevada.
State-level moves
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has also addressed the issue of federal land use, calling for increased availability of federal lands for housing development to combat shortages and reduce costs. While Lombardo’s efforts have been met with skepticism from Democratic legislators, he remains committed to tackling housing affordability in the state.