Take Action!
If you have a concern for loss of our Public Lands, as we do,
there are few easy things you may consider doing.
Your Public Lands are Too Valuable to lose.
The value of the public lands is indisputable as a legacy for future generations and as a contributor to present-day economics and quality of life. In addition to the monetary contributions generated, the public lands provide many and varied opportunities for people to connect with and enjoy the great outdoors.
Public lands have been described as America’s “best idea.” They are natural sanctuaries, sources of generational inspiration, and for some, ancestral homelands. Every citizen has a right to experience them and a paired responsibility for their welfare and protection. So, recent news coming from Washington D.C. - possible plans to sell off our public lands and the firing of the staff needed to protect and access the - has ours and the outdoor community’s attention.
Please take action by contacting your congressional representative and expressing your opinion on public lands.
contact your Congressional Representatives
Take action by contacting your congressional representatives and express your opinion on public lands.
Our organization is based in South Dakota, so we are sharing our Congressional Delegation. If you are not from South Dakota, please follow this link to locate your Congressional Representatives at USA.Gov.
The most effective ways to contact, in order:
Call
Aim to make six calls a day — two senators and your house representative at both their local and Washington, D.C. offices. Calling forces our representatives to pay attention. Every single day - your senators, representative, and their senior staff get a report of the three most-called-about topics for that day at each of their offices, and exactly how many people said what about each of those topics.
Attend
Go to town halls - local offices and staff hold these periodically. Dates/times can often be found on each congressperson’s website.
When you go, ask questions — a lot of them. Push for answers.
The louder, more vocal and present we can be at these events, the better.
Write
Handwritten letters and emails are effective means of communication.
Advocate for your Congress members to
become a part of the Public Lands Caucus.
Congressional Representatives Zinke (MT) and Vasquez (NM) have launched a Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus to Champion Conservation and Access.
Public Lands Caucus Membership List:
Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) -
Founding Member, Co-Chair
Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01) -
Founding Member, Co-Chair
Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) -
Founding Member, Vice Chair
Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02) -
Founding Member, Vice-Chair
Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25)
Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11)
Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02)
Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02)
Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06)
Rep. Troy Downing (MT-02)
Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04)
Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04)
Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03)
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06)
Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01)
Rep. David Valadao (CA-22)
Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04)
Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23)
From the deserts of New Mexico to the mountains of Montana, America’s public lands are central to our way of life, offering space to hike, hunt, pray, fish, gather, and connect with our natural heritage. But today, these shared lands are under threat—from chronic underfunding and staffing shortages to worsening wildfires and a maintenance backlog across our national parks and forests.
Public Lands Caucus Founders:
Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) - Founding Member, Co-Chair
Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01) - Founding Member, Co-Chair
Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) - Founding Member, Vice Chair
Chairman Mike Simpson (ID-02) - Founding Member, Vice Chair
Consider donating to your favorite outdoor-based group. A partial list can be found here of groups that are engaging in activities in support of “Keeping Public Lands Public.”