Public Lands | Congressman Rob Bishop

Public Lands

When committee assignments were being made, I specifically requested a position on the House Natural Resources Committee. I am committed to helping Congress strike a balance for wise management of our public lands and resources. Protecting private property rights and state sovereignty and preserving our western heritage are among my chief priorities on the committee. I will also fight to protect the livelihoods of public land users while ensuring that we are responsible stewards of our natural resources. I am confident that the principles of multiple-use and protecting our environment can go hand-in-hand. To this, I have brought together several key state and national stakeholder groups, the Utah Congressional Delegation, Utah Governor Herbert and Lt. Governor Bell, as well as state and local leaders to establish a framework for a better and more collaborative process that will give greater certainty to the way public lands are manged and used. To read more about the Public Lands Initiative, click here.

Quick Facts:
- The federal government owns roughly 660 million acres in the United States.
- Nearly 1 out of every 3 acres in the U.S. (29%) is owned and controlled by the federal government
- In the West, 1 out of every 2 acres is owned by the federal government.
- Over 90% of all federal land is located in the West.