[inaudible convens] [inaudible conversations] the committee will come back to order. The gentleman from montana. Thank you very much. Thank you for joining us and i hope you didnt sever too much anxiety taking that Community Back to washington. A little bit of ptsd with the. One of the things i like to paraphrase is dwight eisenhower, listen from disinformation of information from of my colleagues on the other side. Dwight eisenhower said it looks easy when you live 1000 miles away from a cornfield that is exactly the problem in this body on a daily basis. Too many people are making decisions about Land Management in our part of the world they are not familiar with at all and unfortunately we have people making those decisions such as a director who was a known collaborator with ecoterrorist and secretary of interior who will provide documents and lobbying efforts that certainly doesnt help matters. Sadly to hold his hearing so that we, the people impacted the most by it can get Accurate Information about the impact on the people hit by it the most as we discussed several times this morning, blm is not going toward these hearings in areas that are going to be hit. It just to have a hearing in the state we have nearly 40 of our state and federal public land and we can accomplish that. We watched the Administration Time and again try to pass or get around laws and passing rules that completely contradicts that. As their extension and public close currently. Outside of their pound. So government, did the blm ever consult with you, your office or impacted agencies in your state before the promulgation of this rule . Mr. Chairman, no. There was some indication you could have information only kind of opportunity, i think the hearing was held information only breathing held in denver, you could only cut if you couldnt participate, you couldnt have hearing or talk about the rule and the good governor mentioned it, the fact that they are ignoring these normal processes is complete. To the administration be with you before they promulgated this . There is no input or consideration for the office or notification or consultation. Do either of you believe this can this act or law which prioritizes production for our nation how does this conservation and management currently factor in factor in your operations torino and everybody seems the same way and how does this impact the typical operations, conservation or local branch. They look at every analysis and it maintains the land because they recognize to be utilized in the future and permits and they want to continue to give them, a shortterm engagement of partnership with blm and they want to be good stewards so they are good leads in the future. They looked at my land and utilized this because the most leaves it in the best shape at all times and to go forward with proposed rule like this and say what we are doing isnt working and ignoring what is happening on the ground is extremely arrogant and you look at the rule and read it and the more times i read it, the more offended i was and lacks Scientific Data or analysis what we are doing is not providing conservation and efforts and isnt being stewards of the land but doesnt give a basis for why they are proposing changes and it will better leave us in better shape. And when you dont use any kind of data to back up the need for changes in no analysis for the Economic Impact and ignore and what youre proposing and it should be given to congress. I want to remind all of you in this committee and protect the United States of america and what they are undermining was a simple rule and blm undermines all the president in this country so this is quite literally and i have seen different rolls in my life now. Im a business person, farmer, rancher, i served in the legislature and have been hearing as governor. I never in my life in the short period of time where they have destroyed the foundation of the country and its not just the big things you see and hear about, it is rules like this where they are overstepping authority to a powerful federal government and undermining the Governors State authority we fight for our people and their way of life. There will be Business Owners in my state that will be bankrupt if the rule goes into place. They will have no land for their cattle, out of business and their manufacturing plants and it will be gone. We have one of the last examples still functioning in the black hills because of the federal government. Each of us and all we have anymore and we will fight tooth and nail and this would destroy our industry as well. Thank you for your information and passion. The chair recognizes the gentleman from colorado, you recognize for five minutes. This is an important hearing, thank you for having me. I enjoyed filling in congress and you are on the same committee for a time and you did such an expert time. Last month director tracy testified before this committee and i asked if the new proposed conservation rule would allow simultaneous land use notice should you should quote the conservation would preclude in the underlying conservation lease. A lot of people here in washington against the west proposing it is there anything you would like to add that this rule shouldnt take affect what have on blm land and the people and economy . Lets remember blm was established to produce sustained yield and Management Practices out there for conservation efforts and everything will practice utilizing his builtin the mandate to utilize conservation. What they are doing is putting conservation efforts based on no definition of what the conservation efforts are when they should be placing them above every other use so that in itself serves the entire mission and when you have federal land in your district and your state, it impacts your economy and the roof will affect his tens of thousands of people and it takes their ability to be producers away from them great for me is not just the economic side, it is their ability to want to get up everyday and go to work. We have lost our nations work ethic and we need to remember why we have one. We have a work ethic because we were created to serve, to serve other people to get up everyday physically, mentally, spiritually and having the ability to go out and work on the land and help it produce and provide for your family and help our nation as a whole be unified and accomplish something that keeps our economy stable. Weve talked for years about the need for not just one part of the country to be successful, not just one part where people can do well or where they can be more productive. When you have tough economic recession on the east coast or west coast, often it is the middle of the country that stabilizes the country. Governor gordon, you are in the great state of wyoming and i admire how it is run, i have a daughter and family who lived there and ive seen firsthand the wellrun state during covid, it was to lead washington d. C. Where things are locked up so tightly, see where things are at least halfway normal such as wyoming, a breath of fresh air. One thing about the Current Administration is another reason. Gas cooktop stoves is one example. They say it is to protect people with asthma. They are just trying to shut down fossil fuel and not admitting it and being honest. Taking helium of the critical mineral list when it comes to natural gas extraction is another example. Do you have suspicion or thoughts or concerns about the real purpose of blm conservation rule and the effect of Resource Based Industries including conventional. Congressman, yes. Absolutely. Very concerned about the ulterior motives to shut down fossil fuel development and one thing is also fuel industry is invested in conservation. Segued a little bit to congressman, very specifically, our ranch in the area, people with minerals do so with intent in our case, it was the nrcs that came back and said we can provide you with any more resource, you are already doing it. This conservation will certainly has somebody in washington say we are going to put this conservation, you cant do this anymore when the role played in making the range better would be devastating. This rule and everything, you cut this same issue in colorado, everything this administration does is about climate and so you have tremendous regulation in place that are going back our fossil fuel industry costing americans dearly. We had unprecedented rises in the price of oil and gas and now we are talking about going on to natural gas will be cant get the lease out of this administration. We cant get a permit out of this administration. For those who arent familiar, there is a surface statement minimalist date. The way the federal government shuts down anything that goes anywhere near federal mineral lease shuts down private industries, shuts down private property. It is devastating. Time is expired, the chair recognizes mr. Huffman who wasnt overlooked, your recognize for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I hate to interrupt this performance masquerading as a legislating hearing but on the off chance there may be a few people watching at home who dont get all their news and information through the rightwing media, i would like them to know not every Western State is hyped up on antigovernment conspiracy politics. In fact, california opposes 3397 and thinks its a good idea to proceed with the public lands. I would like to enter into the record of i could, this letter from the california natural resource. Not Western State believes it would be the end of the world to elevate conservation with grazing and Timber Harvesting and mining and other extractive uses. A lot of folks think it is just good plain common sense and sensible policy. Well talk a little bit more when we get to the next panel but for now, i will look back and proceed with regulation schedule. The gentleman he is back and its an open hearing and im glad came to represent here. Minority views and appreciate our witness for being here today. I now recognize the dental lady for five minutes. Its so good to see both of you. This has been ignored on this topic so im grateful for their sentiment concerns and outrage over the proposed rule. According to Public Comment by the United StatesBusiness Administration office and advocacy, this proposed rule has unintended consequences contrary to the statutory permission and factual basis does not adequately consider the Economic Impact of the rule on Small Businesses. Thats how bad proposed rule is. The fda under the Biden Administration is literally calling out blm on how bad the proposal is. I would like to submit, for the record. American economies can only get a return on federal lands and much of the west. The first is grazing in the second extraction. The lifestyle of Rural Communities for relation and businesses the low things to flourish. Reminding agricultural essential for our lives and economy and this revenue funds in healthcare and other essential services. Wyoming is a strong leader in energy. In his testimony. Basically, everything proposed rule touches is what we in wyoming are good at so hard not to take this personally to make it worse, it comes to wyoming to talk about proposed rule. Governor gordon, considering this is live and die in the industries by this rule, what you think it is blm new mexico but not wyoming . Are they avoiding something . It is clear youre having real testimony on the ground across the nation and for communities where they can find a favorable audience and move things forward. The testimony of the gentleman from california typically do. [laughter] has governor and i have worked with folks across the aisle, this is about conservation and Good Development and management and stewardship of Natural Resources. Its not hyper partisan issue. Last year has signed an agreement with secretary vilsack that recognized private property is a little healthy wildlife population should so i take that suggestion. A states ability to make money for education is tied to the health and productivity of state lands. What i dont understand is what revenue you would generate for your state or federal conservation. Governor, will conservation leases money to the state in general . Mr. Chairman madam congresswoman know. That money goes to the government and is sort of a joke to think we will make up more productive by taking it out of play. We as you know and governor lujan and gershon and i have addressed congress on this our schools are funded by education is funded by Mineral Development. The leases and the ancillary pieces of the economy are funded by activities on federal lands and taking taking them out of play would be devastating to our economy. That one of the things that people people understand is her Water Development and resources in the west even on federal land is done by private individuals. That benefits our wildlife. If you take cattle off of our federal lands in the west youre going to have a substantial impact on the wildlife. We wont be developing the resources they need to survive practices when you have incredibly negative unintended consequences that the people of washington d. C. Dont understand and they should not make policies like this sitting in Airconditioned Office and without i yield back. The gentlelady yields back in the chair recognizes gentleman from california mr. Duarte for five minutes. I would seek to understand what you do but i think its underappreciated the 245 million acres in the bureau of Land Management. It looks good to me from here and i dont see any inch of it by any means mind and develop with gas and not that those things bother me much when done properly and effectively by operators that know what they are doing. What does bother me a lot are some of the mismanaged land in california reportedly because of Climate Change. My angle on the kaleidoscope is to turn those over to the prior is the conservation groups. They are burning out of control we are getting no value of them. Graze it logged or watch it burn and we should be gracing it and logging it in california much like we should be doing in south dakota and wyoming. I would invite you governor noem give us some details and talk to us about the things you think about the effect of Resource Managers on your ranches and how those lead to not only the conservation of the resources on your ranches at how instead of government coming out with conservation monies and paying billions of dollars to have somebody do it for them, for us you guys do a lot of environmental services. God prevent you make a few nickels once in while doing it. Can you explain the business of being a ranch owner to us . For most ranchers and thank you congressman for the question. For most ranchers its not a business model. Its their family legacy. Its what their father did in their grandfathers and grandmothers did something they take a lot of pride in. Probably one of the most devastating things ive ever seen in my entire life was when the winter storm hit south dakota fordyce served in congress intensive, hundreds of thousands of cattle for dead because of something out of ranchers control. It paints a picture that they only care about dollars and cents in the make management decisions how best to support that heard but also how to support that land and how to protect it and putting in investments to access water and they are putting in different resources in order to manage. You can gogo anywhere in south dakota and see the private lands into operation with ranchers that are cared for in the land that would be under government jurisdiction or at the federal level. Whats interesting to me to look at the mission and it specifically is to use the land. Its a land Engagement Agency and considers conservation in every activity. When you start prioritizing one over the other the entire mission of the agency fails. The way that they are putting us bye bye declaring the sonata major rule completely eliminates any of the facts they would need to know if the rule is going to work. We are chatting about conspiracy theories in this whole proposed rule is a conspiracy theory. They are avoiding federal law and they may not even under the processes they have they established in this rule even require to be under the federal register anymore under the process. They are taking away all public input potentially and how they will create impact landscape which means the public will have no input inputted and implemented overnight which is not under their authority. Im incredibly surprised at how this board came forward because of how it established ignoring the log set precedent that ranchers take to manage land. Thank you. Its a great answer. No one understands ranting and government together then the two of you. Whats left in the last minute thank you very much. On a personal level when i get up on the ranch i look at how the grass is growing we measured on a monthly basis. You can go for your web site and see our ranchland over the last several years. We take our conservation very seriously but more importantly wherever you go and wyoming and congresswoman hageman knows it very well secretary perdue came out into the ride through the National Grassland and visited with ranchers and they wanted to see on the ground what was going on. You can do when chilled management. You have to look at the ground and you know that is the primary yourself and whats frustrating about this rule is a will put in place all of these constrictions on management and as i mentioned before it would inhibit our ability to be able to improve the ranch and to be a will to sustain the ranch so it could happen. You know from being from california that dead and dying material oxidizes. Doesnt anything except co2 and that either happens over time or it happens in a fire. We all learn from each other in farming and Natural Resources you categorically dismiss this because t