Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to streamline processes at the Department of the Interior (DOI) and make it easier to complete conservation projects, open new businesses and build affordable housing on federal land. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) and Dave Joyce (R-Ohio-14).
“Over 80% of Nevada is managed by the federal government, and we have to make it as easy as possible to build more affordable housing, open businesses, and support conservation projects on this land in our own state,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “My commonsense legislation will make sure these critical projects don’t get held up by red tape.”
“Nevadans are facing a housing crisis and we can’t let red tape get in the way of more access to affordable housing,” said Congresswoman Lee (NV-03). “Whether it’s for conservation, building critical infrastructure, or expanding access to affordable housing, the Department of the Interior needs all the tools it can get — and none of the obstacles it can avoid — to get key land deals done. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Senator Cortez Masto to cut red tape and give DOI the resources it requires, all at no additional cost to the American taxpayer.”
The Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts (AACE) Actwould address the federal government’s historic backlog of land appraisals by allowing private appraisers to operate with the same flexibility as the government. This commonsense fix will make it faster and easier for states, municipalities, and communities nationwide to complete land transfers that are vital to achieving their conservation, economic, and housing goals.
This legislation is supported by the Conservation Lands Foundation, Trout Unlimited, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Battlefield Trust, Nevada Conservation League, Nevada Housing Coalition and Nevada Land Trust.
Senator Cortez Masto has been working to cut red tape and streamline public land management across Nevada. Her legislation allowing new industrial businesses to expand in Las Vegas and protecting the region’s water supply by building a critical new water pipeline recently passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. Earlier this year she helped secure streamlined and improved guidance for building affordable housing on federal land under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.
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