Courtney Bourgoin, Sierra Club – courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
Reno, NV-- A broad coalition of conservationists, Native Americans, sportsmen and women, elected officials and others are celebrating the Congressional vote today that denies the U.S. military its long sought-after expansions of two major facilities in Nevada, at the Fallon Naval Air Station and the Nellis Test and Training Range.
In passing the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress instead approved language that maintains both facilities at their current size for the next 25 years. All six members of the Nevada Congressional delegation voted in favor of the NDAA with no military expansions.
The final vote capped a multi-year long battle to keep the military from expanding further onto more than a million acres of public land in northern and southern Nevada.
The NDAA, however, also includes language that suggests the battle is not over. Congress directed the Navy and the Air Force to continue to work with Nevada stakeholders to reach agreement on expansion plans.
“We are so grateful to our Congressional delegation for hearing the voices of their constituents and voting to protect our public lands,” said Friends of Nevada Wilderness Executive Director Shaaron Netherton. “This is a major victory for everyone who cares about protecting Nevada’s unique landscape, including ancestral lands and fragile wildlife habitat, and keeping it open to the public. We will remain vigilant, however, knowing the military will not give up on its plans to expand. In fact, now that Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen and Representatives Titus, Horsford, Lee and Amodei are all on record voting no on expansion, we will be back with even greater resolve to secure permanent protection for these lands, including Wilderness protection for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.”
“Stopping the expansions of Fallon and Nellis Military bases is a huge win for Nevadans, Tribal Nations, public lands and wildlife. We are grateful that our Congressional delegation listened to so many Nevadans who wanted the Desert Refuge and Tribal lands protected— not bombed and irreversibly damaged,” said Connie Howard, Chair of Conservation and Public Lands at the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter. “We look forward to continuing work with Senator Cortez Masto and Representative Horsford who introduced wilderness protections for these places. Safeguarding them means we can increase Tribal access, preserve our natural resources, and ensure these places remain for the benefit of future generations.”
“On behalf of the Moapa Band of Paiutes, we would like to thank all those who tirelessly gave their efforts and voice in this campaign to stop the Tuhut (Desert National Wildlife Refuge) land grab from military seizure,” said Greg Anderson Sr., Vice Chairman of the Moapa Band of Paiutes. “This is one victory we could not have done alone and we thank all the agencies, coalitions, tribes and the 32,000 individuals who submitted comments to the Air Force opposing the Desert refuge takeover. Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude on this victorious day and we send our prayers in the four directions to all those involved that you be blessed in all your efforts. We know there are many battles ahead of us and with your continued support we can stand together to protect our mother earth, wildlife, and the people who hold the land dearest to their hearts."
“Public lands are a defining element of Nevada’s culture and heritage, and the attempted destruction of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge goes to the very heart of what it means to be a Nevadan,” said Nevada Conservation League Executive Director Paul Selberg. “We want to thank Senator Cortez Masto, Congressman Horsford, and all of Nevada’s Congressional Delegation in standing up for Nevada’s public lands and protecting against the destruction of the DNWR. We look forward to our continued work in protecting our public lands, and offer a warning against anyone that wishes to take away Nevada’s public lands again: we will fight you and we will win.”
Annette Magnus, Executive Director for Institute for a Progressive Nevada, said: "We're overjoyed that Nevada's Desert National Wildlife Refuge is left intact by the NDAA passed today. We thank Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen for voting for a bill that fully protects our pristine public lands and wildlife habitats from expansion by the military. Our bighorn sheep are unique to Nevada and too important environmentally and culturally to be collateral damage in weapons' testing. We look forward to continuing our work to permanently protect the Desert National Wildlife Refuge preserve and all of our public lands across our state for generations to come."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.