• Maloy advocates for balanced public lands access amid legislative challenges

In a lively interview on SVI Radio’s Weekday Wake-up, U.S. Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) addressed critical issues surrounding public lands access and management in the western states, particularly Wyoming and Utah. The conversation highlighted her extensive background in land policy and her commitment to ensuring that public lands remain accessible for all users.

Maloy, a Republican representing Utah’s second congressional district, began her career with a degree in agriculture from Southern Utah University. She initially worked with farmers and ranchers through the USDA, focusing on conservation plans that often intersected with federal land policies. Her experience in local land issues set the stage for her eventual political career, where she has become a vocal advocate for public land access.

During her interview on the Weekday Wake-up, she emphasized that, “Everything with public land has to do with access. It’s can you access for drilling? Do you have access for recreation? Do you have access for grazing?” She continues to explain, “There are groups who would like to see some groups have more access and other groups have less access. And then there are politicians who are all along that spectrum as well. In order to get anything done at the federal level, you have to have a lot of politicians buy into the same idea, which, if you follow politics, is getting tougher and tougher to do. Especially on issues that really only affect about 11 states in the West, and the biggest impacts are felt in about half of those states.”

A focal point of the discussion was the controversial proposal put forth by Senator Mike Lee, which aimed to sell off portions of public lands. Maloy explained that the narrative surrounding this proposal had been skewed, leading to public outcry and confusion. She clarified that the original amendment was intended for specific lands needed for infrastructure improvements, not for selling off cherished public spaces. “When it made it to the Senate side, Senator Lee, who is the chair of energy and natural resources on the Senate side, offered an amendment that was a little less precise than ours. It called for selling off one-half of a percent. So 0.5% of federal land adjacent to cities nominated by local governments for specific purposes. But the immediate narrative was they’re trying to sell off national parks, blue ribbon fisheries, and pristine hunting grounds. And that narrative caught on really well.”

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Maloy stressed the importance of building coalitions and engaging stakeholders before introducing legislation to avoid misinformation. “So if we do the legwork ahead of time, build coalitions, make sure people understand what we’re actually doing. I think we can move the needle on some of these access issues, but we have to have people read in and bought in far enough in advance that they don’t believe everything they see on social media,” she said, underscoring the necessity of fostering understanding and support among diverse interest groups.

The congresswoman’s insights reflect her deep commitment to protecting public lands while navigating the complex landscape of federal policies.