After Congress passed a disapproval resolution against the Bureau of Land Management’s Planning 2.0 rule, the American Farm Bureau Federation is asking the U.S. Senate to follow suit.
According to an article written by Jake Putnam and published on the Idaho Farm Bureau News website, AFBF Congressional Relations Director Ryan Yates has said the rule, which is also known as Planning 2.0, would negatively affect current federal land-use planning processes.
The rule was “pushed through in the final weeks of the Obama administration.”
Yates said, “Unfortunately, while the BLM suggested that they were looking to find a way to expand the ability for the public and local governments and affected users to better weigh in and comment on land management decisions, the rule did the exact opposite.”
According to Yates, there were many “problems” with the BLM rule that resulted in Congress’ disapproval resolution.
“There was broad consensus in the debate that the process for developing the rule was flawed, fundamentally the provisions within the rule were flawed and outside of the scope of law, and ultimately passed a bipartisan resolution of disapproval,” explained Yates.
Before BLF Planning 2.0 rule can be rescinded, the Senate will have to pass a disapproval resolution as well.
Yates urged those in the farming and ranching industries to contact their senators and urge them to pass the disapproval resolution by explaining how the rule will negatively affect them.
“Members from the United States Senate need to hear from their constituents that this BLM rule is flawed and needs to be disapproved, so we’ll be reaching out to our friends in the Senate and urging a yes vote on that resolution of disapproval,” Yates concluded.
Alerts Sign-up