SE Wyoming News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, along with Representative Harriet Hageman, have introduced the Protect America’s Lands Act to safeguard Wyoming's lands from radical environmental activists. The bill aims to prevent the listing of Natural Asset Companies (NACs) on national securities exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which could threaten public and private lands in Wyoming.

Senator Barrasso expressed concern over the potential impact of NACs on Wyoming's economy, stating, “Economies in Wyoming and across the West thrive from mining, grazing, energy production and timber logging. The New York Stock Exchange tried to sell-out America’s public lands to the highest bidder. We cannot allow this liberal playbook to be used again.”

Senator Lummis emphasized the importance of responsible land management in Wyoming, saying, “Wyoming’s economy depends on access to federal land as our landscapes generate income for multiple industries and draw thousands of people to the Cowboy State each year. Allowing NACs to be listed on stock exchanges would create a backdoor way for activist liberal investors to implement the Green New Deal by locking up millions of acres of land."

Representative Hageman raised concerns about potential foreign involvement in acquiring U.S. lands through NACs, stating, “NACs would change U.S. land access, management, use, and ownership as we know it. As if that weren’t bad enough, as proposed, there are no limits placed on who can buy these lands—China, Russia, Iran, and other bad actors would be free to participate and shut down U.S. energy, mineral and food production.”

The Protect America’s Lands Act proposes amendments to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit the listing and trading of NACs on national securities exchanges. The bill was introduced following the withdrawal of a proposal by the NYSE to list NACs, which was met with opposition from the Wyoming delegation and other lawmakers.

For more information on the bill, interested parties can access the full text of the Protect America’s Lands Act by clicking here.