December 10, 2009
 

The Honorable Jeff Bingaman
703 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Bingaman,

We are writing to add our support to S. 1787, your bill to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.  We have signed on to the December, 2009 letter signed by over 20 other conservation organizations supporting the legislation but we would like to add one additional comment in addition to the suggestions contained in that letter.

We believe the bill could be strengthened by adding a provision enabling funds raised through the sale of Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service lands to be added to the FLTFA account.  We recognize that such sales are less frequent than sales of BLM land but enactment of such a provision would enhance the benefits of the Act.

The Public Lands Foundation is a nonprofit national organization incorporated in 1987 to support keeping public lands in public hands, embracing multiple use management of BLM lands as prescribed by FLPMA, and following sound environmental principles.  We are a membership organization whose members are predominantly retired former employees of the BLM.  As such, our membership represents a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience in public land management.

Finally, we would like to thank you very much for taking the lead on reauthorizing this important piece of legislation.  If there is anything we can do to help move this bill forward, please let us know.

                                                                                                Sincerely yours,

                                                                                                /s/ Henri Bisson

                                                                                                Henri Bisson, President