Pledging

These are the original issues in this subcategory

MEAT PACKING
FEEDLOTS
FEDERAL LANDS GRAZING

Winning Issue » FEDERAL LANDS GRAZING

The Forrest Service and the Bureau of Land Management administer our public lands grazing program. This program allows 3% of our nation's cattle, horses, goats and sheep to graze on public lands including our national parks. This arrangement mostly benefits large commercial ranching operations, or about 2% of all our ranchers. Fees collected from these ranchers do not cover the cost of administering the grazing program. Not counting the damage done to ecosystems, the annual cost to taxpayers of this program is estimated to be about $100 million. Expired grazing permits are usually renewed automatically without financial or environmental review. Grazing opponents cite substantial environmental damage caused by grazing, saying low fees encourage misuse.

Pending Legislation: H.R.5785 - Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Adan Smith (WA)
Status: House Committee on Natural Resources
Chair: Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR)

Polling Options

I oppose reforming current federal lands grazing policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).

I support a market-based way for ranchers to voluntarily sell and permanently retire their federal grazing permits on public lands, creating a funding stream for conservation, reducing land management conflicts, and restoring ecosystems by permanently removing livestock from allotments by: 1.) Ranchers receiving fair compensation (a "buyout") to permanently give up their grazing rights, making it a choice, not a mandate. 2.) Once retired, the federal land allotment is closed to livestock grazing, allowing for habitat restoration. 3.) Decreasing disputes between grazing, recreation, hunting, and wildlife. 4.) Supporting wildlife corridors, carbon sequestration, and healthier watersheds. 5.) Offering ranchers an alternative to ongoing land management challenges and provides conservation partners a path to achieve environmental goals. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option

I support a market-based way for ranchers to voluntarily sell and permanently retire their federal grazing permits on public lands, creating a funding stream for conservation, reducing land management conflicts, and restoring ecosystems by permanently removing livestock from allotments by:

1.) Ranchers receiving fair compensation (a "buyout") to permanently give up their grazing rights, making it a choice, not a mandate.

2.) Once retired, the federal land allotment is closed to livestock grazing, allowing for habitat restoration.

3.) Decreasing disputes between grazing, recreation, hunting, and wildlife.

4.) Supporting wildlife corridors, carbon sequestration, and healthier watersheds.

5.) Offering ranchers an alternative to ongoing land management challenges and provides conservation partners a path to achieve environmental goals.

And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

You May Pledge Your Support For This Issue With A Monetary
Donation And By Writing A Letter To Your Representatives

Please login to pledge

Pledge Period - Opening Date

December 29, 2025

Pledge Period - Closing Date

January 4, 2026

Trustee Election - Begins

January 5, 2026