Rural Economic Vitalization Act (REVA) Introduced in Congress

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Friends,

I am pleased to announce that Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9th), along with six original co-sponsors, has introduced the Rural Economic Vitalization Act (H.R. 3432), a public land livestock grazing buy-out bill, into Congress !

The introduction of this legislation into the House of Representatives is an important initial step toward much needed reform of the federal grazing program.

REVA would do two very simple things:

  • It directs the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management to retire grazing allotments when willing permittees waive their permit to the administering agency.
  • It makes permanent the retirement of grazing use on those public lands on which permits have been waived.

The passage of this legislation promises to open a new collaborative front in our efforts to restore western watersheds and wildlife by enabling an effective means of working with public land ranchers and administering agencies to ensure lasting natural resource conflict resolution.

In addition, the bill exhibits great opportunity at engaging the support and solidarity of a variety environmental and animal advocacy groups whose particular grievances are aggravated by the antiquated federal grazing program. From the News Release:

Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Legislation Introduced in Congress
Bill Would Provide Cash Option for Grazing Permittees

Conservationists hailed the introduction of the Rural Economic Vitalization Act (H.R. 3432) in Congress today, a bill that would allow federal grazing permittees to voluntarily relinquish their grazing permits back to the managing federal agency in exchange for compensation paid by a third party. The bill was introduced by Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9th) and six original cosponsors.

Read More of the News Release

Read the bill

Also read News Release of Rep. Adam Smith

Many thanks are due to Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) for his leadership in sponsoring this important legislation and to the six original co-sponsors of the bill.

Additional thanks are due to Mike Hudak of the Sierra Club's Grazing Team, WildEarth Guardians, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and other members of the REVA team whose tireless effort at home and in Washington D.C. have brought about this encouraging development.