How You Can Fight The House Budget
Simple, effective guidance on calling your Congressperson, and telling them where they can stick their public lands sell-off
Created by Resistance Rangers, a group of National Park Service employees working in their spare time to fight against the destruction of our public lands and the workforce that supports them, here’s all the scripts, talking points, and contact information you need to call key members of Congress, and urge them to vote against the House budget reconciliation package. As a reminder, that budget sets out to give billionaires a tax break by selling off 500,000 acres of public land, defunding national parks, and eliminating access to healthcare for 9 million Americans.
Call Targeted Reps: Protect Our Public Lands!
A new federal budget proposes to sell off 500,000 acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada — and slash National Park Service funding by 30%. We can stop it if we speak up.
Even if you don’t live in these districts, call if you’ve ever visited or recreated near these places — your voice still matters.
Call these House Reps (and the public lands access they are near)
Ryan Zinke (MT-01) – Glacier, Yellowstone
Jeff Hurd (CO-03) – Mesa Verde, Black Canyon
Jeff Crank (CO-05) – Pike National Forest
Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) – Saguaro National Park
Ken Calvert (CA-41) – Joshua Tree
Jay Obernolte (CA-23) – Mojave, Death Valley
Mike Simpson (ID-02) – Craters of the Moon
Kevin Kiley (CA-03) – Tahoe region, Yosemite access
📞 SHORT Call Script (under 30 seconds)
Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I’m calling to ask Representative [Name] to vote NO on any budget that includes selling off public lands or cutting National Park funding. Even though I don’t live in the district, I visit [Public Lands Name] and spend my time and money there. These lands belong to all Americans — please protect them.
📞 MEDIUM Call Script (about 1 minute)
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling to urge Representative [Name] to vote no on any budget that includes a public lands selloff or National Park Service cuts.
I’m not a constituent, but I visit [Public Lands Name] in your district regularly — I stay at local campgrounds, eat at nearby restaurants, and support outfitters and park tourism. These lands are part of the national heritage and economy, not just local resources.
A 500,000-acre selloff and deep cuts to the NPS would devastate visitor experiences, jobs, and ecosystems. Please protect our shared public lands.
📞 LONG Call Script (1–2 minutes)
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling because I care deeply about our national parks and public lands. I’m urging Representative [Name] to vote NO on any federal budget that includes the selloff of public lands or cuts to the National Park Service.
I may not live in the district, but I visit [Name specific sites, e.g., Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Glacier] — I plan trips around them, support local businesses, and bring others with me. These lands are nationally significant, and that’s exactly why they need national-level protection.
Selling off 500,000 acres and cutting the NPS budget by nearly a third isn’t just bad policy — it threatens jobs, tourism, clean air and water, and future generations’ ability to enjoy these places.
This budget would mean fewer rangers, longer lines, dirtier bathrooms, closed visitor centers, and a decline in everything that makes these places special. Our parks need trained staff, funding, and strong leadership — not backroom deals and giveaways.
Please vote NO if these measures are included. Strip them out. Public lands belong to all of us.
Timeline: What’s Happening and When
This week is critical.
Tuesday: A powerful House committee votes on the budget.
Wednesday–Saturday: The full House could vote at any point.
This budget includes a 500,000-acre public land selloff and deep cuts to the National Park Service. If we flood Congress with calls now, we can still stop it — but time is running out.
For Influencers on social media
How to Share on Social Media / Email / Newsletter)
Help Stop the Public Lands Selloff and Cuts to the National Park Service!
Congress is about to vote on a budget that would sell off 500,000 acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada — and slash the National Park Service budget by nearly a third which could lead to nearly 300 National Park units being cut.
We need help turning up the pressure on key House members who could still be swayed. Even if you don't live in their district, if you've ever road-tripped through their state or visited nearby parks, your voice matters.
The most important thing you can do is help us tag the members of congress we outlined on social media. Our lowest lift ask is to share our post and tag them!
Target Reps (and the public lands access they are near):
Ryan Zinke (MT-01) – Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP
Jeff Hurd (CO-03) – Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti
Jeff Crank (CO-05) – Near Colorado Springs, gateway to Pike-San Isabel Forest
Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) – Saguaro NP, Coronado NF
Ken Calvert (CA-41) – Joshua Tree NP
Jay Obernolte (CA-23) – Mojave NP, Death Valley NP
Mike Simpson (ID-02) – Craters of the Moon NM, Sawtooth NRA
Kevin Kiley (CA-03) – Tahoe NF, Eldorado NF, close to Yosemite access
What to do:
Share their names + districts
Tell your audience to call them and say: "No public land selloffs. No cuts to the National Park Service. These lands belong to all of us."
Share the Resistance Rangers post, and tag these members of congress in your story! Or make your own post and tag them!
Background info and learning!
It’s time to engage with the federal budget! With 10 minutes of research, you’ll know who to call and be armed with what to say.
BUDGET TIMELINE AND TARGETS
Tuesday night: Rules Committee to vote on the budget, which includes a selloff of 500,000 acres of land in Nevada and Utah
Members of the Rules Committee
Especially if they are your own reps or you visit their district
Especially if you think are the most persuadable OR the most vulnerable (live in a purple district, have a ton of federal workers in their district, are up for reelection at the midterms, have a strong primary opponent)
ASK: No selloff!
Sometime between Wednesday and Saturday: whole House to vote on the budget
Whether or not the selloff passes
Pressure Ryan Zinke, because he leads the Public Lands Caucus and said selloff were his red line. He is susceptible to public pressure, and has already signaled he is against the land selloff.
Your reps because you will / won’t vote for them
Congressional Public Lands Caucus is a receptive audience, but they need to be convinced to stick their neck out for public lands
House Natural Resource Committee because they are likely on the committee because they have an interest or background in it, and other reps might listen to them more since they know it’s their wheelhouse
ASK: No selloff, no NPS budget cuts
Sometime after that: the budget works its way through the Senate committees?
WHY YOU SHOULD CALL REPS EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT
You visit public lands in their district OR you visit their district on the way to/from
The outdoor economy depends on a network of protected public lands
People rarely road trip just to see one NPS site (or even one public lands site)! They plan road trips around hitting multiple sites. Would you plan an epic trip to Utah, if they just had one park to go to, and not the Mighty Five? What about the other public lands designations (FS, BLM, state parks even) that make the time and expense of getting to these places worth it
You know federal workers in their state
These numbers from the National Treasury Employees Union show the number of federal workers by district in 2022
WHY WE CARE ABOUT THE PUBLIC LANDS CAUCUS
Because they seem to be the moveable middle
They have made a big deal out of supporting public lands and paid a lot of lip service.
BUT they’re still conservatives who need to be pressured to vote the right way. In fact, some of them have already voted to sell off public lands! They may also feel pressured to support the bill as a whole, even if it has amendments they don’t like.
What’s the point of this caucus if they roll over for the big bill? They have the votes (and more!) to bring the party to the negotiating table.
Backstory: Some of these reps also sit on the House Natural Resources Committee, which heard the late-night budget amendment to sell off 11,000 acres of public lands in Utah and 500,000 acres in Nevada. This amendment was proposed by Reps. Amodei and Malloy. Reps had a chance to vote on the amendment as a standalone measure, and after it passed, they had another chance to vote on it as part of the entire budget bill. So, we have some insight into how some of these moveable middle reps have already voted when push came to shove!
As many as half a million acres of public lands are for sale, with no restrictions on how they will be developed, and no requirements that that money goes back to public lands management or anything good. It will go straight to the treasury for tax cuts for the wealthy. And these lands are next to parks like Zion and wilderness areas.
WHO YOU SHOULD BE CALLING MONDAY AND TUESDAY
Members of the Rules Committee because they’re the ones voting
Especially if they are your own reps or you visit their district
Especially if you think are the most persuadable OR the most vulnerable (live in a purple district, have a ton of federal workers in their district, are up for reelection at the midterms, have a strong primary opponent)
Unfortunately, there is no overlap between the Public Lands Caucus and the Rules Committee
WHO YOU SHOULD BE CALLING WEDNESDAY THRU SATURDAY
The whole House will vote on the budget during this timeframe
Whether or not the 500,000 acre selloff passes
Pressure Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) because he leads the Public Lands Caucus and said selloffs were his red line. Susceptible to public pressure.
Your reps because you will / won’t vote for them
Public Lands Caucus because they give lip service to public lands
Mike Simpson (R-ID-02) is one of the vice chairs of the caucus, and has said he opposes lands sell off in reconciliation. He has previously supported saving salmon by taking on some of the dams in the PNW, and he has broken with the party over it. So we know he has a backbone!
Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) is a member of the caucus, but he hasn’t yet had an opportunity to vote on the selloffs. He’s an unknown, but in theory supports public lands.
Jen Kiggan (R-VA-02) is a member of the caucus, but she voted to support a late-night selloff amendment (for 11,000 acres in Utah and Nevada) when it was in front of the Natural Resources Committee. Not sure how persuadable she is, but it wouldn’t hurt to point out the difference between her stated values and how she voted.
House Natural Resource Committee because they are likely on the committee because they have an interest or background in it, and other reps might listen to them more since they know it’s their wheelhouse
Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03) because he’s persuadable! He initially voted against the 11,000 acre selloff when it was a standalone amendment, so we know he doesn’t support it. But, he flipped when the amendment passed, and it was time to vote on the budget bill as a whole. Remind him to stick to his original vote!
Jeff Crank (R-CO-05) because he was naughty and voted in favor of the 11,000 acre selloff.
Other members who serve your district or who you think might be persuadable or vulnerable.
Other reps
Ken Calvert (R-CA-41)
Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) represents a district with a lot of public lands
ASK: No selloff, no NPS budget cuts (see below)
WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY
About you
If you’re a constituent, let them know! (Some may ask you to leave an address)
Not in their district? Tell them why your opinion still matters
You can identify yourself as NPS staff or a federal worker. But, make it clear that you’re commenting in your personal capacity.
Reference the NPS sites (and/or public lands) that you visit in their district. Get specific!
If you go often, say it! If you go for 10 days at a time, say it!
You may need to look up their district boundaries on Google Maps
How do you spend money there?
Where do you stay? State park camping fees; hotels or Airbnbs (which often, but not always, have lodging taxes that further support tourism)
Where do you eat out?
Where do you buy souvenirs? What shops do you support downtown?
What guides or outfitters do you use? What activities do you do? (even mini golf)
Tell them you are one of many
Look up NPS Visitor Spending Effects (economic impact of parks)
You can narrow this down to park-level! You will need to do simple math to include nearby sites, since it doesn’t break down to district level
Include sites outside their district, if you know that folks often travel through their district
Don’t embellish; let them know those are estimates based on parks in AND near their district
I am one of X visitors who spend $X and support X jobs
Look at the graphic methods to get a better understanding of both the direct and indirect economic benefits of parks, if you want to elaborate
X% of voters in STATE want public lands in public hands
The proposed budget is bad for our parks
500,000 acre public land sell off (if it’s still in the budget)
$900M cuts (~30%) to NPS operating costs
National Parks Conservation Associations warns that could mean losing 300 park sites
Those budget cuts will in turn mean cutting even more staff
Public lands need wise hands
#NoParksWithout: For every ranger you see in a flat hat, there are tens of scientists, maintenance workers, architects, engineers, planners, historians, communication specialists, HR staff, IT staff, and more, supporting their work behind-the-scenes. NPS has already axed thousands of staff through illegal terminations and coerced resignations.
It calls for selling off our public lands to states
Who don’t have the technical expertise or the resources
These sites are of national significance, and it is the NPS arrowhead all on its own drives visitation; if these were state parks, they would not attract the same level of tourism!
Ours parks will first be trashed, then auctioned off
More drilling and logging on nearby national monuments
How would this ruin visitor experiences and the outdoor economy?
In the short-run: long entrance lines, dirty bathrooms, closed visitor centers, cancelled ranger programs, less access
In the long-run: without knowledgeable or enough staff to protect what makes the park special, things like wildlife - the things that people visit the park to see - will deteriorate drastically
THE ASK
These are our American lands: highlight that public lands belong to all Americans and must be managed for public benefit, not private profit
No transparency or accountability
No public comment
No consultation with local community members
Buried in a budget bill
Do not support these measures or ones like them
If the budget includes them, vote NO
Remind them how easy it would be to strip these measures out; only takes 4 Republicans saying NO to bring everyone else to the negotiating table
Top photo: NPS
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Great advice for protesting all aspects of this terrible budget that hands out huge benefits to upper-income Americans on the backs of the middle class and the poor.
Thanks for this. After hours, but I did leave a message for all on your list.