Amodei earlier this week. Photo: Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The House Natural Resources Committee advanced its portion of the GOP reconciliation bill after a lengthy debate and approving a contentious amendment that would sell federal lands in two states.
Why it matters: The committee's package contains much of the policy on leasing and environmental permitting that Republicans are seeking to include in the "one big, beautiful bill."
Driving the news: The panel approved the measure 26-19 late Tuesday night, with Democrat Adam Gray voting in favor.
- Republicans approved an amendment from Reps. Mark Amodei and Celeste Maloy that would authorize thousands of acres of public lands sales in Utah and Nevada.
- Environmental and conservation groups have heatedly objected to the idea.
- Its introduction at the markup as the clock neared midnight caused an uproar among Democrats. They noted that Amodei doesn't represent the areas of Nevada in which he was proposing sales.
Zoom in: Amodei said local counties had requested the land sales in question, and GOP supporters talked up the need for more housing in states with large chunks of federal land.
- Amodei said the sales would generate "billions in federal revenue."
- It was approved 24-19 with GOP Rep. Jeff Hurd voting "no."
The big picture: The committee's slice of the bill would open up more oil and gas leasing and make big changes to the National Environmental Policy Act.
- Republicans voted down dozens of Democratic amendments to strip those provisions out of the bill.
- GOP leaders will now move to roll it into the larger reconciliation package once other committees finish their work.
