The push to sell public lands continues with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) proposing some changes to his original language, though not necessarily ones that are better. Now, the current proposal only targets Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, requiring “the sales of between 0.25 and 0.5 percent of the 245 million acres” currently under BLM ownership, equating to “between 612,500 and 1.225 million acres,” according to The Hill.

The revised language decreases the original amount, which was roughly 2.2 million to 3.3 million acres, and focuses on BLM lands within 5 miles of the border of a population center, showing Lee’s compliance with the directive to remove National Forest lands from the proposal. Land that’s sold must be used “solely for the development of housing or to address any infrastructure and amenities to support local needs associated with housing.”

Federally protected land and land used for animal grazing aren’t included.

“Lands like these are supposed to belong to every single American,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)  “Some of my colleagues are very serious about taking these places away and giving them to someone else…we will not let them sell our birthright to build luxury condos or second homes or to pay for tax cuts.”

The language would be included in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Whether or not it will gain enough support to move forward is still to be determined.