Renzi Pushes For Grazing Rights

Recently Introduced Renzi Bill Will Help Ranchers WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ - 1) said on April 13, 2005 during a Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee hearing that public grazing access is vital to Western ranchers. The hearing focused on challenges for grazing and range conservation on public lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The Forest Service and BLM administer roughly 27,000 permits on roughly 250 million acres of public land. "In rural Arizona, and much of the West, livestock grazing was an important part of settling the American frontier, and it continues to play a central part of our rural communities," said Congressman Renzi. "It is essential that we support our ranchers and continue to provide access to these public grazing lands." Renzi recently introduced a bill in Congress (HR411) to help ranchers in rural Arizona and across the West. Specifically the bill, called the Cattleman's Bill of Rights, will require a federal land management agency like the Forest Service or BLM to allow the holder of a grazing permit to sublease the land if it will allow more sustainable use of forage within an area, help ranchers who may be facing economic distress, or promote other objectives identified by BLM or the Forest Service. This will allow rural ranchers more flexibility when managing their ranches and livestock. The legislation will also direct the Secretary of Agriculture to develop, implement, and update a training course for employees in federal land management agencies to educate them about the historical uses of federal land and associated grazing practices. "Ranching is an important part of the culture and economy of many rural communities throughout the American West," Congressman Renzi said. "The rural West depends on a healthy and thriving ranching industry, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure that our ranchers have the continued ability to use these vital grazing lands."