Senator: “I said this week that I was committed to work with Senate leadership to pass this bill, and tonight’s unanimous Senate consent continues its major momentum because it tees up passage to happen next year when the new Congress convenes.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s bill to preserve more than 1 million acres of wilderness in the Owyhee Canyon Lands in Eastern Oregon and introduce more flexibility into its established grazing management system passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent Friday night.
“The holiday celebrations can start a few days early with tonight’s historic and huge victory for the Eastern Oregon ranchers, Tribal leaders, conservationists and recreation lovers who worked with me to design this landmark legislation for one of America’s most spectacular landscapes,” Wyden said. “I said earlier this week that I was committed to work with Senate leadership to pass Owyhee legislation, and tonight’s unanimous Senate consent continues its major momentum because it tees up passage to happen next year when the new Congress convenes.”
“I look forward in 2025 to keeping up the bipartisan support and work with U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz in the House to get these significant wilderness protections and meaningful grazing reforms for ranchers in the Owyhee into black-letter law,” Wyden said.
Tonight’s passage of the Wyden bill comes after its passage out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.