View source for Memorial in Support of the Federal Land Freedom Act Exposed

{{Infobox ALEC Bills
|bill_title          = Memorial in Support of the Federal Land Freedom Act
|date_introduced     = November 2, 2015
|date_reviewed       = 
|date_finalized      = January 15, 2016
|date_amended        =	
|date_accessed       = April 27, 2018
|type                = Model Resolution
|status              = Final
|task_forces         = Federalism and International Relations
|keywords            = Environment, Energy, Federalism
|notes               =
}}


<h2><em>Summary</em></h2>
<p>This Resolution will offer state legislatures the opportunity to express support for the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015. The Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015 permits a state that has an established leasing, permitting and regulatory program to petition the U.S. Secretaries of the Interior, of Agriculture and of Energy for a transfer of control over existing federal land to the petitioning state for energy development. This Congressional bill is consistent with existing ALEC model policy on this issue and a draft resolution will be submitted to the Task Force on Federalism in the coming days.</p>

<h1>Memorial in Support of the Federal Land Freedom Act</h1>
<p>WHEREAS, the federal government exerts control over more than 50 percent of the U.S. land mass in the 12 continental states from Colorado westward including: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming compared to an average federal control of only four percent in the remaining states; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, the current disparity in federal land ownership between the eastern and western states violates America’s longstanding doctrine of the inherent equality of the 50 states; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, western states are effectively prevented from fully developing their economies by controlling the resources on the lands within their borders; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, the United States is now the world’s leader in both natural gas and oil production; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, many of America’s energy resources are found on federal lands; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, development of these energy resources is prohibited on 83 percent of federally-controlled lands; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, federal drilling permits take significantly longer to process than state drilling permits – 228 days vs. 30 days; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, allowing the states to develop their natural resources will expand domestic energy production, create jobs and promote domestic energy independence; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, development of the land within their borders would make them less dependent on federal subsidies such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015 permits a state that has an established leasing, permitting and regulatory program to petition the U.S. Secretaries of the Interior, of Agriculture and of Energy for a transfer of control over existing federal land to the petitioning state for energy development; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015 exempts tribal lands, national parks, military installations and Congressionally-designated wilderness areas from transfer for energy development; and,</p>
<p>WHEREAS, no state would be compelled to accept control over the federal lands within its borders;</p>
<p>NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the [LEGISLATIVE BODY] of the state of [STATE] urges passage in both houses of the U.S. Congress of the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015.</p>