Alex Padilla: “I certainly understand my colleagues' frustration with how the public lands process is currently playing out. I am glad…”

“I certainly understand my colleagues' frustration with how the public lands process is currently playing out. I am glad that they are acknowledging I, too, share that frustration. But I also can't believe we can't create a scenario where the Senate completely cedes to the House the ability to pick and choose which public lands bills are allowed to be sent to the White House. Regardless of who is in the majority, the process has historically been both bicameral and bipartisan, and we need to get back to that. So as I said publicly, and as I have reminded in private, my objection to these bills is not on the substance, and my objection is not an objection forever. So I appreciate when my colleagues have offered to join me in this effort to push leadership of both parties of the committees in both Houses to convene and create that process that isn't just going to be a fair consideration of my proposals or their proposals but all the proposals that come from the Senate through the Natural Resources Committee; give them a shot for consideration on the House side and proper consideration for signature by the President of the United States.”