Jason Chaffetz: “Federal land management agencies are biting off more than they can chew. Not only are these agencies tasked with…”

“Federal land management agencies are biting off more than they can chew. Not only are these agencies tasked with managing one-third of the entire landmass in the United States of America, but they are also asked to provide law enforcement and police support to some 660 million acres on the Federal estate. Land management agencies should not be in the business of policing. Currently, the Nation's largest land management agency, the Bureau of Land Management, has just one office--one person--per 1 million acres of Federal land. This is an inadequate system that does not serve the public, Federal lands, or local communities very well. Local county sheriffs, on the other hand, and local law enforcement deputies are in a better position to police lands within their county. These individuals are known by members of their community. They are trusted, they are better equipped, and there are more of them. Already local law enforcement agencies contract with the Federal Government to carry out the very same law enforcement functions that Federal agencies require. We need to expand this concept and take actions to limit the role of land management agency law enforcement officials. Madam Chair, I believe we must work to transfer authorities and, ultimately, funding to those local jurisdictions and sheriffs. There will come a time when the Appropriations Committee will play a key role in executing this strategy.…”