This legislation proposes to amend section 313(b)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Its primary aim is to classify any provision that leads to the sale, disposal, or transfer of Federal lands as "extraneous" under the Byrd Rule. The Byrd Rule is a Senate procedure designed to prevent non-budgetary provisions from being included in budget reconciliation bills, which can pass with a simple majority. By designating federal land transactions as extraneous, this amendment would effectively prohibit their inclusion in future reconciliation measures, thereby requiring a higher threshold for their passage in the Senate and protecting public lands from being sold off through this expedited process.
This legislation proposes to amend section 313(b)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Its primary aim is to classify any provision that leads to the sale, disposal, or transfer of Federal lands as "extraneous" under the Byrd Rule. The Byrd Rule is a Senate procedure designed to prevent non-budgetary provisions from being included in budget reconciliation bills, which can pass with a simple majority. By designating federal land transactions as extraneous, this amendment would effectively prohibit their inclusion in future reconciliation measures, thereby requiring a higher threshold for their passage in the Senate and protecting public lands from being sold off through this expedited process.