May 23, 2021

Mann introduces legislation to roll back 30 by 30 order

Posted May 23, 2021 10:30 AM

By NICK GOSNELL

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann along with both U.S. Senators introduced legislation to stop an executive order from the Biden administration that they are concerned could infringe on private property rights in the name of fighting climate change.

"The executive order signed in January was very vague," Mann said. "It referred to ongoing reports. That raised some alarms. The report actually came out week before last and basically, the report still doesn't have a lot of details. The concern would be that the government would make steps toward involuntary conservation."

The so-called 30x30 plan would require federal control of much more land than is currently that way in Kansas.

"Kansas is in an interesting spot, because 98% of our land is not currently in conservation, only 2% is," Mann said. "Other states, much more of their land is already in conservation. We introduced legislation that effectively would block the executive order altogether."

This issue has been incredibly emotional for Kansans.

"This goal of 30% of American lands being in conservation by 2030 should not be the goal and is not the direction that we should go," Mann said. "As a result of this, Kansans are rightly concerned about the potential land grab that could occur. What ought to occur is the executive order to be done away with."

As part of the One Planet Summit in January, at least 50 countries committed to protecting 30 percent of the planet, including land and sea, over the next decade. The U.S. did not participate, as it took place prior to Biden's inauguration.