Yesterday, Heritage Action, Concerned Women for America and eight other groups sent a letter to the House members:
Instead of focusing on our national security, the lands package, as currently written, grants the federal government more ownership over America's lands and creates additional restrictions on land-use policies. Further, this lands deal package includes creating a commission to study building a women's history museum. Every indication points to the museum including exhibits that would in fact be offensive to military members. For example, the current National Women's History Museum website glorifies Bella Abzug, who worked to drastically reduce military spending and said, "I am not being facetious when I say that the real enemies in this country are the Pentagon and its pals in big business."
The full letter (PDF) is below:
December 3, 2014
The Honorable
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative,
We, the undersigned organizations representing millions of Americans, are writing to urge you to strip the lands deal package out of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and instead pass a clean defense bill.
This lands deal has nothing whatsoever to do with our defense or our national security. In these hectic times, we need to maintain the focus of protecting and funding our troops. We cannot allow irrelevant provisions to cloud our mission at home and overseas.
Instead of focusing on our national security, the lands package, as currently written, grants the federal government more ownership over America's lands and creates additional restrictions on land-use policies. Further, this lands deal package includes creating a commission to study building a women's history museum. Every indication points to the museum including exhibits that would in fact be offensive to military members. For example, the current National Women's History Museum website glorifies Bella Abzug, who worked to drastically reduce military spending and said, "I am not being facetious when I say that the real enemies in this country are the Pentagon and its pals in big business."
The NDAA is meant to authorize budget authority for our military and national security to ensure the safety of our nation and its citizens. It is not meant to make backroom deals for bills without merit. If the lands deal package had any merit, it would stand on its own and it would not need to be snuck in to a bill that is almost guaranteed to pass because we need national security.
Penny Nance
CEO and President
Concerned Women for America
Legislative Action Committee
Amber Smith
Military Advisor
U.S. Army Veteran
Michael A. Needham
Chief Executive Officer
Heritage Action for America
Phyllis Schlafly
Founder and President
Eagle Forum
Becky Dunlop
Former Assistant Secretary for
Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Department Of Interior
Sandy Rios
Director of Governmental Affairs
American Family Association
Tom McClusky
Vice President
March for Life Action
Myron Ebell
Director, Center for Energy and Environment
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Phil Kerpen
President
American Commitment Action Fund
R. J. Smith
Director
Center for Private Conservation