This is a press release issued by Native Voters Alliance Nevada on May 7, 2025
THIS PROPOSED LAND GRAB INTRODUCED INTO THE RECONCILIATION BILL AFFECTS THE VIRGIN AND MOAPA VALLEYS
Tens of thousands of Acres in Clark, Washoe, and Fernley Targeted in Last-Minute Federal Amendment
NEVADA — Just before midnight, Reps. Amodei (NV) and Malloy (UT) introduced a surprise amendment to a sweeping budget reconciliation bill mandating the sell-off of public lands. The move bypassed standard procedures, limited debate, and appeared timed to avoid public scrutiny. Newly released maps confirm the proposal targets areas near Avi Kwa Ame and Gold Butte, an estimated 12,000 acres in Fernley—including land that borders the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation—and an estimated 15,000 acres in Washoe County. Even more land is flagged as “eligible for disposal” in future federal land management plans.
Taylor Patterson, Executive Director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Let’s call this what it is: a coordinated land grab. It was planned behind closed doors, dropped at midnight, and aimed directly at Tribal homelands.
“We’ve seen the maps. This isn’t theoretical. It is targeted. Lands near Avi Kwa Ame and Gold Butte are in the crosshairs. So are scattered parcels across Clark County. In Fernley, the disposal zone pushes right up against the boundary of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, a calculated move that shows how close they’re willing to get.
“These are not excess acres. These are Native lands. And the people advancing this know exactly what they are doing. This is the same story our people have lived through for generations. Erase us, sell what is left, and pretend it was never ours. But it was. And it still is.
“Every inch being sold off was cared for by our people long before this government existed. These lands do not belong to Congress. They belong to the generations who bled, prayed, and survived on them.
“Once land is gone, it is gone. Fences go up. Access disappears. The connection between people and place is severed.
“If you are Indigenous, this is your fight. If you care about public land, clean water, access, or cultural survival, this is your fight too. Because this amendment is not a policy tweak. It is a warning shot. If they can carve up our homelands in silence, they will do it again. And again. Unless we stop them.”
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About Native Voters Alliance Nevada: A rising powerhouse in the Nevada political landscape, Native Voters Alliance Nevada (NVAN) is dedicated to forging a dynamic Native ecosystem and fostering political strength within Indigenous communities. We serve as a resonating platform for urban and Tribal Nation voices, guiding elections, molding legislation, and championing Tribal sovereignty. Join us in our empowering journey and learn more at https://nativevotesnv.org/.