Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has tried three separate times this month to force the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of federal land through the spending package. Although the Senate parliamentarian struck that language on June 23, Lee immediately floated a slimmer “version 3” that still threatens more than a million acres of BLM lands.

Momentum, however, shifted our way—specially last week. On June 26 five Western Republicans— Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT), Mike Simpson (ID), Dan Newhouse (WA), Cliff Bentz (OR) and David Valadao (CA) —sent Speaker Johnson a letter pledging to vote no on any bill that resurrects the sell-off. Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA-03) reinforced that stance with a forceful House-floor speech and by joining the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.

And on Saturday, June 28, Senator Mike Lee announced that he is withdrawing the federal land sales provision from the reconciliation bill! The bill still has problems, but today it’s less harmful, and that’s worth celebrating. Make no mistake: this victory belongs to all of you.