©2025 League of Conservation Voters
2017 Scorecard Vote
248
179
5
Issues
Representative Don Young (R-AK) sponsored H.R. 218, the King Cove Road Land Exchange Act, a radical bill that allows a road to be built through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Izembek Wilderness without environmental review. This legislation removes protections and transfers hundreds of acres of wilderness in the refuge in exchange for lower quality state land, and it allows for construction of a road through the previously protected land. The proposed road would be built through critical lands that protect key habitat for species including bears, caribou, salmon, and many different species of birds (including most of the world’s population of Pacific black brant and emperor geese). Building this road through the refuge and critical wetlands is a misguided attack that sets an alarming precedent for wildlife refuges and wilderness areas throughout the country, especially because most of the transferred area is protected under the Wilderness Act—the highest level of protection for federal lands. On July 20, the House approved H.R. 218 by a vote of 248-179 (House roll call vote 406). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The Senate took no action on this legislation.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters