©2025 League of Conservation Voters
1976 Scorecard Vote
40
40
20
Issues
(S. 2555) The Rangelands Improvement Act: The vote is on the Cannon amendment to require the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to grant ranchers 10 year permits for grazing livestock on federal lands, and to require a two year notice before a permit could be cancelled. Ranchers would also be reimbursed for any improvements they made on lands where their permits were terminated. The amendment violates the Multiple Use Act by giving grazers what is in effect an unconditional right to use public lands even when this conflicts with other uses. It would make it extremely difficult for federal officials to cut back grazing if necessary to prevent overgrazing, and to preserve the nation’s vast and arid rangelands for wildlife and other uses. The President took no official positions. May 3, 1976. Rejected 40-40. The correct vote is no.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters