Conservatives Train Fire on Government ‘Land Grab’ in Key Defense Bill

Parkland and wilderness provisions added to a defense policy measure have outraged friends of the military, who call the move both a “land grab” and a slap at men and women serving in the armed forces.

Considered must-pass legislation, the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act details Republicans’ and Democrats’ military policy priorities. It ranks high on the priority list of outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for the current lame-duck session.

But this year the annual defense authorization includes a multitude of non-defense provisions such as new parks, wilderness areas and a national museum celebrating women. The move irks conservatives and other proponents of a “clean” bill...

...However, what has upset Cruz and other critics are non-military provisions to:

Add 250,000 acres of wilderness.
Withdraw 400,000 acres designated for commercial use.
Add 15 national parks or expansions and three designations for wild and scenic rivers.
Commission 11 studies for potential national parks and wild and scenic rivers.
Commission a study for a National Women’s History Museum on the National Mall.

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