LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – More than 300 Nevadans are in our nation’s Capitol as part of the Vegas Chamber’s annual D.C. fly-in, to discuss economic issues facing southern Nevada.
One need in our area that’s in the spotlight is affordable housing as more people move in, the number of affordable units shrinks.
The chamber’s president tells FOX5 — one solution is a public lands bill.
Paving the way for this bill is Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, and Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei, a Republican.
“Getting that public lands bill through would have a positive benefit for southern Nevada especially when it comes to making more land available for public development because one of the reasons we’re facing a shortage of affordable housing is because there’s a lack of land for development,” said Mary Beth Sewald from Vegas Chamber.
According to Senator Cortez Masto’s office, the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act would allow Clark County to develop up to 25 thousand acres of public land for affordable housing and business growth.
But, nearly 2 million acres of federally managed land would be protected for conservation and recreation.
It would also expand popular areas like Red Rock and Sloan Canyon.
So far, the Senate version of that bill should get out of committee next week.
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