Oppose S. 446 – A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness
February 3, 2026
Dear Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our millions of members and supporters, we urge you to oppose S. 446, a bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Some of the most special wilderness areas in the country reside in our National Park System because they deserve the added protections. Congress shouldn’t limit its own authority by removing a park unit from consideration as wilderness, especially one known for panthers, orchids, alligators and abundant water resources.
The Wilderness Act was signed into law more than 60 years ago to ensure every land management agency, not just the National Park Service, could manage areas with high conservation values. The public has benefited from Republicans and Democrats in Congress passing over 100 laws that protect over 800 areas as wilderness across the country. As a result, we have clean water, intact wildlife habitat, scenic views, well-preserved cultural resources, and recreation opportunities from hiking to paddling to hunting. Some examples include the largest wilderness in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska as well as Joshua Tree National Park in California, Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona, Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington, and the largest wilderness area east of the Rocky Mountains in Everglades National Park in Florida. Most of these park units are highly visited within the park system and provide visitors with a chance to leave the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives to enjoy nature.
Congress has the sole power to designate wilderness. And it is equally within their power to decline to do so. S. 446 would bypass the existing process under the Wilderness Act and prevent a future Congress from receiving a recommendation from NPS for wilderness-eligible land.
We urge you to oppose this legislation.
Sincerely,
Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance (ABRA)
Californians for Western Wilderness
Climate Justice Alliance
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Defenders of Wildlife
Endangered Habitats League
Environment America
Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC)
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance
Healthy Ocean Coalition
Inland Ocean Coalition
League of Conservation Voters
Minnesota Division Izaak Walton League of America
National Parks Conservation Association
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
New Mexico Wild
Next 100 Coalition
Oregon Wild
Partnership for Policy Integrity
Rachel Carson Council
Standing Trees
The Ocean Project
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Wild Cumberland
Wyoming Wildlife Advocates