R-CALF letter concerning Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and his family
April 10, 2014
The Honorable Sally Jewell
Secretary of the Interior
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
Dear Secretary Jewell:
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF
USA) respectfully urges you to immediately direct your agency to cease its current efforts to
confiscate cattle owned by Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and his family. It is our understanding
that your agency has initiated an armed confrontation against the Bundys to confiscate their
cattle. It is also our understanding that the cattle your agency intends to confiscate are cattle that
the Bundys continue to run on lands that the Bundy family had lawfully grazed for decades;
lands to which they have considerable rights regarding access to stockwater and forage; and
lands upon which they likely have made improvements.
R-CALF USA is deeply concerned regarding your agency’s wanton display of
intimidation against a Nevada rancher and believes your agency’s initiation of an armed
confrontation with which to send your political message is beneath any semblance of prudence or
justice. While R-CALF USA makes no judgment regarding the purported non-payment of
grazing fees as we do not have all the facts, the global spectacle you have created raises serious
questions regarding whether the Bundys’ have been accorded due process and whether your
agency is in compliance with the laws of Nevada, including Nevada’s brand inspection laws.
R-CALF USA is the largest producer-only trade association representing the U.S. cattle
industry and we have long believed that your agency is working contrary to Congress’ intent by
depriving cattle ranchers in western states of water and grazing rights they acquired pursuant to
U.S. statutes and that have been substantiated through court decisions. The alarming exodus of
independent cattle ranchers in western states, particularly Nevada, provides evidence of your
agency’s untoward actions.
We urge you to immediately cease your ongoing, armed confrontation against the
Bundys. Please let us know how we might help to resolve this matter in a manner that does not
entail the infringement of the Bundys’ considerable rights to not be forced out of business by the
federal government.
Sincerely,
Bill Bullard, CEO