House Republicans seek to open up national forests to mining and logging

Weeks after an anti-government militia's takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge, legislators are presenting bills to loosen federal authority over public land

Congress is to consider two bills that would allow states to hand over vast tracts of federal land for mining, logging or other commercial activities - just weeks after the arrest of an armed militia that took over a wildlife refuge in Oregon in protest at federal oversight of public land.

Related: Oregon militia explainer: background to the standoff