Issue Position: Environment/Natural Resources

Issue Position

I've authored legislation that would strengthen the Antiquities Act by increasing public participation and communication between the federal government and the states.

H.R. 2114, the National Monument Fairness Act, amends the Antiquities Act of 1906 to require the President to seek input from state and local officials prior to a monument declaration and would require congressional approval of any national monument designation or expansion that is larger than 50,000 acres.

This legislation is in direct response to concerns that the recent rash of Presidential declarations have misused or abused the Antiquities Act and been contrary to the original intent of Congress.

H.R. 2114 preserves the President's ability to protect those special areas of historical or scientific interest that are less than 50,000 acres and deserving of monument designation, while providing Congress with the power to conduct appropriate oversight over declarations involving greater expanses of land.

The legislation passed the House Resources Committee on March 20, 2002.

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