Bennet Denounces Removal of Protections for Bears Ears National Monument

Statement

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today issued the below statement following President Trump's announcement to reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.

"Since the beginning of this national monument review, the President has been in lock-step with a small number of Washington special interests to remove protections for public land in the West," Bennet said. "Today's announcement is no different. It disregards the wishes of a tribal coalition and ignores the input of Western leaders and businesses to initiate the single largest removal of protection for public lands in our nation's history. The designation of Bears Ears National Monument protected sacred land and gave our tribes-including the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and Southern Ute tribe-a voice in their future management. This reversal is a shameful addition to our nation's long and tragic history of broken promises to our tribes. Earlier generations would be disturbed to know that their legacy of protecting wild and sacred places is under assault by the President and his administration. We will fight this attempt every step of the way."

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