the previous administration designated thousands of acres of monument land in Siskiyou County, over the direct protest of the residents and local governments.

Which, I might add, is why Congress, and not the President, is given the authority under the Constitution to manage the Federal lands.

One more question maybe for the future edification of Mr. Beyer.

These restrictions have not only killed our forests, they have destroyed the economies of our local communities that used to thrive on the harvest of surplus timber.

The Antiquities Act provides the President the authority to designate national monuments on Federal land containing 'historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest.'

I think the whole concept with the monuments, which I would not have nearly the problem with, is the size of the designations.

The previous administration prioritized legacy building over the lives and livelihoods of small, rural communities.

The purpose of the Act was to give presidents the ability to quickly protect archeological sites from looting.

This Subcommittee has set three over-arching principles for this Congress: To restore public access to public lands; to restore sound management to public lands; and to restore the Federal Government as a good neighbor to local communities…

It is appalling that non-local voices have drowned out those who treasure this land the most.

no one person should have the authority to lock up millions of acres of land with the stroke of a pen.

I think it is important to remember that the Antiquities Act has historically always been a strongly bipartisan piece of public policy.

Based on this direction, their position in Siskiyou County, the designation is a misuse of the Act, and does not follow the spirit and intent of the Act.

The order by President Trump to review monument designations will shed new light on the over 500 million acres that the Administration previously unilaterally imposed Federal control over.

I think that the legislation moves in the direction that we need to go.

I hail from the central coast of California, the 20th congressional district there--Monterey, Santa Cruz, Salinas, what I would consider one of the most beautiful areas in the Nation.

But there is no option to not fly is the big difference here.

if you don't, just like Mr. Gibbs said, like Mr. Capuano said, we are going to act.