Unlike most states in our Union, nearly 70 percent of the state of Utah is owned by the Federal and state government.

we cannot assist you in its destruction.

I think we all understand the importance of local control and local input, certainly as we have responsibilities.

Removing the Hopi Tribe from an integral role in the management of these important areas puts western development and beliefs over the beliefs of the Hopi people.

H.R. 4532 leaves three of the five major tribes connected to the original Bears Ears National Monument designation as a part of the new management council, which would result in the exclusion of the Hopi Tribe.

Hey, I hear some things here maybe we need to take a look at.

Representative John Curtis' bill creates an Archeological Resources Protection Unit for each monument and, additionally, mandates that at least 10 law enforcement personnel be assigned to each monument.

I also believe that moving swiftly to find solutions is critical.

While it is difficult to overstate how politicized the creation and management of our national monuments has become, I believe all sides of this debate share many common goals, where we can still work together to protect this area for…

By giving Congress--and not the President--authority over public land, our Constitution guarantees that all voices will be heard when a decision affecting millions of acres of land is made.

But I want to remind the Committee that it was Federal land before President Obama designated a national monument.

the Tribe objects to the extremely short notice for the meeting.

Late last year, President Donald Trump issued an unlawful order to repeal the Bears Ears National Monument and replace it with two smaller monuments, leaving nearly 85 percent of the original monument unprotected.

I want to make clear the point that the Bears Ears Commission is kept fully intact in this bill.

This bill is a management plan that protects the area.

This bill creates long-term certainty for my constituents.

If you don't do anything, and you shoot down the bill, guess what? You are still going to have one person for every 1 million acres. It is ridiculous.

And I would also remind everybody that none of the designation of the national monument under President Obama happened on tribal lands.