On the recordFebruary 18, 2011
This is a bad amendment, and I urge all of my friends to carefully consider it. Mr. Heller may have an issue in Nevada, and he says he wants to have legislation to require Congress to make these designations, but that's not what's here today. He's wiping out the money to give the President the ability to make these monuments. Look it. We just made one in California on the entire coast of California for all the rocks and islands and is probably the largest monument in the United States. It was overwhelmingly endorsed by all of the communities along the coast. Let local governments be involved in these things so they can petition the President. More Republican Presidents have used this than Democratic Presidents. It affects all of your States. The Grand Canyon was originally a monument before Congress made it a national park. Taking away this tool in the tool box would just leave these lands fallow. They're BLM lands. They're already owned by the Federal Government. They'd have no use. You can't get into the other activities that the others have. This is a great tool. Don't throw it away.
