Apparently, the only people who believe that we shouldn't be designating national monuments are House Republicans.

The Antiquities Act was passed in 1906 to permit exactly what this bill is trying to undermine, allowing for presidents to bypass congressional gridlock and protect critical Federal lands and resources.

My counterparts continue to insist on discussing legislative measures that, first and foremost, conflict with congressional intent and, in my view, contravene public opinion.

The resource management plans that these bills are attempting to stall are still only in the draft phase, so they are in an early stage of their process.

This war on government, this war on our separation of powers will make us all less safe.

there has been a lot of misinformation, I think, about the opportunities for stakeholder input.

they remain draft plans.

Thank you for your consideration of this important legislation.

In fact, annual polls conducted by Colorado College just last year have consistently found that an overwhelming majority of voters, of constituents, of citizens in the West in particular, support monument designations.

I am deeply disappointed that today we are considering legislation that would do the opposite, and that would take us backwards in our efforts to protect and preserve our nation's public lands.

I think it is important for us to kind of clarify for the record.

An example of one of these monuments is in my district. In 2022, President Biden designated the Camp Hale Continental Divide National Monument.

If they succeed, the economic prosperity fostered by President Biden's policies will be lost.

This bill would preclude, prevent, and eliminate the ability of the President of the United States, Republican or Democrat, from taking the step that he did 2 years ago.

We write to urge you to oppose H.R. 6547 offered by Rep. Boebert, which would circumvent a court ordered public process.

I think that is good to hear. And clearly, you all are deeply engaged in a thoughtful process...

Neguse, Hon. Joe, a Representative in Congress from the State of Colorado.

I am so grateful to Congresswoman Leger Fernandez for her leadership in bringing this bill forward.

I think it is disappointing that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to hold up necessary agency action intended to ensure that our lands are being managed appropriately.

impairing and impinging on the hard work done by dedicated career public servants.

Now, it is labeled as 'congressional oversight,' but what this bill essentially does is strip the President of the executive authority to declare national monuments on existing Federal land.

I doubt that that is going to happen. And I hope that this is not par for the course...

I think it crystallizes to me everything that the Antiquities Act is designed to preserve and to protect...

they are welcome to do so, right?

By exerting congressional review over the Antiquities Act, H.R. 5499 threatens the use of an important administrative authority that has conserved wild public lands and waters at risk from development.