Political Quotes

“I want to thank my friend from Washington for yielding and for bringing this bill forward. We are seeing an abuse of the Antiquities Act where you have got a President using this law to shut off more areas of Federal land to things like energy exploration. That is not what this law was intended to do. In fact, I think, if you look at the reforms that are included in this law, they are very good and responsible in ensuring that a President still has the ability to designate monuments where appropriate, one in each State for a Presidential term. If there is some monument that warrants being designated a national monument, that opportunity is still there. You just have to come and talk to Congress. I know this President has a hard time working with Congress, but we are right here. He talks about he has got a pen and a phone. Pick up the phone, Mr. President. You can call us, and if it makes sense, we are going to work with you to get it done; but don't abuse the Antiquities Act to go and cordon off Federal land, so that we can't explore for energy and for other great resource needs. I think it is important that we finally put the brakes on this Presidential land grab that we are seeing. I encourage all my colleagues to support this legislation.”