On the recordMarch 26, 2014
I thank my colleague for his remarks, but I respectfully disagree. As we know, yet again to reiterate, the Antiquities Act has served our country well for over 100 years, has been used by Presidents, both Democratic and Republican, to designate over 150 national monuments. It was created to allow swift action to conserve high priority public lands when Congress is unable to act. It was not the intention of the Antiquities Act to let Congress dictate which national monuments the President can and cannot create. We have heard from our colleagues from Delaware and New Mexico the robust public input around designating the Antiquities Act. Presidential actions taken under the Antiquities Act are, like all other Presidential actions, exempt from the NEPA process. It would be a radical departure from long practice to subject Presidential action to NEPA. A significant change like this should not be considered on the fly in a manager's amendment without prior debate in the House. {time} 1600 Again, the underlying intent of this amendment was to protect military monuments. I respectfully disagree with my colleague across the aisle. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas). The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.
