On the recordNovember 2, 2023
This amendment is one more controversial poison pill policy rider that sadly shows that the Republicans are not interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law. The amendment would prohibit the Department of the Interior from removing any monument on land under their jurisdiction. There can be many reasons a monument would need to be removed, such as the health and safety of visitors and staff. This amendment provides no latitude for the Department to steward the land and resources they are responsible for. In 15 days, the government will shut down, yet we are spending time on a bill that will never become law and on this superfluous partisan poison pill rider. We should be focused on creating a bipartisan bill that abides by the agreement reached in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Let's do the job we were elected to do, ensure the American people receive the benefits and services they are entitled to. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
