Melanie Stansbury

We are facing real challenges in this country, and the Department of the Interior... are doing everything from managing fish and wildlife to our national parks.

Telework and remote policy actually works, and it works well.

I am also deeply concerned with findings that the National Park Service is not adequately monitoring completed deferred maintenance projects, particularly projects that immediately affect the health, life, and safety of members of the…

As we all know, every year hundreds of millions of people visit our national parks seeking refuge, adventure, connection with the outdoors, and for cultural practices.

There are legitimate questions here, public policy questions about where we spend our money in the near term and the long term.

I am a huge proponent of Federal R&D to help support economic growth and opportunity.

If we don't take immediate action, literally right now, in the next several years, we are not going to have a planet to live on.

If we are going to talk about Members of Congress being compromised by elite interests from other countries, how about we talk about members of this Committee who take campaign donations from multi-national mining companies that the…

Space mining, if it does transpire, is not in the immediate future.

I agree with the Chairman that we absolutely have to address our critical minerals issues.

Should we be spending millions, billions of dollars to pursue R&D to subsidize private companies who are going to go then and capture those resources and use them for their own profits?

Our role is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

This is about Indigenous people who have lived on these lands for thousands of years who suddenly have air traffic in their backyard while they are conducting religious ceremonies.

I think it is important.

Just 2 weeks ago, we had a hearing on a bipartisan veterans bill that myself and Representative Ciscomani have introduced to actually increase access for our veterans and disabled individuals in our community to our national parks.

I would ask that our fellow Congressman show appropriate decorum to an elected tribal official who has, at his own expense, come to testify before Congress to share his perspective.

The economic impact shouldn't really be involved here, this is more important.

It is very important for us that our communities have a seat at the table in any kind of consultation regarding our national parks.

For us in New Mexico, our public lands are Indigenous lands. They are the historic lands of our communities.

As we all know, our national parks play an essential role in preserving our most treasured landscapes, our cultural landscapes, our historic, natural, and cultural resources.

No one should miss out or be left behind--these lands should be accessible to all.

I appear before you today in support of the bipartisan Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act, led by Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico and Congressman Juan Ciscomani of Arizona.

America's public lands are for everyone, regardless of who you are and how you access them.

This bill would direct the United States Forest Service and Department of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive assessment of accessibility options.

Every day is Veterans Day, and we appreciate your service to our great nation.