Bill Lee: “I rise to speak in support of my amendment No. 3023. The purpose of this amendment is simple--to put in the hands of the…”

“I rise to speak in support of my amendment No. 3023. The purpose of this amendment is simple--to put in the hands of the people the right to decide whether a monument close to them will be designated. My amendment would leave intact the President's authority to designate a monument such that we could protect land from imminent destruction, but it puts a fuse on that. It puts a finite limit on that authority so that within 3 years that monument designation would expire unless both the host State has acted to embrace it and Congress has affirmatively enacted the monument designation into law. The American people demand and deserve nothing less than to have decisions such as these put in the hands of their elected representatives rather than simply handed over to one single official who doesn't stand accountable to the American people. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 3023.”