Chris Stewart: “Today I rise in defense of the people of Utah as I introduce the Utah Land Sovereignty Act, a bill that will prohibit…”

“Today I rise in defense of the people of Utah as I introduce the Utah Land Sovereignty Act, a bill that will prohibit the establishment of national monuments in Utah except by the express authorization of Congress. More than 60 percent of the State is controlled by the Federal Government. This is not uncommon in western States. And now we know that President Obama intends to use the Antiquities Act to further extend these Federal landgrabs. Recently, the former Secretary of the Interior suggested and encouraged him to do this. This is another example of the arrogance of the Federal Government and their cavalier attitude towards those of us in western States. It's time for the President to realize that Federal landgrabs have real consequences for real people. ____________________”