John Curtis

I know--I would like to think I know how a lot of these businesses think, and you will not be surprised that many of them find institutions difficult to navigate.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, for this opportunity for this critical conversation and this very important bill.

I must admit, as I have listened to the testimony today, my heart has raced and my palms have grown sweaty because not too many years ago I was an owner of a small business.

I thank Congressman Garrett for his leadership on this issue and for arranging this today. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a few minutes to express my concern about the way the Government of Iran has trampled on the rights of its people to…

And I would also remind everybody that none of the designation of the national monument under President Obama happened on tribal lands.

This bill empowers Utah's local tribes and community leaders to properly manage these areas.

I think we all understand the importance of local control and local input, certainly as we have responsibilities.

When the United States abdicates its government-to-government relationship to local individuals, it demeans the Hopi Tribe and the historical relationship the United States has with the Hopi Tribe.

By giving Congress--and not the President--authority over public land, our Constitution guarantees that all voices will be heard when a decision affecting millions of acres of land is made.

Late last year, President Donald Trump issued an unlawful order to repeal the Bears Ears National Monument and replace it with two smaller monuments, leaving nearly 85 percent of the original monument unprotected.

But I want to remind the Committee that it was Federal land before President Obama designated a national monument.

This bill is a management plan that protects the area.

This bill will protect lands in southeastern Utah, in my district, and it will do it the right way.

I want to make clear the point that the Bears Ears Commission is kept fully intact in this bill.

I also believe that moving swiftly to find solutions is critical.

That is a net increase in their ability to participate in the management of those lands.

It is important to note this bill precludes any type of mining or development of oil or gas within the boundaries of the 1.35 million acres of the original Bears Ears Monument.

This bill will create the first-ever tribally co-managed national monument.

the Tribe objects to the extremely short notice for the meeting.

If you don't do anything, and you shoot down the bill, guess what? You are still going to have one person for every 1 million acres. It is ridiculous.

Absolutely. We have heard today a number of positive comments about the legislative process.

we cannot assist you in its destruction.

While it is difficult to overstate how politicized the creation and management of our national monuments has become, I believe all sides of this debate share many common goals, where we can still work together to protect this area for…

H.R. 4532 leaves three of the five major tribes connected to the original Bears Ears National Monument designation as a part of the new management council, which would result in the exclusion of the Hopi Tribe.

Hopi people have been associated with Bears Ears for thousands of years.