Orrin Hatch: “nearly 2 years ago, President Clinton announced, from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the formation of the country's…”

“nearly 2 years ago, President Clinton announced, from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the formation of the country's newest national monument, the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument in southern Utah. Because of the clandestine manner by which the Administration made this decision and planned its announcement, what should have been cause for celebration among Utahns resulted in feelings of exploitation and abuse. Public trust in our federal government reached an all time low in southern Utah, and many wounds inflicted then still exist today. Today, I am introducing legislation, along with my colleague Senator Bennett, which, if passed, will help restore trust in our government and assist the healing process among our rural citizens in Utah. The Utah Schools and Lands Exchange Act of 1998 codifies a recently signed agreement brokered by the Secretary of Interior, Bruce Babbitt, and Utah Governor Michael Leavitt to exchange Utah School Trust lands located within Utah's national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and forests for cash and federal assets in other parts of Utah. The collaboration that should have taken place prior to the establishment of the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument has finally taken place to mitigate one of the severest impacts of that presidential declaration.”