Rob Bishop

It is appalling that non-local voices have drowned out those who treasure this land the most.

Grassroots Utah Navajo people do not support this effort to convert our sacred lands into a Federal designation.

Traditional Utah Navajo people are not conspiring with lawyers in boardrooms in Salt Lake and San Francisco.

Bears Ears National Monument campaign is a cynical political stunt that, if successful, will deny grassroots Utah Navajos access to their sacred and spiritual grounds.

We specifically disclaim the notion put forward by various environmental groups that their creation, the Dine Bikeyah, speaks for all local Navajos--they do not.

The National Monument would prevent San Juan County Navajos and Ute Tribes from using the lands for the practicing of ceremonies, spiritual rejuvenation, gathering of herbs, firewood, cedar poles/posts, hunting, and caretaking of sacred…

Never in my years of Congress have I seen such a concerted effort to suppress the voices of local tribes by powerful, deep-pocketed opponents.

Utahns are proud of our public lands. We love their grandeur and beauty.

Indeed, the ESA has become a lawyer's dream.

That is a priority that I expect the full Natural Resources Committee, under Chairman Bishop's leadership, to explore later this Congress.

If you don't, tough. It still is a national asset.

Thank you for holding today's important hearing on marine protected areas and monuments.

Was it ever received by those groups with whom you had discussions?

Let me ask unanimous consent to put into the record the announcement of the lawsuit done by the Pacific Legal Foundation over exactly your point on lands and water.

The fishing prohibitions in these unilateral monument declarations are not based on established, accepted science.

I lied. I do have another UC to submit to the record.

The prohibition of fishing in the monuments be rescinded so that these waters remain open to U.S. fisheries.

What does it say about the integrity of these advisory councils that we asked to actually give input, when it is totally ignored by administrations who make arbitrary decisions.

I have a great deal of respect for the mayor in New Bedford.

ATA strongly supports the call Chairman Bishop and Congresswoman Amata Radewagen have made in their letter to the President.

The text of the Antiquities Act is clear: Congress explicitly authorized the President to designate 'objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be…

There should be places that are off limits to commercial fishing, just as there are places that are off limits to hunting, drilling, mining, driving, smoking, nude sunbathing and other activities that may have negative consequences for…

Congress gave the President the authority to designate national monuments--on lands already belonging to the taxpayers--because the legislative process can grind to a halt and prevent special places from being protected in time.

For the U.S. Government to do so is a terrible example and precedent for other countries to follow.

He has called the Antiquities Act one of the most evil acts ever created and suggested that anyone who likes the Act should die.