The bills on today's legislative agenda take important steps to broaden access to the digital world of the future, while also honoring our past by supporting important historical and commemorative sites across the country.

Their residents have an unrivaled interest in ensuring that nearby public lands are properly managed for generations to come.

As Chairman of this Subcommittee, I have worked tirelessly to ensure the perspectives of local communities are included in both the decision-making process and the subsequent management of our Federal lands.

One of the bills we will be considering today, Representative Franklin's bipartisan H.R. 8206, embodies this ethic by preventing an unpopular wilderness designation from being established in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida.

Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the Interior on H.R. 6826.

As the Chairman of Federal Lands, it has been very surprising to me when we hear an administration that talks all the time about, boy, we consult, we coordinate, and we work with the tribes, we always consider them pre-eminently in our discussions when we make decisions, and to see issues like this that fly in the face of those words, that they are actually not consulting with the tribes.

Senator Sarbanes was a tireless champion of preserving Fort Mc Henry throughout his long career.

We must ensure that our national parks are preserved and accessible to all.

Another really consistent message we have heard throughout this Committee is local communities, oftentimes small communities that are near these areas, that they get the opportunity to thrive also.

Congress will be required to reclaim its Title I authority and do the job it was always intended to do under the Constitution.

Executive overreach like this is why many Americans are frustrated with the Federal Government.