Alan Simpson: “Mr. Speaker, on November 9, 2000, former President Bill Clinton issued Presidential Proclamation 7373 to expand the…”

“Mr. Speaker, on November 9, 2000, former President Bill Clinton issued Presidential Proclamation 7373 to expand the boundaries of the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Prior to Clinton's proclamation, the monument, which was established by President Coolidge in 1924, comprised 54,440 acres. Former President Clinton's proclamation expanded the boundaries to include approximately 661,287 acres of additional Federal land. The area is managed by the Secretary of Interior through the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The National Park Service manages approximately 410,000 acres of the expansion, while the Bureau of Land Management manages the remaining 251,000 acres. When the monument was expanded, it was understood both by the congressional delegation and by the Governor of the State of Idaho that continued access to hunting would be maintained in the expanded area. However, when the proclamation was issued, hunting was restricted in the area of the expansion which was managed by the National Park Service. Under this legislation, areas that were open to hunting before the expansion will remain open to hunting.”