Contact: Angela Benander (202) 495-3048 or angela.benander@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (NM-01) and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) reintroduced The ANTIQUITIES Act of 2019, which reiterates current law that presidents do not have the authority to rescind or diminish national monuments and codifies the 52 national monuments established or expanded since 1996 under the Antiquities Act. U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
Reps. Haaland and Gallego recently reintroduced The BEARS Act (H.R. 871), which would restore the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument to the full 1.9 million acre boundary designated by the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition.
In response, Director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program Athan Manuel released the following statement:
“America’s national monuments are treasures that belong to the people. Presidents do not and must not have the authority to diminish these places that contain countless archeological discoveries, cultural sites and sacred lands.
“We are grateful to Senator Udall, Representative Haaland and Representative Gallego for their unwavering commitment to protecting our country’s priceless national monuments and preserving them for generations to come. Millions of Americans have spoken out against the current administration’s illegal actions to cut back more than two million acres of protected public lands. The ANTIQUITIES Act and the BEARS Act would put a stop to the Trump administration’s assault on our public lands. We urge all Members of Congress to join this important effort.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.