To protect public lands, a bicameral bill introduced on Sept. 14 by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) would require congressional approval for the designation of national monuments.
“It is abundantly clear Congress must prevent more abuses by the Antiquities Act that go against the will of impacted communities,” Rep. Curtis said. “There is no question we can protect our public lands, but that should only be done with broad buy-in and collaboration. This legislation will ensure proper accountability and sustainability of our shared lands.”
Rep. Curtis is the lead original cosponsor of the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act, H.R. 5499, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and 10 other Republican original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA). U.S. Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) also on Sept. 14 introduced companion legislation, S. 2820, in their chamber.
If enacted, the bill specifically would require congressional approval of presidential declarations within six months or before the end of the last session of the Congress it was introduced, whichever comes first, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
If the legislation is not approved by Congress, the monument cannot be designated again by the president for 25 years, the summary says.
“The text of the Antiquities Act was clear – to protect significant archaeological and historic sites, but to do so with discretion and to ensure that the designated area was confined to the smallest size necessary for their protection,” Sen. Lee said. “Regrettably, we have seen designations that far exceed this directive, impacting millions of acres and the lives of many in the West. My bill aspires to bring clarity and balance to this process, honoring both our historic legacy and the voices of affected communities.”