Gianforte votes with House GOP to revamp law on national monuments

By Matthew Daly
Helena Independent Record
October 11, 2017
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are moving to restrict the president’s ability to protect millions of acres of federal land considered historic, geographically significant or culturally important. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said presidents of both parties have misused the 1906 Antiquities Act to create oversized monuments that hinder energy development, grazing and other uses. Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, introduced a bill that would prevent presidents from designating monuments larger than 85,000 acres and grant veto power to states and local officials for monuments larger than 10,000 acres. The GOP-controlled resources panel approved the bill Wednesday, 23-17, sending it to the House floor.

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