John,
We were devastated when, two years ago tomorrow, President Trump eliminated 85% of Bears Ears and nearly half of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
And then, just this past fall, the administration released management plans that confirmed our worst fears — they plan to open up what’s left of these irreplaceable places to drilling and mining.
These attacks will have monumental consequences for public lands. Tens of thousands of archeological sites, Native American sacred sites, and recreational lands are at risk of irreversible damage and harmful resource extraction.
These plans are unacceptable, and will go into effect soon. We must stop the administration from handing over the remaining portions of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments to private corporations to pillage for their own benefit.
We cannot allow the Trump administration to sell off Bears Ears or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments to the highest bidder. That’s why we’re working to build support for two bills — the Bears Ears Expansion and Respect for Sovereignty Act (H.R. 871) and the Antiquities Act (S. 367 and H.R. 1050) — that will help us fight back against these outrageous attacks.
The Bears Ears Expansion and Respect for Sovereignty Act will bar the administration from placing these public lands in the hands of corporations, expand the monument to 1.9 million acres, and restore protections for over 100,000 archeological and cultural sites currently at risk.
The Antiquities Act will not only protect National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996, but also states that presidents cannot revoke or cut-back these precious lands without congressional approval.
Allowing any part of these lands to fall into the wrong hands will do irreversible damage to Utah’s iconic landscape. With Congress back in session, we need to get them back on track to pass these bills. Urge your members of Congress to support these National Monument bills now!
We don’t have a moment to waste. The administration’s management plans will go into effect soon. We need all of our supporters and activists to show support for these bills. John, please urge your members of Congress to make the Bears Ears Expansion and Respect for Sovereignty Act and the Antiquities Act bills priorities today!
Thank you for taking action, John. Your activism is essential in our efforts to bar corporations from irreparably damaging the public lands we hold dear.
Jordan Schreiber
Director of Advocacy, The Trust for Public Land
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