Congress May Need to Approve National Monuments Under New Bill

Las Vegas: A federal bill was introduced recently that could shake things up regarding national monuments. The Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act, led by Reps. Mark Amodei from Nevada and Celeste Maloy from Utah, aims to change how the president can designate these areas. If it passes, the president would need Congress’s approval to create a national monument, altering the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Amodei expressed concerns about the Antiquities Act being misused depending on who’s in charge. He believes local communities should have a say in land policies rather than distant bureaucrats. Recently, President Biden used this act to protect significant lands in Nevada and California, claiming he’s conserved more land than any president before him.

However, some Republicans, including Trump, have criticized the Antiquities Act, raising fears about potential reviews of past designations. Maloy pointed out that presidents have overstepped their authority, designating vast areas without proper oversight. Conservationists see the act as crucial for protecting sacred and ecologically sensitive lands.

Mathilda Miller from the Native Voters Alliance Nevada called the new bill a betrayal, emphasizing the community support for Avi Kwa Ame. She argued that this legislation threatens Tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation, urging Congress to reject it. Miller stressed that the promise to protect these lands must not be broken.