Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-519-8449
WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands is holding a hearing today on national monuments. The hearing furthers the agenda put forward by Donald Trump in an Executive Order last week ordering the review of national monuments designated since 1996. The Executive Order is the first step in efforts to roll back or eliminate protections for America’s parks and other public lands.
Prior to the hearing House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva and a diverse group of organizations held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to underscore the widespread opposition to Trump’s Executive Order.
In response Athan Manuel, director of public lands protection for the Sierra Club issued the following statement:
“This hearing would be silly if the threats it posed to our national parks, monuments and public lands weren’t so serious. Stacked testimony and showmanship will not overshadow the tremendous public support for protected public lands like Bears Ears National Monument. Public lands deliver very real health, economic and natural benefits to communities across the country that we cannot afford to ignore."
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