Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-519-8449
The House Natural Resources Committee today will take up legislation by Rep. Bishop that would essentially gut the Antiquities Act. The bill, HR 3990, would create a de-facto ‘no more parks’ policy.
The legislation is a continuation of the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to sell out public lands to corporate polluters-- attempts also to be addressed by the committee today as it takes up legislation from Rep. Grijalva, H. Res. 555, to force President Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke to make public information related to Zinke’s sham review of national monuments across the country.
In response Senior Director of Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign Lena Moffitt issued the following statement.
“The country is already facing the largest proposed rollback of public land protections in U.S. history. Now Rep. Bishop wants to go even further and prevent parks and monuments from being created at all.
“Under Bishop’s vision, beloved places like the Grand Canyon and Muir Woods would not warrant protection. Acadia, Grand Teton, Arches and Olympic National Parks would fail the test as well. Even Upper Missouri River Breaks in Montana, affirmed by Secretary Zinke, would not make the cut.
“Bishop, Zinke and Trump are racing to sell out our country’s public lands to oil and gas companies, while the rest of the country wants to see them protected for future generations.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.