Bears Ears National Monument Expansion Act is Ray of Hope

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Gallego today introduced legislation to preserve the Bears Ears National Monument and to expand safeguards for areas important to Tribal Nations that were left out of the original designation. The legislation comes as leaked documents show the Trump administration is planning massive reductions to Bears Ears National Monument, cutting the monument by 85%. Also on the chopping block is Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which could be cut by half.

In response Sierra Club Utah and Arizona Chapters issued the following statements:

“We commend Congressman Gallego's efforts to preserve and protect the Bears Ears National Monument. This is exactly the type of leadership that we should be seeing from from all of our elected officials. This bill, which defends the integrity of our current monument designation, also expands it to respect the wishes of Tribal Nations. The Utah Sierra Club and our thousands of members and allies statewide, remain committed to protecting these sacred lands from attack and support all efforts in their defense -- of which this legislation is integral,” said Utah Chapter Director Ashley Soltysiak.

“Arizonans are lucky to have public lands, including places such as Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro national parks, and to have Rep. Gallego in Congress who is willing to work for their defense. With the Trump administration initiating an all-out assault on national monuments, proposing to eviscerate Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in our neighboring state, the legislation is vital. People in our state have consistently supported protection of public lands and understand how important they are for the habitat and cultural resources they protect, as well as for the economic benefits,” said Sandy Bahr director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter.