No National Monument Designations Without Congressional and State Support

THE 1906 Antiquities Act give the President the authority to reserve certain areas as National Monuments. Preservation of areas of historical and cultural significance is a good thing. However, President Obama and other presidents have abused this authority and used it as a political tool to circumvent the will of the Congress and local people. In many states it has been used to needlessly restrict public access, harm private property rights and return favors to environmental special interests. Monuments do little to actually protect natural\cultural resources. We call upon the President and the Congress to place restrictions on the use of this authority. No monument should be designated without the consent of the majority of the state's legislature, governor, and congressional delegation