Legislative Hearing: Hearing on H.R. 4532

Federal Lands Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM Location: Longworth House Office Building 1324

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:

  • H.R. 4532 (Rep. John Curtis), To create the first Tribally managed national monument, and for other purposes. “Shash Jáa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act” 

DEMOCRATIC TOPLINE MESSAGES:

  • H.R. 4532 abolishes the Bears Ears National Monument established by President Obama and replaces it with two new national monuments that represent an over 80% reduction in total acres.
  • The immediate introduction and swift committee consideration of H.R. 4532 confirms that the Utah delegation wants to rush this bill through Congress to shield it from agency review and invalidate legal claims against President Trump’s dissolution of Bears Ears National Monument. This demonstrates clear lack of confidence in the legality of the President's decision. 
  • The elimination of Bears Ears National Monument and massive acreage reduction leaves critical cultural, historic, and scientific resources without protection. Tribes fought for years to protect this area and this completely ignores their concerns.
  • While this bill purports to create the first ever tribally-managed national monument, it sidelines tribal sovereignty and gives the State of Utah and the Utah delegation undue influence over tribal representation.

Witnesses

Panel I

  1. The Honorable John Curtis
    Member of Congress
    Utah's 3rd District

Panel II

  1. The Honorable Shaun Chapoose
    Ute Tribal Business Committee Member
    Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
  2. The Honorable Gary Herbert
    Governor
    State of Utah
  3. The Honorable Rebecca Benally
    Commissioner
    San Juan County, Utah
  4. Matt Anderson
    Director, Coalition for Self-Government in the West
    San Juan County, Utah