WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s review of 27 national monuments, which includes thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Service land, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“I am deeply concerned that the Trump administration has recommended removing protections for some of our most cherished national monuments. It's also totally unacceptable that the administration has refused to release the full report. These are public lands and the public has a right to know when their treasured monuments are on the chopping block.
“Proceeding with these recommendations is irresponsible and betrays our duty as stewards of our public lands and forests. I strongly urge the Trump administration to reject the recommendations and instead work together to strengthen our public lands and forests.“
National monuments are large parcels of public land designated for protection by the president under the authorities of the Antiquities Act of 1906. They are similar to national parks or national wildlife refuges. In June, Stabenow and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) wrote a letter to USDA asking about the Department’s role in the review of monuments containing acreage managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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