HECHO Statement on Congress’s Attempt To Revoke the Antiquities Act

U.S. Representatives Celeste Maloy (UT-02) and Mark Amodei (NV-02) introduced the Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act in the House of Representatives. If passed, this legislation would repeal the Antiquities Act of 1906, removing the President's power to designate National Monuments and requiring that only Congress can establish or extend them. 

It is a longstanding American tradition to protect cultural heritage and historical landscapes through the designation of national monuments. Across the southwest, Hispanics have, for generations, understood the value of this tradition and the role it plays in protecting beloved lands that instill a deep sense of belonging and place. This sense, referred to as "querencia," drives our stewardship and responsibility to conserve our public lands and waters for future generations. 

"Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) firmly supports the Antiquities Act as a vital conservation tool to safeguard federal public lands and waters with cultural, historical, and ecological significance to our nation. Since it was signed into law, the Antiquities Act has transcended political boundaries, with an equal number of Republican and Democratic presidents using it to designate National Monuments," said Camilla Simon, executive director of HECHO. “Recent national monument proposals have been developed through locally-driven processes. When communities speak up to protect special places, and Congress fails to act, the Antiquities Act provides the President with the power to respond by designating those special lands as national monuments.” 

There are many benefits to national monument designation, including boosting and diversifying local economies, securing and expanding recreational opportunities, and protecting precious and irreplaceable cultural and natural resources.   

HECHO has written extensively about the benefits of the Antiquities Act of 1906 here. HECHO is urging the public to share their opposition to ending the Antiquities Act with their member of Congress.