[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STATEMENT ON H.R. 1459

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2014

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 
1459, which would create arbitrary new rules to make it more difficult 
for presidents to protect our national heritage and resources through 
the Antiquities Act.
  The Antiquities Act is a century-old tool that gives the president 
the ability to set aside already-public land for protection as a 
National Monument. Nearly every president since 1906, both Republican 
and Democratic, has used this authority to designate some of our 
nation's most iconic treasures, from the Grand Canyon to Acadia 
National Park. In my own Congressional district, President Eisenhower 
used the Antiquities Act to designate the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 
the first step in a process to preserve what is now a thriving national 
park with a scenic towpath that showcases the rich history and natural 
beauty of the site.
  Antiquities Act designations are good for surrounding communities, 
preserving natural resources, providing outdoor recreation 
opportunities, and boosting tourism. Moreover, the Antiquities Act 
complements, rather than overrides, Congressional action, as Congress 
retains the ability to declare monuments and manage resources for 
presidentially-proclaimed monuments.
  Today's bill places arbitrary limits on designations and needlessly 
complicates the process, making it far more difficult to achieve 
permanent designations of heritage spaces. In the last three years, 
Congress has failed to create even one new unit of the National Park 
System. We should not prohibit the president from taking action to 
conserve public land and protect public resources. I urge a no vote.