REFERENCE TITLE: national parks; monuments; protection

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCR 1014

Introduced by Senators Dalessandro: Cajero Bedford, Contreras, Farley, Hobbs, Mendez, Miranda, Peshlakai, Quezada

 

A CONCURRENT resolution

 

supporting the protection of national parks and monuments in arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, Arizona is home to 22 national parks, which were visited by over 13 million people in 2017, and five Bureau of Land Management national monuments; and

Whereas, national parks generate $996 million in economic benefit from tourists and support over 15,000 jobs in the state; and

Whereas, on December 4, 2017, the President of the United States reduced the size of Bears Ears National Monument by 85 percent and shrank the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by half, marking the largest reversal of national monument protections in U.S. history; and

Whereas, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act of 1906, landmark legislation that is considered to be the bedrock of conservation and preservation efforts in the United States; and

Whereas, in the 110 years since the Antiquities Act was signed, 16 of 19 presidents have used the Act to designate national monuments, including Grand Canyon National Park.

Whereas, legislative history demonstrates that presidents have the authority to designate, but not abolish, national monuments.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature express their dedication to defending the national parks and monuments in Arizona, their opposition to further reducing national monuments and their commitment to protecting public lands.