October 16, 2017

Dear Chairman Bishop:

On behalf of Americans for Prosperitys 3.2 million activists in all 50 states, I write in strong support of H.R.
3990, the National Monument Creation and Protection Act. This bill would reform the Antiquities Act to
protect both public lands and the public interest.

The Antiquities Act was passed in 1906 to preserve historical monuments and landmarks. Over its 100-year
history, the Act has been expanded and used far beyond the original intention. The Act states that protected
land shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be
protected. The Obama administration alone designated 34 monuments spanning 550 million acres- a clear
violation of the smallest area requirement set forth in the law.

The federal government now owns and manages over a quarter of the land mass of the United States. The
massive amount of acreage is too much for federal agencies to properly manage; the federal government
currently has a backlog of $18.62 billion in maintenance projects on public lands. Continuing to restrict
millions of acres under the Antiquates Act would only deepen the management problems.

The National Monument Creation and Protection Act realigns the Antiquities Act with its original purpose.
The bill maintains the Presidents full authority to designate a monument, provided that it is under 640 acres.
Any potential designation over 640 acres requires further review under the National Environmental Policy
Act; designations above 10,000 acres require approval of the impacted county commissioners, state
legislators, and governors.

The proposed legislation would be a positive reform to the Antiquities Act. The legislation does not
minimize the significance of national monuments; rather, it restores the intent of the Act to preserve
historical and cultural objects and landmarks while respecting the interests of the surrounding community.

Protecting our nations public lands and historical sites is important, but it must be done in a way that honors
the wishes and needs of community members.

Americans for Prosperity supports H.R. 3990, the National Monument Creation and Protection Act, as it
allows for the protection both of land and the rights of Americans in communities surrounding historic sites.
We appreciate the House Natural Resources Committees vote to move the bill forward, and urge all
Representatives to support the passage of this bill. We look forward to working with you on this important
issue.

Sincerely,

Chrissy Harbin
Vice President of External Affairs
Americans for Prosperity

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) exists to recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and
federal level, helping every American live their dream especially the least fortunate. AFP has more than 3.2 million activists across the nation, a local
infrastructure that includes 36 state chapters, and has received financial support from more than 100,000 Americans in all 50 states. For more
information, visit www.AmericansForProsperity.org.
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