Utah’s congressional delegation (led by Senator Lee & Representative Maloy) have introduced “Joint Resolutions” in Congress that would undo the current Monument Management Plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. These politicians are trying to use an obscure law called the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which only requires a simple majority vote in the House and Senate to pass a joint resolution.
Passage of a joint resolution to throw out the current management plan would be a devastating blow and could turn it into a wildly different place: one where nearly half of the monument is managed to a much lower standard, out-of-control off-road vehicle (ORV) use, landscape-level clearcutting of native pinyon-juniper forests, and other extractive activities are all possible. It would sow confusion and uncertainty and could lead to real and lasting damage. We cannot let this happen.
Both Senator Lee and Rep. Maloy’s offices have recently been sharing “fact sheets” on this effort across Capitol Hill. But they misrepresents the history, economic impacts, and management of the monument – we break down some of the factual inaccuracies in each, below.
* Click on letters below to view larger PDFs.
* Click image below to view larger PDF with active hyperlinks.
A vote in the House of Representatives could be coming quickly on this bill and every vote will matter. This is especially the case if you or someone you know who loves the redrock lives in Montana, Idaho, the Western Slope of Colorado, Nebraska, the greater Philadelphia area (including both Pennsylvania and New Jersey), or Maine. If this is you, please reach out to any member of SUWA’s Grassroots Organizing Team. They can determine if your member of Congress is one who could cast a deciding vote, and help you get more involved.
Here are ways you can join us and fight back:
- Visit our action page and tell your members of Congress (no matter where you live) to vote NO on the joint resolution.
- Watch our recent Emergency Webinar in Defense of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and learn about ways to take effective action from anywhere.
- Reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues who you know also love the redrock, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and southern Utah. Send them a link to our action alert and encourage them to join our email list too!
