Make a difference by contacting your legislator today!
The Antiquities Act is a foundational, first-of-its-kind conservation law that authorizes presidents to designate national monuments on federal lands and waters that contain historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, or other objects of historic, cultural, or scientific interest. This allows for immediate executive action to permanently protect the nation's most treasured places when Congress is unable to act to safeguard them.
Since Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law in 1906, over 160 national monuments have been designated by 18 presidents, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. The consistent use of the Act is in no small part due to the overwhelming support of voters. The State of the Rockies 2023 Conservation in the West Poll found that 84% of Western voters “support presidents continuing to use their ability to protect existing public lands as national monuments.” Further demonstrating the public's support of these designations, Congress has elevated many national monuments into some of our most cherished national parks.
Despite this widespread popularity, challenges to the Antiquities Act have emerged in the 119th Congress. The Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act, introduced by Representatives Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Mark Amodei (R-NV), would rescind the president's authority to designate national monuments by requiring congressional approval.
In the California deserts, the Antiquities Act has safeguarded crucial open spaces, habitat connectivity, and critical wildlife habitat. The incredibly popular Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks originated as national monuments. These parks, alongside Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails, Castle Mountains and the new Chuckwalla National Monuments serve as strongholds for biodiversity.
We need your help to demonstrate the passion the public has for its national monuments and the Antiquities Act that allowed for their creation! Use the simple form below to make your voice heard and send an email to your elected representatives.