Three members of Utah's congressional delegation helped introduce a pair of bills in Washington Thursday that seek to reform the Antiquities Act of 1906.
the state filed against the Biden administration over his decision to reinstate the original sizes of the two Utah national monuments.in the Senate, along with Arkansas Sen. Dan Sullivan, Idaho Sen. Jim Risch and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — all Republicans.
"The text of the Antiquities Act was clear — to protect significant archaeological and historic sites, but to do so with discretion and to ensure that the designated area was confined to the smallest size necessary for their protection," Lee said in a statement. "Regrettably, we have seen designations that far exceed this directive, impacting millions of acres and the lives of many in the West.
It has only been amended twice since 1906, once in 1950 to add a provision for Congressional approval for any future national monuments created or enlarged in Wyoming as Jackson Hole National Monument merged into Grand Teton National Park,