Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today delivered remarks on the Senate floor emphasizing the importance of our national monuments.

Bennet discussed the irony in President Trump's claim that monuments designations are an "egregious abuse of federal power."

"For all their rhetoric about Washington overreach, this Administration and its allies in Congress seem to have no problem substituting their rash judgment for the thoughtful, community-driven designations of national monuments across the United States of America," Bennet said.

"Had they studied this issue at all, they would have learned that existing monument designations come from exhaustive consultation," Bennet continued. "Hundreds of meetings over thousands of hours. Unlike this Administration, Western communities did our homework. We laid the groundwork and paved the way for these designations."

Bennet also highlighted the economic significance of national monuments, stating that they strengthen rural communities by supporting outdoor economies and attracting visitors from around the world.

Repealing national monument designations "would cause real economic pain to Western states--especially in rural areas," Bennet said. "If this Administration is serious about creating jobs and strengthening our economy...it should keep our national monuments intact and uphold the traditions honored by every president since 1906."

Yesterday, Bennet responded to President Trump's Executive Order reviewing the Antiquities Act with a statement condemning the Order, and a letter written with 30 other Senators to the President.

Click HERE to watch the video of his full remarks.
Click HERE to read the full remarks on Medium.