House Engrossed antiquities act; exception State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025 HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2012 A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL Urging the United States congress to enact legislation exempting Arizona from further establishment of national lands under the Antiquities Act of 1906 without express authorization by Congress. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
House Engrossed antiquities act; exception
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2012
House Engrossed
antiquities act; exception
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
2025
HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2012
A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL
Urging the United States congress to enact legislation exempting Arizona from further establishment of national lands under the Antiquities Act of 1906 without express authorization by Congress.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
To the Congress of the United States of America: Your memorialist respectfully represents: Whereas, the Antiquities Act of 1906 was intended to preserve historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest. However, since its enactment, presidents have repeatedly misused the privileges of this act by designating enormous parcels of real property; and Whereas, in 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated over 221,000 acres of land in Wyoming for the Jackson Hole National Monument, which led to intense opposition in Wyoming; and Whereas, in 1950, Congress granted Wyoming an exemption from the Antiquities Act that states that no further extension or establishment of national parks or monuments in Wyoming may be undertaken except by express authorization of the Congress; and Whereas, since 1906, presidents have used the Antiquities Act to establish 18 national monuments in Arizona, totaling 3.7 million acres. In Arizona, local, state, tribal and federal governments control over 81% of the land, 50% of which is under federal management, leaving private owners in Arizona only 18% of the land; and Whereas, more national monuments, like the proposed Great Bend of the Gila that stands to span from anywhere between 80,000 and 400,000 acres, continue to diminish the land available for Arizonans; and Whereas, Arizona's strength lies in the value of its public and private lands and the ability of the public to access them; and Whereas, the increasingly egregious monument designations and proposals in Arizona have negatively impacted the state's ability to promote access to public recreation and to develop and maintain critical water resources, manage wildlife, restore habitat and perform wildlife translocations; and Whereas, the subsequent closure or restriction of use of public lands has significantly affected Arizona's economic well-being by limiting this state's ability to maximize economic production across the state; and Whereas, the biggest threat to Arizona is the intrusion and overreach by the federal government onto this state's lands. Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays: 1. That the United States Congress immediately enact legislation that would exempt Arizona from the provisions of the Antiquities Act, similar to the exemption granted to Wyoming. 2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.
To the Congress of the United States of America:
Your memorialist respectfully represents:
Whereas, the Antiquities Act of 1906 was intended to preserve historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest. However, since its enactment, presidents have repeatedly misused the privileges of this act by designating enormous parcels of real property; and
Whereas, in 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated over 221,000 acres of land in Wyoming for the Jackson Hole National Monument, which led to intense opposition in Wyoming; and
Whereas, in 1950, Congress granted Wyoming an exemption from the Antiquities Act that states that no further extension or establishment of national parks or monuments in Wyoming may be undertaken except by express authorization of the Congress; and
Whereas, since 1906, presidents have used the Antiquities Act to establish 18 national monuments in Arizona, totaling 3.7 million acres. In Arizona, local, state, tribal and federal governments control over 81% of the land, 50% of which is under federal management, leaving private owners in Arizona only 18% of the land; and
Whereas, more national monuments, like the proposed Great Bend of the Gila that stands to span from anywhere between 80,000 and 400,000 acres, continue to diminish the land available for Arizonans; and
Whereas, Arizona's strength lies in the value of its public and private lands and the ability of the public to access them; and
Whereas, the increasingly egregious monument designations and proposals in Arizona have negatively impacted the state's ability to promote access to public recreation and to develop and maintain critical water resources, manage wildlife, restore habitat and perform wildlife translocations; and
Whereas, the subsequent closure or restriction of use of public lands has significantly affected Arizona's economic well-being by limiting this state's ability to maximize economic production across the state; and
Whereas, the biggest threat to Arizona is the intrusion and overreach by the federal government onto this state's lands.
Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
1. That the United States Congress immediately enact legislation that would exempt Arizona from the provisions of the Antiquities Act, similar to the exemption granted to Wyoming.
2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.