Newscast on KRTV - Great Falls, MT - 6/7/01
Regarding Rep. Rehberg's support for Antiquities Act legislation

Republican Congressmen believe the public needs to be more involved in the process of creating National Monuments.

Montana Representative Dennis Rehberg is co-sponsoring a bill which would amend the 1906 Antiquities Act limiting the President's ability to create Monuments.

It would require states AND Congress to approve any National Monuments of more than 50-thousand acres. Rehberg says it would put the public back in charge of public land.

He points to President Clinton's eleventh hour designation of 377-thousand acres of the Missouri River Breaks as a prime example.

"Over 80-thousand acres of private property were put within this Monument designation. That's a new twist. Taking away people's access and rights to use their land as they have been accustomed to. Private property, it would be like taking away your home without due and adequate consideration and debate."

The National Monument Fairness Act would only allow designations for land deemed to have historical, scientific or archaeological value.