WHEREAS, The Antiquities Act of 1906 (Public Law 59-209) authorizes the President of the United States to designate as national monuments any historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are located on land owned or controlled by the federal government; and
WHEREAS, President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt first used the act in 1906 and 16 former Presidents in the last 111 years, of whom 8 were Republicans and 8 were Democrats, have used the Antiquities Act to protect the natural, cultural, and historic heritage of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The designation of national monuments is a uniquely American idea that celebrates and memorializes our nation’s historical, cultural, and natural heritage, helps define who we are as Californians and as a nation, and provides additional protections for public lands that are held in trust for all Americans and future generations; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-two national monuments in California have been designated under the act to protect and preserve the cultural, historical and ecological values of public lands, including: Cinder Cone (now part of Lassen Volcanic National Park), Lassen Peak, Muir Woods, Pinnacles, Devils Postpile, Cabrillo, Lava Beds, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Channel Islands, California Coastal, Giant Sequoia, Cascade-Siskiyou, Carrizo Plain, World War II Valor in the Pacific Tule Lake Unit, Ford Ord, César E. Chávez, San Gabriel Mountains, Berryessa Snow Mountain, Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and Castle Mountains national monuments; and
WHEREAS, Protected federal public lands and waters support thousands of jobs in gateway communities in California and across the country; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that local economies surrounding permanently protected areas such as national monuments expand after establishing a monument, increasing per capita personal incomes; and
WHEREAS, The designation of recent national monuments and other federal protected public lands will continue to increase tourism and economic development throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, Outdoor recreation generates $85 billion in annual consumer spending and over 730,000 jobs in the State of California and approximately $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, Protected federal public lands and waters provide diverse outdoor recreation opportunities for hikers, campers, equestrians, mountain bikers, legal off-highway vehicle users, skiers, hunters, anglers, birders, rock collectors, botanists, and others; and
WHEREAS, Protected federal public lands encompass sites, artifacts, and landscapes of great cultural and religious significance to Native Americans such as ancestral villages, burial grounds, lands that supply traditional foods and medicines, and historic trails; and
WHEREAS, Protected federal public lands and waters help maintain healthy ecosystems and preserve invaluable habitat for plants and wildlife, including habitat for sensitive species recognized by the State of California and the United States government; and
WHEREAS, Healthy ecosystems provide greater water quality, air quality, and climate resilience and adaptability, which are vital priorities for the State of California; and
WHEREAS, Healthy ecosystems are also vital to healthy communities, and protected outdoor areas provide valuable education and research opportunities for youth and academia, and mental health benefits to communities such as veterans; and
WHEREAS, Protected federal public lands provide world-class hunting and fishing opportunities in the State of California and for Californians nationwide; and
WHEREAS, The beneficial use of renewable land, water, and wildlife resources is essential to the long-term economy of this state; and
WHEREAS, The management of national monuments is guided by plans developed with input from state, local, and tribal governments, members of the public, and other stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, The values of the State of California include “historic diversity, scientific advancement, economic output, and sense of global responsibility,” and these values are advanced by the permanent protection of public lands; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That it is the sense of the Legislature that America’s protected federal public lands are a national treasure that belong to all Americans, which should be maintained for future generations; and that those protected federal public lands in the State of California are integral to the history, culture, economy, natural environment, and values of the state and for which California is globally renowned; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, to protect federal public lands and the economic, historical, cultural, and ecological values that they provide for Americans; support the enactment and use of the Antiquities Act of 1906 as a critical tool for protecting the public good by authorizing the designation of national monuments under the Antiquities Act; and honor and protect the integrity of all national monuments as they have been designated by Presidents since 1906; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States and to the Secretaries of the United States Departments of the Interior and Agriculture.