Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act
This bill, titled the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act, would amend the Antiquities Act to insert a mandatory congressional review window into the process of designating national monuments or reserving land. Under the measure, a national monument designation (or land reservation) would automatically be limited to a 6-month period or end of the current Congress, unless Congress extends or modifies it by statute. If the designation is not extended or modified during that period (or rejected by statute), the land could not be included in future national monument designations under this act for 25 years. The goal is to require explicit congressional action for ongoing or future monument designations, effectively adding a formal oversight and delay mechanism.
Key Points
- 1Creates a new subsection (c) of the Antiquities Act (54 U.S.C. 320301) adding a time limit on monument designations.
- 2A national monument designation or land reservation is effective only until the earlier of: (a) six months after establishment/reservation, or (b) the last day of the Congress in session at the time of establishment/reservation.
- 3If the monument designation or land reservation is not extended or modified by statute during that period, or is rejected by statute, the land may not be included in the extension or establishment of a monument under this section for 25 years.
- 4Requires legislative action (extension or modification by statute) for continuing or enlarging a monument beyond the initial period.
- 5The bill renumbers certain subsections of the Antiquities Act (designating the new language as subsection (c) and adjusting subsequent subsections accordingly).