Bill 119 s 220, also known as the "National Monument Authorization Act," is a proposed piece of legislation that aims to give Congress the exclusive power to create or expand national monuments. Currently, the President has the authority to designate national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906. However, this bill seeks to limit the President's ability to unilaterally establish or enlarge national monuments without the approval of Congress.
The bill would require that any new national monument designation or expansion must be approved by Congress through a formal legislative process. This means that the President would no longer have the authority to designate national monuments on their own, and would instead need to work with Congress to pass a bill authorizing the creation or expansion of a national monument.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is important to ensure that decisions about national monuments are made democratically, with input from elected representatives. They believe that giving Congress the authority to establish or extend national monuments will help to prevent abuse of power by the President and ensure that the interests of local communities and stakeholders are taken into account.
Opponents of the bill, however, argue that it could hinder the ability of the President to protect important natural and cultural resources in a timely manner. They believe that the President should have the flexibility to designate national monuments when necessary to preserve and protect valuable lands and historic sites.
Overall, Bill 119 s 220 raises important questions about the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government when it comes to the designation of national monuments. It will be interesting to see how this bill progresses through Congress and what impact it may have on future national monument designations.