Energy Scorecard

The Senate is poised to consider broad energy legislation, the first of its kind since 2007. S.2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, seeks to address various facets of energy policy, from efficiency standards to power supply and the electric grid. An amendment introduced by Sen. Lee makes the designation of national monuments under the Antiquities Act more democratic. The American Energy Alliance urges all Senators to vote YES on SA 3126.

Under the Antiquities Act, the President can designate land (or waters) as "national monuments," without any Congressional or state input or oversight. According to the act itself, the President is directed to designate land the "limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected." However, the Antiquities Act has since been used to designate arbitrarily large swaths of land—mainly in the West—as National Monuments. Currently 7 million acres in ten western states have been designated as National Monuments.

The use of land designated as a National Monument is severely limited. This land is unable to be used for any sort of resource development and leads to forgone state and federal revenues from royalties, taxes, and general economic growth.

This amendment would not affect the ability of Presidents to designate National Monuments, but would only require subsequent federal and state laws be passed within three years of the land being designated as a national monument, or the designation expires. This promotes greater democratic cooperation and ensures both Congress and the states have a say in how their land is managed. We urge all Senators to vote YES on SA 3126, the Lee Antiquities Act amendment.