Heinrich To Lead Press Conference Highlighting Overwhelming Public Support For National Monuments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 11 at 10:30 a.m. MT/ 12:30 p.m. ET, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), will lead a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol with a number of Senate Democrats and public lands and community coalitions on President Donald Trump's executive order that could unravel dozens of America’s national monuments despite the strong outpouring of support from across the nation. The Senators and other speakers will call on President Trump and Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to listen to the American people and keep existing monument protections in place.
With the public comment period closing at midnight tonight, a coalition of organizations announced the submission of over 2 million comments in support of America’s national monuments. The monument review threatens public lands and national monument designations including the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments in New Mexico.
Last week, Senator Heinrich sent letters to Secretary Zinke regarding the history of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments, which enjoy broad public support and were created after extensive consultation with and input from local communities.
WHO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
Hispanic Access Foundation President and CEO Maite Arce
League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski
National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Collin O’Mara
WHAT: Press Conference Highlighting Overwhelming Public Support for National Monuments
WHEN: Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. MT/12:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Outside U.S. Capitol Building (Senate Swamp) and via livestream.