Congressional Delegation News:ALBUQUERQUE ― As the deadline nears for U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to complete his review of national monuments created under the Antiquities Act, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham urged him one more time to respect the wishes of thousands of New Mexicans who cherish Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks national monuments, and leave them intact.
“The voices of New Mexicans could not be clearer – our national monuments are vitally important to our history and are part of the living culture of local tribes and pueblos. Our local communities worked for decades to ensure that permanent protections for our national monuments would be in place for the use and enjoyment of future generations,” the lawmakers wrote. “We strongly urge you to honor the views from New Mexicans who love the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments.”
The lawmakers have made the case to Zinke numerous times in person, during congressional hearings and in writing that the monuments – in their current form – are significant drivers of New Mexico’s economy, attracting visitors from around the world who visit, shop, and stay in local communities while they enjoy exceptional hiking, hunting and fishing, and learn about the cultural and historical sites preserved in the monuments.
Communities, including Taos, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces, have held rallies and special events to raise awareness about the review and demonstrate to Zinke the strong widespread support the monuments enjoy.
For example, more than 600 local residents, sportsmen, veterans, Hispanic leaders, members of tribes and faith groups, and business and community leaders packed a town hall meeting in Las Cruces to express how much they cherish Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks.
“You invited the American people to participate in two public comment periods and over 90 percent of the more than 2.7 million responses supported keeping or expanding our existing national monuments. The public has spoken loudly and clearly to protect — and not alter or eliminate — national monuments,” the lawmakers wrote. “We encourage you to end your review with a recognition and renewed commitment to properly care for and manage all of our national monuments as designated under the Antiquities Act, and not to make changes that would damage and degrade their unique values.”
Full text of the letter is here.