House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s unilateral expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument under the Antiquities Act:

 “President Obama has repeatedly taken unilateral action to lock-up federal lands, and now he's doing the same thing to our oceans. There has been significant public opposition to the expansion of this marine monument along with questions about the scientific validity. But instead of going through an open, public review process, the Administration chose to forge ahead and take secret, unilateral action. This is yet another example of the Imperial President moving forward with his plans to impose ocean zoning. The economic consequences of this decision will be grave, further eroding the U.S. seafood industry and harming the well-being of the U.S. territories.”

Note:

Members of the House Natural Resources Committee have introduced and advanced legislation to protect fisheries within monuments and prevent the unilateral designation of marine monuments. 

H.R. 4742, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, introduced by Chairman Hastings, includes a provision that fisheries within a monument of a sanctuary would be managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

H.R. 4988, the Marine Access and State Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Steve Southerland (FL-02), would require Congressional approval of any marine monument designated under the Antiquities Act and require the consent of any affected Governors.