Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2014) - Yesterday, President Obama announced that he would unilaterally seize 350,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest to create the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large) along with Western Caucus Member and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statements in response to the announcement:

"The President continues to ignore Western communities by misusing the Antiquities Act to seize Western land," said Chairman Pearce. "The people most affected by the monument designation should have a say in the process. Unilateral executive action is not the answer. Community members have valid concerns regarding the potential for decreased access to recreation and the negative economic implications of this designation. This administration needs to stop closing the door on the western communities who have to live with these designations."

"President Obama has again unilaterally declared -- without adequate public input and over local opposition -- more land as a new National Monument," said Chairman Lummis. "Local business owners in California, the latest victim of the President's designation-happy administration, have said that this designation would result in serious economic effects, but President Obama has chosen to ignore these concerns. The President has no business circumventing Congress yet again to designate yet another National Monument while shutting out local voices in the process."

"Once again this Administration is taking unilateral action without Congressional or public input by naming the San Gabriel Mountains a National Monument," said Majority Leader McCarthy. "This action restricts access to public lands and would put nearly half of the Angeles National Forest under lock and key. I strongly support multiple use of our national forests and other public lands, but this decision severely limits usage. I remain concerned about the impact the San Gabriel Mountain National Monument designation will have on recreation, fire prevention and suppression, and private property, as well as the economic impacts to communities in and around the forest."