Rep. Rob Bishop, Chairman U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources 1324 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Bishop and the House Committee on Natural Resources,
As businesses, sportsmen and recreation organizations that depend on public lands, we stand united in opposition to any legislation or administrative action that would weaken the Antiquities Act and our national monuments. We are particularly opposed to any legislation that would codify the actions taken by President Trump to reduce the size of and eliminate ecological protections for Grand Staircase Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. Our public lands system is a vital piece of our national heritage, providing destinations for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation, as well as important fish and wildlife habitat. Millions of Americans and hundreds of businesses continue to call upon you to protect and defend these treasured landscapes.
During the Department of the Interior’s formal review of national monuments last year, the American public overwhelmingly voiced support for protecting or expanding our national monuments. Deaf to this passionate public input and the respectfully submitted requests of the elected leaders of the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes, President Trump stripped conservation protection from nearly two million acres of public land in Utah.
Several lawsuits have been filed to challenge the president’s proclamation, and any attempt to make his actions permanent through legislation are premature and unacceptable. We oppose the following bills, which are designed to obscure the legal weaknesses of President Trump’s misguided effort to strip protections from these spectacular places:
The National Monument Creation and Protection Act, HR 3990 The Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act, HR 4558 Shash Jaa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act, HR 4532
America’s outdoors bring us together, strengthen bonds with family and friends, and fuel a strong economic engine across the nation. Shielding our national monuments and other public lands and waters from diminished protection will result in stronger rural and urban communities, thriving local economies, robust fish and wildlife populations and a healthier nation.
We are united with Americans across the country and of every political stripe in opposing these three bills. As Secretary Zinke pointed out in his memo to the president at the conclusion of the national monument review process, comments submitted to the Department of the Interior “were overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining existing monuments and demonstrated a well-orchestrated national campaign organized by multiple organizations.” We will continue to urge our leaders to protect our public lands and waters, and encourage you to understand what we already know: that protected public lands are a sustainable investment in our economic future.
Sincerely,
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Land Tawney, President & CEO 59802 – Montana
The Conservation Alliance John Sterling, Executive Director 97701 – Oregon
Patagonia Rose Marcario, CEO 93001 – California
Adventure Travel Trade Association Shannon Stowell, CEO 98272 – Washington
AdventureCORPS Chris Kostman, President 91377 – California
AdventureKEEN Molly Merkle, Chief Operating Officer 35233 – Alabama
All Good Caroline Duell, CEO 93442 – California
American Alpine Institute Dunham Gooding, President and CEO 98225 – Washington
Arc’teryx Thaddeus Kaczmarek, Commercial Director – Americas 84401 – Utah
Backbone Media Nate Simmons, Managing Partner 81623 – Colorado
Backpacker’s Pantry Rodney Smith, President 80301 – Colorado
Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Will Harland, Editor in Chief 28709 – North Carolina
BOCO Gear Kathleen Martin, CEO 80301 – Colorado
Brook Hopper Consulting Brook Hopper, Principal 93003 – California
Chaco Seth Cobb, President 49301 – Michigan
Channel Signal Paul Kirwin, CEO 84060 – Utah
Clif Bar & Company Keely Wachs, Director of Company Affairs 94608 – California
Columbia Sportswear Company Tim Boyle, President & Chief Executive Officer 97229 – Oregon
Deschutes Brewery Michael LaLonde, President & CEO 97702 – Oregon
Duct Tape Then Beer Becca Cahall, Director & Owner 98105 – Washington
Eagle Creek Roger Spatz, President 92008 – California
Elevation Beer Co. Andy Astor, Brand Manager 81242 – Colorado
Farm To Feet Dave Petri, VP Marketing 27030 – North Carolina
Filson Clinton C. Filson, Founder 98134 – Washington
First Lite Kenton Carruth, Owner 83340 – Idaho
Founders Brewing Company Dave Engbers, President 49503 – Michigan
GetOutland LLC Samuel Leone, Founding Partner 43064 – Ohio
Good To-Go David Koorits, Founder 03904 – Maine
GRAYL Travis Merrigan, Co-Founder 98119 – Washington
GU Energy Labs Brian Brennan Gillis, Marketing Communications Manager 94710 – California
Helly Hansen Damien Etchaubard, Marketing Director 98390 – Washington
HOKA, a Division of Deckers Brands Michelle Apodaca, Director, Offices of the Chairman, CEO, COO & CFO 93117 – California
Idaho River Adventures Dustin Aherin, President 83501 – Idaho
Indigitous Larry Pluimer, CEO 98110 – Washington
IPA Connect Andy Marker, President 97031 – Oregon
JAM Collective Julie Atherton, Principal 94129 – California
JanSport Rico Pasqualini, President 94502 – California
KEEN Inc. Tyler LaMotte, Chief Marketing Officer 97209 – Oregon
Kelty Eric Greene, Sr. Vice President/GM 80301 – Colorado
Kiitella Lisa Issenberg, Artist/Owner 81432 – Colorado
Klean Kanteen Jeff Cresswell, Co-owner, Brand Steward 95973 – California
Kokatat Jeff Turner, Sales & Design Manager 95521 – California
Koolaburra, a Division of Deckers Brand Michelle Apodaca, Director, Offices of the Chairman, CEO, COO & CFO 93117 – California
La Sportiva N.A., Inc Johnathan Lantz, President 80301 – Colorado
Last Exit Goods Ryan Mayo, Owner 80020 – Colorado
Merrell Strick Walker, Chief Marketing Officer 49351 – Michigan
Moonhouse Ben Moon, Owner 97135 – Oregon
Mountain Hardwear Joe Vernachio, President 94804 – California
Mountain Khakis Ross J. Saldarini, CEO 28208 – North Carolina
Mountain Safety Research (MSR) Doug Sanders, Vice President 98134 – Washington
NEMO Equipment, Inc. Cam Brensinger, Founder & CEO 03820 – New Hampshire
Nester Hosiery Kelly Nester, CEO 27030 – North Carolina
New Belgium Brewing Company Steve Fechheimer, CEO 80524 - Colorado
New Normal Consulting Geoff O’Keefe, Partner 80302 - Colorado
Nikwax Brian Davidson, President 98107 – Washington
Nite Ize Jennifer Bryan, Sr. Director of Wholesale Services 80301 – Colorado
Northwest Raft Company Zachary Collier, Owner 97031 – Oregon onX Eric Siegfried, CEO 59801 - Montana
Onya Baby Aleshia Rickard, CEO 95062 – California
Osprey Layne Rigney, President 81321 - Colorado
Outdoor Project Jared Kennedy, Co-Founder & COO 97209 - Oregon
Outside In Angela Salido, Owner 97703 - Oregon
Pachner & Associates, LLC Donald Pachner, President 12942 – New York
Pactowl Erik Flink, VP Therm-a-Rest 98134 – Washington
Peak Design Anne Nyborg, Director of Corporate Philanthropy 94107 - California
Perpetual Motion NW David Egan, Owner 98024 – Washington
Picky Bars Matthew Briggs, VP Finance & Operations 97702 – Oregon
Platypus Erik Flink, VP Therm-a-Rest 98134 – Washington
Polartec Gary Smith, CEO 01810 – Massachusetts prAna Russ Hopcus, President 92010 – California
Quick Feat International Glenn M Willard, Managing Partner 97703 – Oregon
Redington Tag Kleiner, VP of Marketing 98110 – Washington
Reef Roger Spatz, President 92008 – California
Revolution House Media Kate Ketschek, Owner 59716 – Montana
RIO Products Tag Kleiner, VP of Marketing 83402 – Idaho
Rising Tide Associates David Costello, Principal 01945 – Massachusetts
RootsRated Media Fynn Glover, CEO 37402 – Tennessee
Royal Robbins Michael Millenacker, CEO 94107 – California
Ruffwear Patrick Kruse, Founder and R&D Director 97703 – Oregon
Rusch Relations Rebecca Rusch, Author, Athlete rygr Brian Holcombe, Principal 81623 – Colorado
Sage Fly Fishing Tag Kleiner, VP of Marketing 98110 – Washington
Sanitas Sales Group Keith Reis, President/Founder 80027 – Colorado
Sanuk, a Division of Deckers Brands Michelle Apodaca, Director, Offices of the Chairman, CEO, COO & CFO 93117 – California
SeaLine Erik Flink, VP Therm-a-Rest 98134 – Washington
Seek Outside Kevin and Angie Timm, Partners 81504 – Colorado
Shift Advantage, Inc. Eric Brody, Principal 97211 - Oregon
Stanley-PMI Michelle Fleming, Marketing Manager 98121 – Washington
Superfeet Eric Hayes, CMO 98248 - Washington
Teva, a Division of Deckers Brands Michelle Apodaca, Director, Offices of the Chairman, CEO, COO & CFO 93117 – California
The Mountain Lab Scott McGuire, President 93546 – California
The North Face Eric Raymond, Senior Manager, Communications and Advocacy 94502 – California
The Petzl Foundation Mark (Roody) Rasmussen, Project Director 84310 – Utah
The Wright Life Holly Wright, Owner 80524 – Colorado
The Zaneray Group, Inc. Penny Porterfield, VP Operations & Business Development 59937 – Montana
Therm-a-Rest Erik Flink, VP Therm-a-Rest 98134 – Washington
Timberland Jim Pisani, Global Brand President 03885 – New Hampshire
UGG, a Division of Deckers Brands Michelle Apodaca, Director, Offices of the Chairman, CEO, COO & CFO 93117 – California
Ultimate Direction Buzz Burrell, Vice President 80301 - Colorado
Uncage the Soul Productions John Waller, Owner 97214 - Oregon
Under Solen Media Emily Nuchols, Owner 97206 - Oregon
Verde Brand Communications Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, President 81301 - Colorado
Wildland Trekking Scott Cundy, Owner 86004 – Arizona
Yakima Products, Inc. Ryan Martin, CEO 97035 - Oregon