Bill Summary
This joint resolution is a formal disapproval by Congress regarding a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The rule in question includes a Record of Decision and an Approved Resource Management Plan, which were issued on January 13, 2025. The resolution states that Congress, after reviewing the rule and a related opinion from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) dated January 15, 2026, has determined that this rule constitutes a regulatory action under the Congressional Review Act. Consequently, the resolution asserts that the rule will have no legal effect, effectively nullifying the BLM's management plan for the monument.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the congressional disapproval of the Bureau of Land Management's rule regarding the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument could affect people:
1. **Environmental Impact**: Disapproving the resource management plan may lead to reduced protections for the natural environment in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area. This could result in increased development and resource extraction activities, such as mining or logging, which could degrade habitats, threaten endangered species, and diminish recreational opportunities for visitors.
2. **Economic Consequences for Local Communities**: The decision could alter the economic landscape for local communities that rely on tourism and outdoor recreation. If the land becomes more accessible for extraction activities, it may deter tourists who value the area's natural beauty and ecological significance, potentially leading to a decline in local businesses that cater to visitors, such as hotels, restaurants, and tour operators.
3. **Indigenous Rights and Cultural Heritage**: The disapproval of the management plan might affect Indigenous communities who have historical and cultural ties to the land. If resource extraction is prioritized over conservation, it could threaten archaeological sites, sacred lands, and other culturally significant resources, impacting the ability of these communities to preserve their heritage and traditions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 109 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. J. RES. 109
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5,
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land
Management relating to ``Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 4, 2026
Mr. Lee (for himself and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following joint
resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5,
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land
Management relating to ``Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan''.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the
rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ``Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument Record of Decision and Approved
Resource Management Plan'' (issued January 13, 2025, as a record of
decision and approved resource management plan, and a letter of opinion
from the Government Accountability Office dated January 15, 2026,
printed in the Congressional Record on February 25, 2026, on pages
S675-677, concluding that such record of decision and approved resource
management plan is a rule under the Congressional Review Act), and such
rule shall have no force or effect.
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