119-SJRES-109 Journalist Public Summary
A Senate resolution would use the Congressional Review Act to overturn BLM’s 2025 management plan for Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument; if enacted, the plan would have no legal effect and could not be reissued in substantially the same form, setting up a high‑stakes fight between Utah’s delegation and conservation and Tribal groups. (gao.gov)
Public Summary
Headline Summary: Congress is weighing a fast‑track vote to nullify the 2025 management plan for Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument under the Congressional Review Act. (fastdemocracy.com)
What It Does: S.J.Res. 109 would disapprove the Bureau of Land Management’s “Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan,” finalized in January 2025. Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a disapproved rule “shall have no force or effect” and may not be reissued in “substantially the same” form unless Congress later authorizes it. GAO determined on January 15, 2026, that this monument plan is a rule subject to CRA. (blm.gov)
- Utah’s congressional delegation (led by Sen. Mike Lee and Sen. John Curtis) says the 2025 plan is overly restrictive, limits access and local input, and harms rural economies; they argue Congress should review and overturn it. (kuer.org)
- Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and county commissions in Kane and Garfield counties back the resolution, citing effects on grazing, recreation, and small businesses. (mikekennedy.house.gov)
- Conservation groups (e.g., National Wildlife Federation, The Conservation Alliance) oppose using the CRA, warning it would undercut protections, disregard years of public input, and create legal uncertainty for monument management. (nwf.org)
- Tribal voices involved in shaping the plan (via the Grand Staircase–Escalante Inter‑Tribal Coalition) say scrapping it would sideline Indigenous consultation and stewardship priorities. (aspenpublicradio.org)
- Opponents also caution the move could set a first‑of‑its‑kind precedent for undoing a national monument’s management plan via CRA. (kuer.org)
What’s Next: As of March 6, 2026, the resolution has been read twice and referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. To take effect, it must pass both chambers and be signed by the President (or a veto overridden). If enacted, the 2025 plan would be null and could not be reissued in substantially the same form. (fastdemocracy.com)
Discussion