February 6, 2018
Senator Udall and Senator Heinrich,
On behalf of the undersigned businesses and chambers of commerce in New Mexico, we want to thank you for your continued leadership in protecting our national monuments. During this time where our public lands are under attack, we are especially grateful for your introduction of S. 2354, America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States Act (ANTIQUITIES Act) of 2018.
We appreciate that the bill codifies into law the boundaries for over 50 national monuments established through the Antiquities Act since 1996, including New Mexico’s Organ Mountain Desert Peaks and the Rio Grande Del Norte, ensuring that that on-going access for hunting, tourism, research, conservation, cultural uses, education, and other activities will continue. Furthermore, the forethought to include legislation that also validates that only Congress has the authority to reduce or diminish national monuments designated by presidents through the Antiquities Act of 1906 is in the true spirit of Theodore Roosevelt.
For more than a decade, the business community in New Mexico has worked to protect our public lands and waters, including Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks (OMDP) and Rio Grande Del Norte (RGDN) national monuments. We have experienced economic benefits from protecting our public lands and we stand together in defense of the national monuments we’ve fought so hard to protect.
Senator Udall and Senator Heinrich, you have led us in every step in this journey as fierce supporters and staunch defenders of our public lands. In this spirit, S. 2354 pushes back on the un-supported attack on national monuments from the Trump Administration and respects the overwhelming desire of millions of Americans who support leaving our national monuments intact.
During the comment period associated with the Trump Administration’s national monument review, more than 2.8 million Americans provided feedback, with 99 percent voicing support to leave our national monuments intact. Over 100,000 comments specifically mentioned national monuments within New Mexico, and many local communities also showed their support. Formal resolutions supporting our national monuments passed by the Doña Ana and Taos county commissions, City of Las Cruces, City of Taos, Town of Mesilla, City of Anthony, and others demonstrates strong community support for leaving OMDP and RGDN as it was originally intended. Thank you for hearing us, and responding in-kind with this bill.
As you know, the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico boasts 99,000 jobs and is worth an estimated $9.9 billion. A recent poll conducted by Colorado College revealed that 92 percent of New Mexico voters view the outdoor recreation economy as important for the economic future of our state and 78 percent view public lands and New Mexico’s outdoor recreation lifestyle as an advantage in attracting jobs here. S. 2354 will help to make sure that these incredible benefits provided to New Mexico and other states from protected public lands provides remain intact.
Thank you for hearing loud and clear that New Mexicans care about public lands and want our national monuments left alone. We applaud and support your America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States Act (ANTIQUITIES Act) of 2018.
Sincerely,
A to Z Services, Oscar Simpson, Albuquerque 87107
A Well-Born Guide/Have Ph.D., Will Travel, Stefanie Beninato, Santa Fe 87505
Action Air Aviation Consulting, Marilyn Allison, Las Cruces 88007
Amacher Consulting LLC, Celerah Hewes, Santa Fe 87501
Black Range Lodge, Catherine Wanek, Hillsboro 88042
Carrigar, JIvan Coelho, Santa Fe 87505
CNP, Jimmie McCraw, Silver City 88061
Cohen & Zedalis LLP, Seth T. Cohen, Santa Fe 87501
Common Ground, Debra Oliver, Santa Fe 87505
Common Thread, Renee Hardy, Taos 87571
Dakini Design, Anna Hansen, Santa Fe 87505
Daniel Allan MD, Las Cruces 88001
Deirdre Price, Grant Writer, Las Cruces 88012
Desert Habitat Designs, Debra Sands-Miller, Las Cruces 88011
Dragonfly School, Nancy Woodward, Santa Fe 87505
Dragonfly, Carin Kelly, Las Cruces 88005
Dragonfly, Tracy Baker, Las Cruces 88005
EcoScapes LLC, Michael Nelsen, Santa Fe 87501
EnergyWorks, Douglas Campion, Las Cruces, 88001
First Eye Films, Reinhard Lorenz, Albuquerque 87110
Flow Homes LLC, Jesse W Deubel, Edgewood 87015
Full Circle Heritage Services, Mark Sechrist, Vado 88072
Gabriel Vasquez, Las Cruces City Councilor District 3, Las Cruces
Gill Sorg, Mayor Pro tem, Las Cruces
Grant County Health Council, Cari Lemon, Silver City 88061
Green Money Journal, Cliff Feigenbaum, Santa Fe 87501
Gutierrez Family Mediation, Elizabeth Gutierrez, Las Cruces 88011
Hamilton Brown MD, Arroyo Seco 87514
Health Alternatives, Joni Newcomer, Las Cruces 88011
Herbs, Etc Inc, Daniel Gagnon, Santa Fe 87507
High Desert Dispatch, Andy Payne, Silver City 88061
Housing Support, Inc, Ken Odenheim, Las Cruces 88011
HTC, Donald Leslie, Las Cruces 88005
Infomanagement, Carla Freeman, Santa Fe 87505
Inn at Santa Fe, Victoria Bruneni, Santa Fe 87507
JACO Outfitters LLC, John Olivas, Holman, 87723
Jim O’Donnell Photography, Jim O’Donnell, Taos 87571
John Jaffe, Library Consultant, Las Cruces 88011
Julie’s Quality Data Services, Julie Mullis, Las Cruces 88001
Knowetal, Therese Patton, Angel Fire 87710
La Cañada, Kerry Heubeck, Ocate 87734
La Posada de Taos, Angela Lewis, Taos 87571
La Puerta, Rose Starsmere, Santa Fe 87501
Land of Enchantment Learning, Janine Johnston, Santa Fe 87505
Las Cruces Academy, Vince Gutschick, Las Cruces 88046
Las Cruces Civic Concert Association. Lucretia Jones 88005
Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce, Carrie Hamblen, Las Cruces 88005
Linda Hall, Event Planner, Las Cruces 88012
Los Rios River Runners, Francisco Guevara, Taos 87571
Lumiere Editions Inc, Charles & Lara Leavitt, Silver City 88061
Marek & Company, Annemarie Marek, Santa Fe 87506
Mariposa Wood Works Inc, Rebecca Malone, Santa Fe 87501
Mindy DeMott LLC, Mindy DeMott, Santa Fe 87505
Modern Design+Construction Inc, Bill Roth, Santa Fe 87505
Mountain Kids! LLC, Katie Macaulay, Santa Fe 87504
Mud Hub Greenhouses, Rod Gesten, Santa Fe 87501
New Mexico PBS, Evy Todd, Albuquerque 87196
New Water Innovations, Audrey Jenkins, Santa Fe 87505
NMSU Office of Sustainability, Joni Newcomer, Las Cruces 88003
NMSU, Ellen Jaffe Castello, Las Cruces 88003
Norman L Fristoe, Accountant, Las Cruces 88005
One Heart Pilates Studio, Kari Andrikopoulos, Santa Fe 87505
Pamela Stein LMT, Santa Fe 87507
Partnership for Responsible Business, Alexandra Merlino, Santa Fe 87504
Phillips Properties, David Phillips, Silver City 88061
Pinon Window & Door Inc, Los Ranchos 87114
Positive Energy-Santa Fe, Maria Hondros, Santa Fe 87505
Positive Energy Solar-ABQ, Lauren Komnick, Albuquerque 87111
Prospera Partners, Vicki Pozzebon, Santa Fe 87505
Reconnect-Today, Melissa Pickett, Santa Fe 87505
REIA, Cynthia B. Hall, Albuquerque 87107
Rob and Charlie’s Bike Shop, Stephen Newhall, Santa Fe NM 87505
Robledo Vista Nursery, Marcy Scott, Las Cruces 88007
Rock Paper Scissor, Melodi Wyss-Feliciano, Santa Fe 87501
Santa Clara Woodworks, Gordon West, Silver City 88061
Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association, Kim Shanahan, Santa Fe 87507
Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce, Glenn Schiffbauer, Santa Fe 87501
SBH Web Design LLC, Steven Harris, Las Cruces 88001
Siemens Industry, Bill Kipnis, Taos 87529
Sims Green Energy Services LLC, Rodney Sims, Alamogordo 88310
Sinuate Media, Leah Messina, Las Cruces 88011
Smart Living Team at Keller Williams Realty, Renee Frank, Las Cruces 88011
Steven Family LLC, Caron Steven, Silver City 88061
SunPower by Positive Energy Solar, Christopher Fortson, Santa Fe 87507
Sunwest on the Plaza, Ann Thomas, Santa Fe NM 87501
Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, Fiona Wong, Santa Fe 87505
Syzygy Tile, Lee Gruber, Silver City 88061
Talking Talons Youth Leadership, Betsy Fulreader, Cedar Crest 87008
Taos Dawn Designs / Dawn Chandler Fine Art, Dawn Chandler, Santa Fe 87505
Taos Ski Valley, Inc, Dawn Boulware, Taos Ski Valley 87525
Teres Kids, Alexandra Merlino, Santa Fe 87501
The Firebird, Gene Butler, Santa Fe 87505
The Reel Life, Nick Streit, Santa Fe 87501
Transformational Light Designs, Dawn Cheney, Las Cruces 88011
Triple L, Ink Graphic Design, Linda Lillow, Albuquerque 87105
Ulis, Ulrike Campbell, Santa Fe 87501
Unsettled Gallery and Studio, LLC, Catherine Smith Brenner, Las Cruces 88001
Vintage Trailer Supply Inc, Steve Hingtgen, Santa Fe 87508
Wayne Carl Huber, Artist, Las Cruces 88005
What the Truck, Victoria Bruneni, Santa Fe 87507
Wild Earth Llama Adventures, Stuart Wilde, Taos 87571
Wild Resiliency Institute, Larry Glover, Santa Fe 87508
Wildlife Conservation Advocacy Southwest, Inc, Guy Dicharry, Los Lunas 87031
WindForce, Inc, Robb Hirsch, Santa Fe 87501