Lee Slams Democrats' Effort to Preserve National Monument Honoring Alleged Child Abuse Site

WASHINGTON - Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, issued the following statement after Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, blocked passage of the No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act, introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX).

"This is what 'not one acre' means in practice," said Senator Lee. "Democrats would rather preserve a site tied to the abuse of women and children than take action in light of deeply disturbing allegations. That is indefensible. We're talking about a location that, according to credible reporting, was the setting for heinous abuse. Yet instead of confronting that reality, my colleague chose to block a straightforward measure and replace it with one that keeps this site enshrined."

The legislation would close and dispose of the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California, following a bombshell report from the New York Times detailing allegations that Chávez sexually abused women and girls.

Senator Heinrich objected to the bill's passage and offered a substitute amendment that would preserve the monument.