Santa Fe, N.M. – With the futures of Organ-Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument on the line, the League of Conservation Voters is investing $100,000 in a final push to urge Congressman Steve Pearce and other members of Congress to stop attacking our public lands and to ensure the Trump administration hears the overwhelming outpouring of support for our national monuments ahead of the August 24^th deadline for its unprecedented monument ‘review.’

A member of the anti-public lands Congressional Western Caucus, Pearce supports far-reaching changes to New Mexico’s two national monuments caught up in the Trump administration’s dangerous and unnecessary review.

“New Mexico’s national monuments are important parts of our cultural heritage and our state’s unique natural beauty,” said Conservation Voters New Mexico Executive Director Demis Foster. “But instead of siding with New Mexicans, Congressman Pearce continues to stand with Trump and enable his dangerous anti-public lands agenda. Organ-Mountains Desert Peaks and Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments have boosted tourism in New Mexico and offer incredible opportunities for families to hike, fish, hunt and camp – and we won’t stay silent if President Trump and Congressman Pearce revoke the protections we fought for.”

Starting today, LCV will run animated Facebook and Instagram ads urging Pearce to stop attacking our public lands and monuments, and encouraging his constituents to take action by calling his office and expressing their support for New Mexico’s monuments. Pearce is one of four members of the Congressional Western Caucus included in the ad campaign.

LCV is also running ads encouraging monument supporters to call Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and tell him to stop playing games with our public lands and end his dangerous review without recommending any changes to national monuments. Additionally, the campaign includes promoted videos amplifying support for threatened public lands and outlining the risks of the Trump administration turning over these special places to Big Polluters.

“It’s time for Secretary Zinke to stop playing games with our public lands, our waters and our national monuments,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “People across the country have spoken out and shared their stories of the value these special places bring their communities, from boosting local economies to preserving our cultural heritage for the next generation. But Zinke is treating our national monuments like contestants on a reality TV show, and his anti-public lands allies in Congress are enabling this dangerous agenda. Let’s be clear: if the Trump administration attempts to revoke protections for our national monuments, the millions of families who hike, fish, and enjoy our parks and public lands won’t sit on the sidelines while they sell out these special places to polluters.”

An unprecedented 2.7 million public comments were submitted in support of protecting national monuments, including more than 350,000 from LCV members. LCV’s “Our Lands, Our Vote” campaign has been engaging people across the country to stand up for our public lands and waters throughout the summer.