Utah Representative Chris Stewart introduced new legislation on Wednesday following the signing of two executive orders on Monday which reduced the size of the Grand Staircase-Escalante & Bears Ears National Monuments. The new legislation, The Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act (H.R. 4558) would create a 6th National Park, the Escalante Canyons Park & Preserve.

If the Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act were to pass changes would include:

• Transferring the "Hole in the Rock Road" back to the state of Utah in recognition of the significance it has to the Mormon Pioneer Trail
• Creating Escalante Canyons National Park, making it the 6th National Park in Utah
• Creating three separate national monuments; The Grand Staircase, Escalante, and Kaiparowits National Monuments

Representative Chris Stewart stated in the press release, “There is a reason I live in Utah. I love it here! I love to ski. I love to hike and rock climb. I love these lands. I want to preserve them, and I believe Utahans are better suited to manage our lands than bureaucrats back in Washington.”