1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Monuments Protection Act . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) public land in the United States is managed and administered for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations; (2) the National Park System (including National Parks, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas) is managed for the benefit and inspiration of all the people of the United States; (3) the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered for the benefit of present and future generations of people in the United States, with priority consideration for compatible wildlife-dependent general public uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System; (4) the National Forest System is dedicated to the long-term benefit of present and future generations; (5) the reopening and temporary operation and management of public land, the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the National Forest System using funds from States and political subdivisions of States during periods in which the Federal Government is unable to operate and manage the areas at normal levels due to a lapse in appropriations is consistent with the values and purposes for which those areas were established; (6) any restriction of public access to national monuments, the National Park System, or the National Wildlife Refuge System during a lapse in appropriations, when such restriction is not necessary to comply with budgetary constraints and when an agency has not taken steps to mitigate restrictions on public access, shall be considered a direct violation of the purpose for which these lands and monuments were established and entrusted to Federal agencies for management