HR6380-119

What This Bill Does

The Chiricahua National Park Act redesignates Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona as Chiricahua National Park. The new park uses the boundaries of the monument as of enactment, as shown on the March 2021 proposed-boundary map, and all references in federal law, maps, regulations, documents, or records to Chiricahua National Monument become references to Chiricahua National Park. Funds available for the monument remain available for the park.

The Secretary of the Interior must administer the park under the original presidential proclamations and laws generally applicable to National Park System units. The House-passed text also adds a traditional cultural and religious sites section. The Secretary must protect those sites under laws applicable to the National Park Service and park units, consult with Indian Tribes, provide Tribal members access for traditional cultural and customary uses, and may temporarily close the smallest practicable area for the minimum necessary period when an Indian Tribe requests a closure to protect traditional cultural or customary uses.

Who Benefits and How

Chiricahua-area tourism businesses benefit because national park designation can increase visibility for visitors, lodging, restaurants, guides, and outdoor recreation services in Cochise County. Visitors benefit from a clearer national park identity while existing monument boundaries and funds continue. National Park Service Chiricahua managers benefit from continuity because existing funds, maps, and legal references transfer to the park. Indian Tribes with cultural or religious ties to the area benefit because the bill requires consultation, access for traditional uses, and possible temporary closures to protect specific sites. Tribal members benefit from access protections for traditional cultural and customary uses.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service staff must update records, maps, signage, and administration to reflect the new park name. National Park Service cultural-resource staff must consult Tribes and protect traditional sites. General park visitors may face temporary access limits if a Tribe requests a site-specific closure for traditional cultural or religious activities. Congressional and Interior staff must ensure existing monument funds and legal references are carried over to the new park designation.

Key Provisions

• Redesignates Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park.
• Keeps the park boundaries the same as the monument boundaries shown on the March 2021 map.
• Provides that federal references to Chiricahua National Monument refer to Chiricahua National Park.
• Provides that funds available for the monument are available for the park.
• Requires National Park Service administration under existing proclamations and park-system laws.
• Requires protection of traditional cultural and religious sites through Tribal consultation.
• Provides Tribal access for traditional cultural and customary uses and allows limited temporary closures to protect those uses.