HouseH. Rpt. 119-5432026-03-12
CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL PARK ACT
Summary
H. Rpt. 119-543 accompanies the "Chiricahua National Park Act" — legislation that falls within the Natural Resources Committee's jurisdiction. Committee reports serve as the official legislative history of a bill, documenting what the legislation would do and why the committee recommends passage. Reports of this kind include the committee's section-by-section analysis, any amendments adopted during markup, the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate, dissenting views from minority members, and the legal basis for the legislation. Courts and agencies consult committee reports when interpreting enacted laws, making these documents important beyond the immediate legislative moment.
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House Report 119-543 - CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL PARK ACT
[House Report 119-543]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-543
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CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL PARK ACT
_______
March 12, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6380]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 6380) to establish the Chiricahua National Park
in the State of Arizona as a unit of the National Park System,
and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill
as amended do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chiricahua National Park Act''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA.
(a) Designation.--
(1) In general.--The Chiricahua National Monument in the
State of Arizona established by Presidential Proclamation 1692
(54 U.S.C. 320301 note; 43 Stat. 1946) shall be known and
designated as ``Chiricahua National Park'' (referred to in this
Act as the ``National Park'').
(2) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the National Park shall be
the boundaries of the Chiricahua National Monument as of the
date of enactment of this Act, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Chiricahua National Park Proposed Boundary'',
numbered 145/156,356, and dated March 2021.
(3) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, or other record of the United States to the
Chiricahua National Monument shall be considered to be a
reference to the ``Chiricahua National Park''.
(4) Availability of funds.--Any funds available for the
Chiricahua National Monument shall be available for the
National Park.
(b) Administration.--The Secretary of the Interior shall administer
the National Park in accordance with--
(1) Presidential Proclamation 1692 (54 U.S.C. 320301 note; 43
Stat. 1946);
(2) Presidential Proclamation 2288 (54 U.S.C. 320301 note; 52
Stat. 1551); and
(3) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System, including--
(A) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections
100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54,
United States Code; and
(B) chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
SEC. 3. TRADITIONAL CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SITES.
(a) Protection of Sites.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure the protection of
traditional cultural and religious sites in the National Park
in accordance with the laws (including regulations) applicable
to the Secretary.
(2) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall consult with Indian Tribes in accordance with
laws applicable to the protection of cultural and religious
sites.
(b) Access.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in accordance with Public Law
95-341 (42 U.S.C. 1996 et seq.)--
(A) shall provide access to the sites described in
subsection (a)(1) by members of Indian Tribes for
traditional cultural and customary uses; and
(B) may, on request of an Indian Tribe, temporarily
close to general public use one or more specific areas
of the National Park to protect traditional cultural
and customary uses in the area by members of the Indian
Tribe.
(2) Limitation.--In closing a portion of a designated area
under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall limit the closure
to the smallest practicable area for the minimum period
necessary for the traditional cultural and religious
activities.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the meaning
given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to redesignate the Chiricahua National Monument in
the State of Arizona as Chiricahua National Park, and for other
purposes.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
The purpose of H.R. 6380, as ordered reported, is to
redesignate the Chiricahua National Monument in the State of
Arizona as Chiricahua National Park, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge established Chiricahua
National Monument, located in the Chiricahua Mountains in
southeastern Arizona.\1\ The area, which the Apache called
``The Land of Standing-Up Rocks,'' is known for its ancient
volcanic hoodoos, pinnacles, and other rock formations.\2\ The
National Park Service (NPS) administers this 12,000-acre
monument, of which over 85 percent is designated as
wilderness.\3\ Chiricahua National Monument contains evidence
of diverse human history spanning thousands of years, including
that of prehistoric indigenous peoples, Chiricahua Apache,
Buffalo Soldiers, and European American pioneers and
ranchers.\4\ The national monument also contains the Faraway
Ranch, which was home to Swedish immigrants in the 19th
century.\5\ Chiricahua is a popular hiking and camping
destination, offering several scenic hiking trails that
showcase unique rock formations and forested areas boasting a
wide variety of desert foliage, including prickly pear, yuccas,
agave, and hedgehog cactus.\6\
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\1\``Chiricahua National Monument, Management,'' U.S. Department of
the Interior, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/chir/learn/
management/index.htm.
\2\``Chiricahua National Monument, Nature and Science,'' U.S.
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/
chir/learn/nature/index.htm.
\3\``Foundation Document Overview Chiricahua National Monument,''
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, http://
npshistory.com/publications/foundation-documents/chir-fd-overview.pdf.
\4\Id.
\5\``Chiricahua National Monument, Faraway Ranch,'' U.S. Department
of the Interior, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/chir/learn/
historyculture/faraway-ranch.htm.
\6\Mary Beth Skylis, ``This Arizona Monument Could Be Our Next
National Park,'' Backpacker.com, March 13, 2023, https://
www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/chiricahua-
national-monument-national-park/.
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H.R. 6380, sponsored by Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-
AZ), would redesignate Chiricahua National Monument as
Chiricahua National Park, making it the country's 64th national
park and the fourth national park located in Arizona. Local
supporters of this legislation believe that elevating
Chiricahua to full national park status would allow Chiricahua
to take its place among the other ``crown jewels'' of the
National Park System, increase visitation, and benefit nearby
gateway communities.\7\ By honoring this place of historic,
natural, and cultural significance in 2026, this legislation
also advances the goals of President Trump's Executive Order
14189, ``Celebrating America's 250th Birthday.''\8\
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\7\Sarah Min Heller, ``Congress considers making Chiricahua
National Monument Arizona's fourth national park,'' Cronkite News, May
24, 2023, https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/05/24/chiricahua-
national-monument-arizonas-fourth-national-park/.
\8\Id.
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Representative Ciscomani introduced similar legislation in
the 118th Congress, which was included in a legislative hearing
before the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.\9\ Following that
hearing, Representative Ciscomani engaged with constituent
Tribes on the legislation. The current version of his
legislation adds a new section, which ensures that NPS follows
its existing statutes and regulations regarding the protection
of Tribal cultural and religious sites, while allowing Tribes
access to these sacred areas. This section also grants
authority to the NPS to temporarily close limited areas of the
park to allow for traditional cultural and customary uses. The
new section guarantees that Tribal cultural uses are protected,
while appropriately balancing public access and use of the
park. Importantly, this section does not place any new,
affirmative requirements on NPS, but rather requires NPS to
comply with existing statutory standards for the protection of
Tribal resources within NPS units.
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\9\H.R. 1479, the ``Chiricahua National Park Act,'' 118th Congress,
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1479/text.
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COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 6380 was introduced on December 3, 2025, by
Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to
the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On December 11, 2025, the
Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on the bill. On
February 11, 2026, the Committee on Natural Resources met to
consider the bill. The Subcommittee on Federal Lands was
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6380 by unanimous
consent. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) offered an amendment
designated Westerman_057. The amendment was agreed to by
unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held on December
11, 2025.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 titles the legislation the ``Chiricahua National
Park Act.''
Section 2. Designation of Chiricahua National Park, Arizona
Section 2 re-designates the ``Chiricahua National
Monument'' in the State of Arizona as ``Chiricahua National
Park.'' Section 2 stipulates that the boundaries of the
existing national monument will remain the same, any legal
reference to the national monument shall be considered a legal
reference to the national park, and any funds made available to
the national monument shall be available to the national park.
Section 2 also specifies that Chiricahua National Park shall be
administered in accordance with the presidential proclamations
establishing and expanding the national monument, as well as
laws generally applicable to National Park System units.
Section 3. Traditional cultural and religious sites
Section 3 directs the Secretary of the Interior to ensure
the protection of traditional cultural and religious sites and
consult with Indian Tribes, in accordance with existing legal
requirements. Section 3 also requires the Secretary to provide
access to these sites to Tribes and allows the Secretary to
temporarily close certain sites for traditional cultural uses
upon the request of a Tribe. Section 3 stipulates that any
temporarily closed area be limited to the smallest practicable
area for the minimum period necessary for cultural and
religious activities. Finally, Section 3 defines key terms.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Summary of legislation: On February 11, 2026, the House
Committee on Natural Resources ordered four bills related to
the National Park System to be reported. This document provides
estimates for those bills.
The legislation would establish an affiliated area of the
National Park System, designate a National Historic Landmark,
and redesignate a National Lakeshore and a National Monument as
National Parks.
Estimated Federal cost: The costs of the legislation fall
within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that each
bill will be enacted near the start of fiscal year 2027 and
that the necessary amounts will be available. This cost
estimate does not include any effects of interactions among the
bills. If all four bills were combined and enacted as a single
bill, the effects could be different from the sum of the
separate estimates.
H.R. 1352, a bill to designate the General George C.
Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an
affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other
purposes, would designate the home of General George C.
Marshall in Leesburg, Virginia, as an affiliated area of the
National Park System. That designation would not change the
ownership or management of the affiliated area. The bill also
would allow the Department of the Interior to provide technical
and financial assistance to the site's management entity for
interpretation and preservation. Finally, the bill would
require the department to complete a management plan for the
site.
Using information from the National Park Service about the
financial support provided to other affiliated areas of the
National Park System, CBO estimates that implementing the bill
would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026-2031 period. Any
related spending would be subject to the availability of
appropriated funds.
H.R. 1945, the America's National Churchill Museum National
Historic Landmark Act, would designate America's National
Churchill Museum--located at Westminster College in Missouri,
the site of Winston Churchill's 1946 speech where he introduced
the term Iron Curtain--as a National Historic Landmark. That
designation would not change the ownership or management of the
museum. The bill also would allow the Department of the
Interior to enter into cooperative agreements to protect
historic resources and provide interpretive programs at the
museum. Finally, the bill would direct the department to
conduct a special resource study to determine whether the
museum should be designated as a unit of the National Park
System.
Using information about the costs of similar resource
studies, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost
less than $500,000 over the 2026-2031 period. Any related
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
H.R. 5497, the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve
Act, would redesignate the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
in Wisconsin as the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve.
That designation would not change the ownership or management
of the area. The bill also would direct the Department of the
Interior (DOI) to administer hunting, trapping, and fishing in
the Apostle Islands National Preserve in the same manner in
which those activities are administered at the lakeshore, where
no permitting fees are charged. Finally, the bill would direct
DOI to provide additional interpretive signage and displays at
the principal visitor centers in the park and preserve.
Using information about the costs of similar signs and
displays, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost
less than $500,000 over the 2026-2031 period. Any related
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
H.R. 6380, the Chiricahua National Park Act, would
redesignate the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona as the
Chiricahua National Park. That designation would not change the
ownership or management of the area. The bill also would direct
the Department of the Interior to protect traditional cultural
and religious sites within the park, to temporarily close
specific areas of the park to protect traditional tribal
activities, and to consult with Indian tribes in accordance
with applicable laws.
Using information about the costs of similar requirements,
CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than
$500,000 over the 2026-2031 period. Any related spending would
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None of the bills would
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
Increase in long-term net direct spending and deficits:
None of the bills would increase net direct spending or on-
budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods
beginning in 2037.
Mandates: None of the bills contain intergovernmental or
private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: David Rafferty;
Mandates: Lucy Marret.
Estimate reviewed by: Ann E. Futrell, Natural and Physical
Resources Cost Estimates Unit; Kathleen FitzGerald, Chief,
Public and Private Mandates Unit; H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill, as ordered reported, is to redesignate
the Chiricahua National Monument in the State of Arizona as
Chiricahua National Park, and for other purposes.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
According to the Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 6380
contains no unfunded mandates as defined by the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
As ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources,
H.R. 6380 would make no changes in existing law.
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