I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9257 
To establish the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument in the State 
of Arizona, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 2, 2024 
Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. CARSON, Ms. STANSBURY, 
Ms. TITUS, Mr. BLUMENAUER, and Mr. NEGUSE) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument 
in the State of Arizona, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Great Bend of the Gila 
National Monument Establishment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
means an Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, 
community, component band, or component reserva-
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tion individually identified (including parenthetically) 
on the list published by the Secretary of the Interior 
under section 104 of the Federally Recognized In-
dian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). 
(2) INTERESTED
INDIAN
TRIBE.—The term 
‘‘interested Indian Tribe’’ means any Indian Tribe 
with— 
(A) historic, precontact, cultural, or reli-
gious connections to lands within the National 
Monument; 
(B) a former reservation located on land 
within the National Monument; or 
(C) treaty rights or other reserved rights 
applicable to land within the National Monu-
ment. 
(3) LAND
MANAGEMENT
PLAN.—The term 
‘‘land management plan’’ means the land manage-
ment plan developed under section 4(b). 
(4) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map ti-
tled ‘‘Proposed Great Bend of the Gila National 
Monument’’ and dated November 3, 2023. 
(5) NATIONAL
MONUMENT.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Monument’’ means the Great Bend of the Gila 
National Monument established by section 3(a). 
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(6) SACRED
SITE.—The term ‘‘sacred site’’ 
means any geophysical or geographical area or fea-
ture that is identified by the governing body of an 
Indian Tribe— 
(A) as sacred by virtue of its established 
religious significance to, or ceremonial use in, a 
Tribal religion; or 
(B) to be of established cultural signifi-
cance. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Arizona. 
(9) TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE.— 
The term ‘‘Traditional Ecological Knowledge’’ 
means a body of observations, oral and written 
knowledge, practices, and beliefs that promotes envi-
ronmental sustainability and the responsible stew-
ardship of natural resources through relationships 
between humans and environmental systems, applied 
across biological, physical, and cultural systems. 
(10) TRIBAL COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
Commission’’ means the Tribal Commission estab-
lished under section 6(a). 
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SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MONUMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 
rights, there is established in the State the Great 
Bend of the Gila National Monument. 
(2) AREA INCLUDED.—The Great Bend of the 
Gila National Monument shall consist of approxi-
mately 376,963 acres of land administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management, as generally depicted 
on the Map. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the National Monu-
ment are to protect and restore, for the benefit and enjoy-
ment of present and future generations, the nationally im-
portant Indigenous heritage, cultural landscape, archae-
ological, cultural, historic, geologic, hydrologic, natural, 
recreational, educational, and scenic resources of the Na-
tional Monument. 
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL MONUMENT. 
(a) MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 
the National Monument— 
(A) in a manner that— 
(i) conserves, protects, and enhances 
the resources of the National Monument; 
and 
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(ii) preserves and protects sacred sites 
and traditional cultural properties; 
(B) in consultation with the Tribal Com-
mission; 
(C) as a component of the National Land-
scape Conservation System; and 
(D) in accordance with— 
(i) the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.); 
(ii) the Native American Graves Pro-
tection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 
3001 et seq.); 
(iii) Public Law 95–341 (commonly 
known as the ‘‘American Indian Religious 
Freedom Act’’; 42 U.S.C. 1996); 
(iv) this Act; and 
(v) any other applicable law. 
(b) LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall develop a comprehensive land management 
plan providing for the long-term protection and 
management of the National Monument. 
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(2) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing a land man-
agement plan, the Secretary shall— 
(A) consult with— 
(i) Indian Tribes; 
(ii) appropriate State and local gov-
ernmental entities; and 
(iii) members of the public; and 
(B) provide for continued access for wild-
life management within the National Monument 
by the State during the development of the land 
management plan. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The land management 
plan shall— 
(A) describe the appropriate uses and 
management of the National Monument; 
(B) provide for traditional uses of the Na-
tional Monument by members of Indian Tribes; 
(C) include the Traditional Ecological 
Knowledge or special expertise offered by In-
dian Tribes and provisions to appropriately pro-
tect that knowledge; 
(D) provide for the protection and preser-
vation of cultural resources within the National 
Monument; 
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(E) incorporate provisions for continued 
meaningful engagement with Indian Tribes in 
the implementation of the land management 
plan; 
(F) emphasize the retention of natural 
quiet, dark night skies, and scenic attributes of 
the landscape; 
(G) include comprehensive travel manage-
ment plans; 
(H) maintain the undeveloped character of 
the lands within the National Monument; 
(I) minimize impacts from surface-dis-
turbing activities; and 
(J) provide for appropriate access for live-
stock grazing, recreation, hunting, wildlife man-
agement, and scientific research. 
(c) NEW ROADS AND ROUTES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2) and as necessary in an emergency, no new 
permanent or temporary roads or other motorized 
vehicle routes shall be constructed within the Na-
tional Monument after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(2) ACCESS.—The Secretary shall allow access, 
in accordance with applicable law, to— 
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(A) non-Federal land and interests in non- 
Federal land within the National Monument; 
and 
(B) trust or restricted lands or a trust or 
restricted interest in land (as defined by section 
201(4) of the Indian Land Consolidation Act 
(25 U.S.C. 2201(4))) within the National 
Monument. 
(3) RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA.—Except as 
needed for administrative purposes or to respond to 
an emergency, the use of motor vehicles within the 
area generally depicted on the Map as ‘‘Proposed 
Resource Protection Area’’ shall be prohibited. 
(d) TRIBAL CO-STEWARDSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall consult 
with interested Indian Tribes with respect to the 
management of the National Monument. 
(2) DECISIONMAKING.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that management decisions affecting the Na-
tional Monument are informed by and reflect Tribal 
expertise and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. 
(3) SELF-DETERMINATION CONTRACTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out this 
Act, the Secretary may contract with 1 or more 
Indian Tribes to perform administrative or 
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management functions within the National 
Monument through contracts entered into 
under the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 
(B) TRIBAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may provide technical and financial assistance 
to an Indian Tribe in accordance with section 
103 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5322) to im-
prove the capacity of the Indian Tribe to de-
velop, enter into, and carry out activities under 
a contract entered into under paragraph (1). 
(e) APPROVAL
OF FUNDING AGREEMENTS.—The 
Secretary may approve funding agreements under title IV 
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 5361 et seq.) for the management 
of programs and functions relating to the management 
and protection of traditional cultural properties and other 
culturally significant programming associated with the 
National Monument. 
(f) TEMPORARY CLOSURES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may tempo-
rarily close to the general public the use of 1 or 
more specific portions of the National Monument to 
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protect the privacy of cultural, religious, and gath-
ering activities by members of an Indian Tribe. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Any closure under 
paragraph (1)— 
(i) shall be made so as to affect the 
smallest practicable area for the minimum 
period of time necessary; 
(ii) shall be in accordance with the re-
quirements of applicable law, including di-
vision A of subtitle III of title 54, United 
States Code (commonly referred to as the 
‘‘National Historic Preservation Act’’); and 
(iii) may not be made permanent. 
(B) ACCESS.—Access by members of an 
Indian Tribe to a portion of the National 
Monument closed under paragraph (1) shall be 
consistent with purpose and intent of Public 
Law 95–341 (commonly known as the ‘‘Amer-
ican Indian Religious Freedom Act’’; 42 U.S.C. 
1996 et seq.). 
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
all Federal land in the National Monument (including any 
land acquired by the Secretary within the National Monu-
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ment after the date of the enactment of this Act) is with-
drawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis-
posal under the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 
materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
(b) ACQUISITION AND INCORPORATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire 
land or an interest in land within the boundaries of 
the National Monument by purchase from a willing 
seller, donation, or exchange. 
(2) STATE LANDS.—The Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the Arizona State Land Department, 
shall seek to acquire by exchange or purchase from 
a willing seller those lands generally depicted on the 
Map as ‘‘Lands Identified for Potential Acquisition’’. 
(3) INCORPORATION
IN
NATIONAL
MONU-
MENT.—Land acquired under this subsection shall— 
(A) become part of the National Monu-
ment; and 
(B) be managed in accordance with this 
Act and any other applicable laws. 
(c) GRAZING.— 
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(1) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to prohibit grazing within the National Monu-
ment pursuant to existing leases or permits, or the 
renewal or assignment of such leases or permits. 
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall 
continue to administer grazing within the National 
Monument in accordance with the applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies. 
(d) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—Nothing in this Act af-
fects the jurisdiction of the State with respect to the man-
agement of fish and wildlife in the State. 
(e) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act— 
(1) affects the use or allocation, in existence on 
the date of enactment of this Act, of any water, 
water right, or interest in water; 
(2) affects any vested absolute or decreed condi-
tional water right in existence on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, including any water right held by 
the United States; 
(3) affects any claims or right to water not as-
serted or finally determined as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act; 
(4) affects any interstate water compact in ex-
istence on the date of enactment of this Act; 
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(5) authorizes or imposes any new reserved 
Federal water rights; or 
(6) relinquishes or reduces any water rights re-
served or appropriated by the United States in the 
State on or before the date of enactment of this Act. 
(f) MILITARY OVERFLIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act 
restricts or precludes— 
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over 
the National Monument, including military over-
flights that can be seen or heard within the National 
Monument; 
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or 
(3) the designation or creation of new units of 
special use airspace, or the establishment of military 
flight training routes, over the National Monument. 
(g) ADJACENT MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to create a protective perimeter or buffer 
zone around the National Monument. 
(2) ACTIVITIES AND USES.—The fact that ac-
tivities or uses can be seen or heard from areas 
within the National Monument shall not preclude 
the conduct of the activities or uses outside the 
boundary of the National Monument. 
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(h) TRIBAL RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act alters or 
diminishes— 
(1) the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe; or 
(2) the hunting, fishing, and gathering rights of 
the Tohono O’odham Nation recognized by section 
4(b) of the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Re-
placement Act (Public Law 99–503). 
(i) UTILITY AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act, unless 
inconsistent with proper care and management of 
the National Monument, precludes or interferes with 
renewing, assigning, operating, maintaining, replac-
ing, modifying, upgrading, or accessing any of the 
following, within or adjacent to the boundary of the 
National Monument: 
(A) Flood control, utility, pipeline, and 
telecommunications facilities. 
(B) Roads or highway corridors. 
(C) Seismic monitoring facilities. 
(D) Other water infrastructure, including 
wildlife water developments and water district 
facilities. 
(2) EXPANSION; CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FA-
CILITIES.—With respect to a facility described in 
subparagraph (A), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1) that 
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is within or adjacent to the boundary of the National 
Monument, subject to section 5(a) and any other ap-
plicable law— 
(A) an existing facility may be expanded; 
and 
(B) a new facility may be constructed. 
SEC. 6. TRIBAL COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that the management 
of the National Monument reflects the expertise and tradi-
tional, cultural, ecological, historical, and Native knowl-
edge of interested Indian Tribes, not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish for the National Monument a Tribal Commis-
sion. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Tribal Commission shall provide 
guidance and recommendations on the development and 
implementation of the management plan for, and policies 
of, the National Monument. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Tribal Commission shall 
consist of the representatives designated by each inter-
ested Indian Tribe, with a maximum of 1 representative 
per interested Indian Tribe. 
(d) EXEMPTION.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Federal Advi-
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sory Committee Act’’), shall not apply to the Tribal Com-
mission. 
Æ 
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