Title: Chiricahua National Park Act
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Chiricahua National Park Act
This bill redesignates the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona as the Chiricahua National Park.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3121 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3121

To establish the Chiricahua National Park in the State of Arizona as a 
       unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 19, 2019

Ms. McSally (for herself and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the Chiricahua National Park in the State of Arizona as a 
       unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Chiricahua National Park Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) approximately 27,000,000 years ago, a powerful volcanic 
        eruption spewed ash and debris thousands of feet in the area 
        that now comprises the Chiricahua National Monument, which 
        ultimately fused into rock known as ``rhyolitic tuff'';
            (2) over time, the rock referred to in paragraph (1) eroded 
        into the exquisite hoodoos and enchanting balancing rocks that 
        define the captivating scenery of the Chiricahua National 
        Monument;
            (3) since the mid-19th century, the Chiricahuas region has 
        been home to ranchers, pioneers, gold miners, and cowboys;
            (4) before the first pioneer set foot on land in the 
        Chiricahuas region, Indian Tribes (including most recently the 
        Chiricahua Apache Tribe) inhabited the area that now comprises 
        the Chiricahua National Monument;
            (5) in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge established the 
        Chiricahua National Monument by Presidential proclamation to 
        protect and preserve the area for the education and enjoyment 
        of future generations;
            (6) the Chiricahua National Monument is uniquely positioned 
        at the intersection of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, the 
        southern Rocky Mountains, and the northern Sierra Madre in 
        Mexico;
            (7) the Chiricahua National Monument--
                    (A) boasts 18 square miles of premier biological 
                diversity; and
                    (B) has become a hub for hikers, birders, 
                researchers, and nature enthusiasts of all kinds;
            (8) the Chiricahua National Monument is home to all manner 
        of life from leopard frogs of not more than 5 inches to black 
        bears weighing more than 600 pounds; and
            (9) the vibrant ecosystem of the Chiricahua National 
        Monument supports approximately--
                    (A) 150 species of birds;
                    (B) 70 species of mammals; and
                    (C) 45 species of reptiles.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Monument.--The term ``Monument'' means the Chiricahua 
        National Monument established by Presidential Proclamation 1692 
        (54 U.S.C. 320301 note; 43 Stat. 1946).
            (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Chiricahua National 
        Park established by section 4(a).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Arizona.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL PARK.

    (a) Establishment.--To protect, preserve, and interpret the 
rhyolitic rock formations, biodiversity, and other natural and cultural 
resources of the area, there is established in the State as a unit of 
the National Park System the Chiricahua National Park.
    (b) Boundaries.--
            (1) In general.--The boundaries of the Park are as 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``Chiricahua National 
        Park Proposed Boundary'', numbered 145/156,356, and dated July 
        2019.
            (2) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
        available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
        the National Park Service.
    (c) Abolishment of Chiricahua National Monument.--
            (1) Abolishment.--The Monument is abolished.
            (2) Incorporation.--The land and any interest in land that 
        constitute the Monument (as in existence on the day before the 
        date of enactment of this Act) are incorporated in, and shall 
        be considered to be part of, the Park.
            (3) Availability of funds.--Any funds available for the 
        Monument shall be available for the Park.
    (d) References.--
            (1) In general.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
        document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
        ``Chiricahua National Monument'' shall be considered to be a 
        reference to the ``Chiricahua National Park''.
            (2) Wilderness.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
        document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
        ``Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness'' designated by 
        Public Law 94-567 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 90 Stat. 2692) shall be 
        considered to be a reference to the ``Chiricahua National Park 
        Wilderness''.
    (e) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the Park in 
accordance with--
            (1) this Act; and
            (2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
        Park System.
                                 <all>