NPCA share the following positions ahead of a legislative hearing held by the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands scheduled for July 13th, 2020.
H.R. 4345 – Fort Monroe National Monument Land Acquisition Act: NPCA strongly supports this legislation, which would unite the historic Star Fort at Fort Monroe with the Northern beaches, creating one contiguous national park site that is not divided by inappropriate development. Because this site was a military establishment for over 100 years, all land considered for transfer must be thoroughly vetted and any problem remediated before being officially conveyed to the National Park Service.
H.R. 4840 - Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Boundary Modification Act of 2019: More than a century ago the Park Service protected the impressively massive “Great House” by creating the 480-acre Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. This bill adds increased protections to about 415 acres of key archaeological sites to tell the full story of the unit’s Hohokam occupants, who flourished in the harsh desert of central Arizona until around 1450. Supported by city and county elected officials and the nearby Gila River Indian Community, this bill specifically includes culture-rich parcels on the west, north and east sides of the monument, and a prehistoric platform mound and ballcourt site even further east. H.R. 4840 also resolves a troublesome boundary between the monument and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by giving the BIA full control of an irrigation canal it operates on the monument’s southern boundary. In sum, NPCA supports this legislation to modify the boundary of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
H.R. 5458 – Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Modification Act and H.R. 5459 – Rocky Mountain National Park Ownership Correction Act: NPCA supports this legislation, which would convey an additional 40 acres of land to the Rocky Mountain National Park from private ownership. The incorporation of this pristine undeveloped land will further protect the ecological integrity of Rocky Mountain National Park for future generations.
H.R. 5472 - Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act: NPCA supports this legislation which would rename the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site as the ‘‘Jimmy Carter National Historical Park’’ in honor of the 39th president of the United States. President Carter was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his lifelong commitment to advancing democracy and human rights, and finding peaceful solutions to international conflict. One of his signature achievements was the signing, with Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, of the Camp David accords in 1978 leading to the peace treaty that ended a 31-year state of war between Egypt and Israel. This bill has the support of the entire Georgia delegation.
H.R. 7089–Saguaro National Park Boundary Expansion and Study Act of 2020: Saguaro National Park’s two units flank the east and west sides of Tucson’s expanding metropolitan area, protecting magnificent stands of this iconic cactus and providing incredible recreation, tourism opportunities, and habitat protection. This modest boundary expansion would encompass 1150 acres of non-federal land adjacent to the park’s current boundaries. With strong support of local landowners and jurisdictions, adding these key parcels will go far toward preserving vital habitat and wildlife connectivity, protecting recreational opportunities, and enhancing a wonderful national park. NPCA supports passage of H.R. 7098 to expand and study the boundary of Saguaro National Park.
