Ann Kirkpatrick Testifies in Subcommitte Hearing on Legislation to Expand Casa Grande Ruins National Mounment
Rep. Kirkpatrick Highlights Economic, Conservation Benefits of Bill Expanding Casa Grande Ruins National Monument During Subcommittee Hearing
First Congressional Discussion on Legislation Focuses on Bringing Tourism Jobs to Area, Preserving Historic Site
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Ann Kirkpatrick urged a House Natural Resources subcommittee to push forward on her legislation to expand the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in a hearing on that bill held this morning. She pointed to the bill’s potential to grow the tourism industry and bring new jobs to the area while protecting a truly unique Arizona treasure in testimony before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
This hearing is the first congressional discussion of expanding the national monument. It demonstrates that Washington is giving this issue the attention it deserves, and represents a significant step towards putting the proposal into action. The House of Representatives got a chance to hear about what the Congresswoman’s bill will mean for the area – safeguarding a window into the past unlike any other and strengthening an attraction that could be an economic engine for the surrounding communities.
“Each year, thousands of people come to Pinal County to visit the ruins, learn about the ancient Hohokam culture that lived there, and see the amazing prehistoric architecture they left behind. Protecting more of these sensitive areas will help bring even more visitors to the area and better fulfill the mission of the monument,” said Rep. Kirkpatrick in her statement. “This bill is critical for the economic development of Coolidge, Florence and the entire county, and for the preservation of cultural and historical sites without equal anywhere else on the continent.”
All this would come without requiring significant investment of taxpayer dollars, in exactly the sort of low-cost job creation effort Rep. Kirkpatrick has been championing.
The Congresswoman also invited Bill Doelle, the president of the Center for Desert Archaeology, to testify at the hearing – giving advocates for expansion of the monument another voice. She has worked closely with the Center, Pinal County, the Florence and Coolidge communities, the National Park Service and other supporters of this step to put together a bill that works for all stakeholders.
“As the most significant tourist draw in the area, the proposed boundary modification will ensure that this significant federal resource continues to contribute to a diversified local economy. The expansion of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a unique opportunity to provide for future learning and understanding of our shared past,” Doelle said in his written statement. “We commend Congresswoman Kirkpatrick for introducing this important legislation to advance a proposal that is ten years in the making.”
Rep. Kirkpatrick will next be working to build on the momentum of today’s hearing and earn support for the bill among committee members and the full House.
A recording of the Congresswoman’s statement on the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Boundary Modification Act and on H.R. 4823, the Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area Act, can be heard here. Doelle’s testimony can be heard here.