Saguaro National Park Boundary Expansion and Study Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7098) to expand the boundary of Saguaro National Park, to study additional land for future adjustments to the boundary of the park, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7098

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

December 10, 2020, on page H7124, the following appeared: Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7098) to expand the boundary ofSaguaro National Park, to study additional land for future adjustments to the boundary of the park, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2098 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

The online version has been corrected to read: December 10, 2020, on page H7124, the following appeared: Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7098) to expand the boundary ofSaguaro National Park, to study additional land for future adjustments to the boundary of the park, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7098 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, ========================= END NOTE ========================= SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Saguaro National Park Boundary Expansion and Study Act of 2020''. SEC. 2. BOUNDARY OF SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK.

Section 4 of the Saguaro National Park Establishment Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-364; 108 Stat. 3467) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)--

(A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The boundaries of the park''; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

``(2)(A) The boundaries of the park are further modified to include approximately 1,232 acres, as generally depicted on the map titled `Saguaro National Park_ Proposed Boundary Adjustment', numbered 151/80,045G, and dated October 2020.

``(B) The map referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.'';

(2) by striking subsection (b)(2) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

``(2) The Secretary may, with the consent of the State of Arizona and in accordance with Federal and State law, acquire land or interests therein owned by the State of Arizona within the boundary of the park.

``(3) If the Secretary is unable to acquire the State land under paragraph (2), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with the State that would allow the National Park Service to manage State land within the boundary of the park.''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

``(d) Boundary Study.--

``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to identify any lands outside the boundaries of the park that may be appropriate for inclusion in the park.

``(2) Criteria.--The study shall be conducted in accordance with National Park Service criteria for boundary adjustment studies.

``(3) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date funds are made available for the study under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7098, a bill introduced by the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Raul Grijalva from Arizona.

This bill would modify the boundaries of Saguaro National Park and authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands within these new boundaries from willing sellers. The bill would also require the Secretary to study future potential boundary expansions and land acquisitions that would add to the park's natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

Saguaro National Park is a true urban oasis, located in the Tucson metropolitan area in Chairman Grijalva's hometown. This park provides habitat for iconic species, including its namesake--the saguaro cactus--and the desert tortoise, and it provides unparalleled recreational resources, such as hiking and mountain biking trails.

The expansion authorized in this bill would add to those abundant resources and provide an important linkage between the park and Pima County's Sweetwater Preserve, expanding access to southern Arizona's public lands.

There is broad local support for this expansion, which includes the Pima County Administrator, the Tucson Mountain Homeowners Association, and each individual owner of the land identified for inclusion in the park.

This bill is not just a win for the residents of southern Arizona; it is also a win for our national parks and public lands.

Expanding the future of conservation and access to public lands is a hallmark of Chairman Grijalva's leadership, so I want to thank him for that and for his hard work on this bill, and I urge its swift adoption by the House.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield the balance of my time.

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