On August 2, 2024, the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act (H.R.9257) was introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)—a bill that seeks to protect a rich cultural landscape in the southwestern United States.

The legislation would designate a nearly 400,000-acre Great Bend of the Gila National Monument, and also establish a tribal commission that prioritizes co-stewardship by at least 13 federally recognized tribes with cultural and ancestral ties to the region.

The National Trust has supported efforts to preserve Great Bend of the Gila for many years due to the region’s historic and cultural significance, including multiple sites like Sears Point and Paint Rock Petroglyph Site, which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

We are hopeful that Congress will support efforts to preserve this significant landscape.