Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would establish a national monument protecting the extraordinary cultural and historic resources of the Great Bend of the Gila in southern Arizona’s Maricopa and Yuma counties. The following is a statement by Stephanie K. Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

“We applaud Mr. Grijalva for his steadfast leadership and commitment to making sure that a landscape of such rich cultural and historical significance gets the recognition, resources, and protection it deserves. The Great Bend of Gila has served as a crossroads of cultures since prehistoric times. Its many petroglyphs depict human connections to the land dating back thousands of years. We look forward to continuing our work with the Native American tribes who have deep ties to the area and all who care about the history and future of the Great Bend of the Gila to build support for its lasting protection so that all people may continue to experience and learn from this remarkable landscape.