Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick has signed on as a cosponsor of a bill creating the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument. It would conserve 1.7 million acres of federal land surrounding the national park. Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports.
Kirkpatrick says a monument designation would protect the canyon from environmental threats like uranium mining and old-growth logging. It would also preserve Native American sacred sites. Tribal leaders and conservationists are applauding her co-sponsorship.
The bill was introduced to the House last year by Democratic Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva. Supporters hope it’ll provide a template for President Obama to declare a Grand Canyon monument under the Antiquities Act. However, acknowledge Congress is unlikely to pass it.
Kirkpatrick’s opponent in the race for U.S. Senate, Republican John McCain, has repeatedly expressed his opposition the monument. He says it would disrupt land management and add a harmful layer of federal regulation.
A recent poll showed more than 80 percent of Americans nationwide support the Grand Canyon National Monument proposal.
