Arizona Senate Passes Bill Creating Fourth National Park

The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan bill to create Arizona's fourth national park.

The Chiricahua National Park Act, H.R. 6380, would redesignate the 102-year-old Chiricahua National Monument as a 12,000-acre national park in Cochise County.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) sponsored the bill and expressed pride in its passage, saying 'Chiricahua has long deserved this designation.'

The new park would provide access to traditional cultural and religious sites for Indian tribes and allow the National Park Service to temporarily close areas of the park upon tribal request.

Local leaders have supported the bill, citing its potential to increase tourism and create economic opportunities in southeastern Arizona.