Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act Introduced in House
Congressman Raúl Grijalva champions bill to close the nature gap outside of Phoenix
WASHINGTON — In response to the introduction of the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act, GreenLatinos Founding President and CEO Mark Magaña issues the following statement:
“GreenLatinos applauds Representative Grijalva’s unwavering commitment to Tribes and local community members for the introduction of this critical bill. We thank Representatives Huffman, Carson, Stansbury, Titus, Blumenauer and Neguse for cosponsoring this widely supported legislation. 51% of Arizona’s residents of color and 41% of Arizona’s low income residents live in an area that is nature deprived. The Great Bend of the Gila’s enduring conservation would allow for federal resources and programming to connect locals with this astonishing landscape, improve public health and foster stewardship of its vast cultural and ecological qualities.
Numerous pieces of legislation for equitable public land conservation have languished in this Congress. Advancement of the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act is Congress’s opportunity to demonstrate to constituents that it is capable of acting on legislation ardently supported by tribes, other local stakeholders and members of the public nationwide. The Great Bend of the Gila is a critically threatened, biodiverse and historic region that belongs in our national conservation lands system. We urge Congress to establish the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument and restore public confidence in their ability to fulfill widely supported public land priorities.”
_____________________
About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
