Gallego, Kelly Celebrate Passage of Bill to Restore the Grand Canyon’s North Rim Out of Committee

WASHINGTON – Last week, Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) celebrated the unanimous passage of the North Rim Restoration Act out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). The legislation addresses recovery efforts of the North Rim at the Grand Canyon after the devastating Dragon Bravo Fire. If enacted, the legislation would streamline the restoration process by granting National Park Service (NPS) emergency contracting authority to bypass standard delays and accelerate renewals. The legislation covers fire-related recovery efforts, including forest management, maintenance, rebuilding, and infrastructure improvements. This would allow the NPS to quickly hire, approve, and oversee contractors for cleanup and reconstruction efforts. “The Grand Canyon is not only a marvel to look at — the tourists it attracts act as the economic engine for rural communities in Northern Arizona. These communities have been devastated by the Dragon Bravo fire and need help now,” said Senator Gallego. “I urge the full Senate to take up this bill and provide the resources needed to get these communities back on their feet.” “Rebuilding the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is critical for the communities and small businesses that depend on it,” said Senator Kelly. “We’re one step closer to cutting red tape, restoring the park, and bringing visitors back to the area.” “We applaud Senator Gallego and Senator Kelly’s leadership and support of the North Rim Restoration Act introduced by Representative Crane and its passage through committee. The bill’s passage by unanimous consent represents a critical bipartisan step by Congress to ensure we move as quickly and thoughtfully as possible to rebuild the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. We look forward to working with Senator Gallego, Senator Kelly, Representative Crane, and the full Arizona delegation to ensure the North Rim Restoration Act becomes law, and the funding for the rebuild is duly and expeditiously allocated. This will allow federal agencies to quickly begin work supporting communities hit hardest by last summer’s wildfires,” said Ethan Aumack, Executive Director Grand Canyon Trust. In July of 2025, the Dragon Bravo fire initiated following lightning strikes on the North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park, burning thousands of acres of National Park Service land. Over 100 structures were destroyed, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, several historic cabins and the North Rim Visitor Center in the Grand Canyon National Park, and a wastewater treatment plant, resulting in a chlorine gas leak. This February, Senators Gallego and Kelly introduced similar legislation in the Senate called the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act. The House companion, Rep. Eli Crane’s (R-AZ-02) North Rim Restoration Act, passed the House in March. That bill will now come to the Senate floor for consideration.