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

Last week, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego 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 in 2025. 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. “Rebuilding the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is critical for the communities and small businesses that depend on it,” said Kelly . “We’re one step closer to cutting red tape, restoring the park, and bringing visitors back to the area.” “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 Gallego . “I urge the full Senate to take up this bill and provide the resources needed to get these communities back on their feet.” “We applaud Senators Kelly and Gallego’s support of Representative Crane’s North Rim Restoration Act 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 Senators Gallego and Kelly, Representative Crane, and the full Arizona delegation to ensure Representative Crane’s bill becomes law, and the funding for the rebuild is duly and expeditiously allocated. This will allow federal agencies to quickly begin work and restore the communities hit hardest by the economic hardship,” said Ethan Aumack, Executive Director Grand Canyon Trust. Background: 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. Since then, Kelly has led efforts to support impacted communities and restore access. In August of 2025, he visited the Grand Canyon to observe the burn scar and meet with local business owners about the economic toll. Alongside Gallego, Kelly also demanded answers on the federal government’s handling of the fire. Earlier this year, Kelly and Gallego introduced the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act to cut red tape and speed up cleanup and restoration by providing the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service with emergency contracting authority. The House companion, Rep. Crane’s North Rim Restoration Act , passed the House in March. That bill will now come to the Senate floor for consideration.