Bill Bennett: “I rise to introduce the Uintah Research and Curatorial Center Act. This bill would authorize the National Park Service…”

“I rise to introduce the Uintah Research and Curatorial Center Act. This bill would authorize the National Park Service, NPS, to construct a research and curatorial facility for Dinosaur National Monument and its partner, the Utah Field House of Natural History Museum (Museum), in Vernal, UT. The facility would be co-located with the Museum while helping to preserve, protect, and exhibit the vast treasures of one of the most productive sites of dinosaur bones in the world. Since the first discovery of Jurassic era bones by the paleontologist Earl Douglass in 1909, and the subsequent proclamation as a national monument in 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson, the Dinosaur National Monument has been a haven for both amateur and expert dinosaur enthusiasts. At present, Dinosaur National Monument has more than 600,000 items in its museum collection. Unfortunately, these items are currently stored in 17 different facilities throughout the park. Many of these resources are at risk due to the failure of the scattered facilities to meet minimum National Park Service storage standards. A new research and curatorial facility is greatly needed to bring the park's collections up to standard and to ensure its protection.”