Political Quotes

“I introduce today with my colleague from Arizona, Senator John McCain, the Walnut Canyon National Monument Boundary Modification Act of 1995. Identical legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative J.D. Hayworth. This legislation is based upon consensus reached last year among interested parties, including local officials in Arizona, as well as residents of the Walnut Canyon area, the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, with respect to modification of the monument boundaries for the purpose of better protecting important archeological resources. Walnut Canyon National Monument was originally established by Presidential proclamation in 1915 to preserve and protect numerous Sinaguan cliff dwelling and associated sites. The canyon includes five areas where archeological sites are concentrated around natural promontories extending into the canyon, areas which early archeologists referred to as forts. Three of the five forts are within the current boundaries of the monument, but the two others are located on adjacent lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service. The legislation I am introducing today would redraw the monument boundaries to include those areas and provided the protection that those resources need and deserve. About 1,239 acres of forest land would be transferred to Park Service administration. No State or private land would be affected.”