Sarah Elfreth: “I rise in support of H.R. 5729, the North Rim Restoration Act, offered by my colleague Representative Crane of Arizona.…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 5729, the North Rim Restoration Act, offered by my colleague Representative Crane of Arizona. Last summer's devastating Dragon Bravo fire burned nearly 150,000 acres of the Grand Canyon's North Rim, causing irreparable damage to crucial water infrastructure, well-loved trails, and 106 buildings, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. After the fire, safety concerns forced the Park Service and the nearby Kaibab National Forest to restrict visitor access, effectively closing the North Rim overnight. The loss of tourism has been devastating for communities and businesses. The loss for this Nation cannot be overstated. Arizona's $29.3 billion tourism economy is fueled by visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park, with nearly 5 million people visiting this crown jewel each and every year. Restoring and rebuilding at the North Rim is a serious priority. It will take an all-hands-on-deck approach to rebuild the iconic North Rim lodge to get visitors back to this wonderful landscape. H.R. 5729 will allow the National Park Service to use expedited contracting authority to efficiently move projects along as quickly as possible.”