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History of Chiricahua National Monument.

When I first visited Chiricahua National Monument, I was struck by its incredible beauty. Its towering rock formations and unique landscape earned it the nickname "Wonderland of Rocks," a name famously used by President Calvin Coolidge when the monument was established in 1924.  Now over a century later, Chiricahua welcomes roughly 60,000 visitors each year, drawing people from across Arizona and the country to experience its extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and history.

But the effort to protect and elevate Chiricahua did not begin with my bill. For years, Southern Arizonans, public land advocates, local leaders, and lawmakers have worked to preserve this special place and secure the recognition it deserves.

Here is how we got to this moment:

✅ September 2016: Former U.S. Representative Martha McSally introduced legislation to designate Chiricahua National Monument as a National Park.

✅ March 2023: I introduced legislation to designate the 12,025 acres of Chiricahua National Monument as a National Park.

✅ March 2026: The House passed the Chiricahua National Park Act, sending it to the Senate.

✅ August 2026: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced the bill to the Senate floor.

✅ September 2026: The Senate passed the bill, sending it to the President’s desk.

I’m incredibly grateful for the collaboration of local, tribal, state, and federal leaders who have helped move this effort forward. Designating Chiricahua as a national park would help attract more visitors, support local businesses and tourism, preserve these treasured public lands, and ensure that future generations can experience the same Chiricahua we know and love today. What started as a long-term vision for Arizona is now within reach. It’s been a long hike, but we’re almost at the summit.

What’s Next for This Bill?

The bill now awaits the President’s final signature, expected within the next 10 days. Once signed into law, Chiricahua will become Arizona’s fourth national park and the nation’s 64th.

It has been more than 30 years since Arizona welcomed a new national park, and after years of bipartisan work, local advocacy, and persistence, we are finally at the finish line in making Chiricahua’s designation a reality. As one of Southern Arizona’s greatest natural treasures, and it is finally on its way to receiving the national park recognition it has truly deserved all along.

What Local Leaders Are Saying.

In the News.

Chiricahua National Park Act Passes Senate, Heads to President Trump’s Desk

Gila Herald

"U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani’s legislation to designate the Chiricahua National Monument as a national park has reached its final legislative hurdle after passing the full U.S. Senate. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature to officially become law. 'It’s been a long hike, but we’re at the summit. After years of work and persistence, Arizona is one signature away from having its fourth national park,' said Representative Ciscomani. 'Chiricahua has long deserved this designation. As the second bill I ever introduced, and in my first 100 days in Congress, I am proud to have worked across the aisle and across both chambers to deliver this victory for our district. This is an Arizona priority and a true team effort. I’m grateful to our local partners, including the City of Willcox, public lands advocates, and everyone who has worked alongside us to make this happen. I’m incredibly proud that we are now one signature away from making Chiricahua Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District’s second national park during our nation’s 250th birthday.'"

Chiricahua National Park Act passes Senate, heads to president for signature

Gila Valley Central   

"Legislation to benefit northern Cochise County, introduced by U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., in the House, and Democratic U.S. Senators Mark Kelley and Ruben Gallego in the Senate is on its way to the president. The Chiricahua National Park Act seeks to change the designation of the Chiricahuas from a national monument to a national park. The bill passed the House in March and the Senate passed the bill on Sept. 30. In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Ciscomani said the change would increase the number of vistors to the region. 'That’s going to attract even more tourism,' Ciscomani said. 'I met with the Mayor of Willcox this morning and all the plans that we have around that, to keep attracting more people here, from all over the world.' If the president signs the bill into law, the Chiricahuas would become Arizona’s fourth national park, joining the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro."

Arizona lawmakers help get Chiricahua closer to national park designation

KOLD 13

"Several Arizona lawmakers -- Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Sens. Mary Kelly and Ruben Gallego -- helped get an act passed to designate Chiricahua National Monument as a national park. The act had been sent to President Donald Trump’s desk, and it is awaiting his signature. The Senate voted on the act late Wednesday night. Willcox Mayor Greg Hancock said Ciscomani led the House legislation, while Kelly introduced the Senate legislation with Gallego. 'This is an incredible day for Willcox, Cochise County, and all of southeastern Arizona,' Hancock said. 'We would not have been able to get this accomplished without some amazing partners. Sen. Mark Kelly and Congressman Juan Ciscomani have championed this effort, worked across party lines, and continued pushing it forward. We are extremely grateful for their leadership and commitment to southeastern Arizona.' The Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 and provides 12,000 acres of diverse wildlife, rock formations, and canyons in Cochise County."

Arizona's Chiricahua Monument is one signature from national park

KVOA

"A historic Southeastern Arizona landmark is one signature away from officially becoming the state's fourth national park. The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Chiricahua National Park Act on Wednesday, Sept. 30, sending the legislation to the president's desk, according to congressional officials. The bill officially redesignates Cochise County's Chiricahua National Monument as a 12,000-acre national park. Representative Juan Ciscomani, who introduced the legislation, celebrated the bill's passage through both chambers of Congress. The 102-year-old monument would join Saguaro, Grand Canyon, and Petrified Forest as Arizona's national parks. 'It’s been a long hike, but we’re at the summit,' Ciscomani said. 'After years of work and persistence, Arizona is one signature away from having its fourth national park.'"

Chiricahua poised to become Arizona’s fourth national park

Arizona Daily Star  

"Arizona is one signature away from getting a new national park. A bill to upgrade Chiricahua National Monument to national park status was approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday and is now headed to President Donald Trump's desk for final approval. Tucson Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who introduced the House version of the bill in December, celebrated its passage and tagged the president in a post on X Wednesday night. 'After years of work, Arizona is one signature away from its fourth national park,' he wrote. '@POTUS, let's get this across the finish line for Cochise County and all of Southern Arizona.'"

Arizona is one step closer to getting its fourth national park

AZPM

"'We should have this signed into law and make it official here within 10 days or so,' said Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani. The representative has introduced this legislation twice since taking office in 2023 – first in 2023, as only the second bill he introduced during the first 100 days of his first term, and more recently in December 2025. Democratic Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema co-sponsored legislation in the Senate in 2021 and again in 2023 alongside Ciscomani. 'Chiricahua is one of Arizona's most extraordinary places. Designating it as our state's fourth national park will protect this remarkable landscape for generations and bring new visitors and economic opportunities to southeastern Arizona,' Kelly said in a press release. The 12,000-acre 'Wonderland of Rocks' is located in Cochise County and was first established as a monument in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge. More than 60,000 visitors are drawn to the location annually to see rhyolite rock pinnacles known as hoo-doos – geological rock formations that were formed more than 27 million years ago by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption."

As always, my office and I are here to assist you. If you would like to share a comment or tell us your story, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to serving you!

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