Supporting Military Families, Rebuilding the Grand Canyon, and Designating America’s Newest National Park

Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing to review seven pieces of legislation focused on improving housing for military families, streamlining permitting to rebuild infrastructure at the Grand Canyon and connect rural Americans to broadband, and designating America's newest national park ahead of America250. Subcommittee Chair Tom Tiffany (R-Wisc.) issued the following statement in response:

"As we near the end of the year, I want to highlight the productivity of this subcommittee. This year, we have prioritized legislation to strengthen the resilience of our communities, modernize critical infrastructure, and improve the management of America's public lands. Today is no different. Today's legislation will address issues brought about by outdated federal policies and propose commonsense solutions to ensure safe housing for military families, broadband access for rural communities, and the restoration of fire-damaged landscapes."

Background

The legislation considered in this hearing reflects a commitment to improving public lands management, strengthening community resilience and enhancing the quality of life for Americans through practical, results-driven reforms.

Together, these bills address the need for safer and more modern infrastructure by empowering the Department of War to rebuild and rehabilitate unsafe military housing, improving administrative processes for broadband deployment on federal lands, expediting recovery and restoration efforts on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon following the catastrophic Dragon Bravo Fire, and authorizing the construction of an emergency egress route in Wintergreen, Virginia.

The hearing advanced proposals that recognize America's upcoming 250th anniversary, including the designation of Chiricahua National Park as the nation's 64th national park and legislation ensuring merchandise sold in national park units reflects "Made in America" manufacturing and domestic labor. These bills directly advance President Trump's Executive Order 14189, "Celebrating America's 250^th Birthday."