Kelly, Gallego Introduce Legislation to Cut Red Tape, Speed Up North Rim Restoration

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Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego introduced the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act to expedite clean up and restoration efforts following last year's devastating Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires to support local communities and small businesses. The House version was introduced by Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) in October.

Under normal federal procurement laws, contracting for services like cleanup, rebuilding, and forestry restoration involve approval and bidding processes which can take years. The North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act would streamline this process by granting the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service emergency contracting authority to expedite procurement timelines and accelerate renewals.

"The Grand Canyon is special not only for Arizona but also for our country, and last summer's fires on the North Rim devastated park facilities and hit local communities hard," said Kelly. "Restoring it quickly brings tourism back to the region, supports local small businesses, and keeps this iconic place open for future generations. Senator Gallego and I look forward to working with Representative Crane and the entire Arizona delegation to get this national treasure open and running as quickly as possible."

"The Grand Canyon is not only one of our most treasured landscapes, it is a vital economic driver for Northern Arizona. The communities that rely on Grand Canyon area tourism dollars cannot afford to wait when it comes to restoration efforts," said Gallego. "This commonsense bill will cut red tape, ensuring contractors can be quickly and easily hired to speed up cleanup and rebuilding efforts."

"Coconino County supports the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026, granting authority to the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service to respond swiftly and thoughtfully to rebuild and restore the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim and the Kaibab National Forest following the devastation of the Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires. We are grateful to Senators Kelly and Gallego for embracing the need for this bipartisan legislation and moving the issue forward to see the natural treasures that are the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab National Forest restored," said the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

"The Grand Canyon Trust supports the Grand Canyon North Rim restoration legislation led by Senators Kelly and Gallego in the Senate and by Representative Crane in the House. We appreciate their responsive leadership in advancing a thoughtful, urgent response to the devastation caused by the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires. Rebuilding the North Rim is about far more than infrastructure; it is about restoring a place of profound ecological, cultural, historic, and economic significance to northern Arizona and southern Utah, Tribal nations, gateway communities, and the country as a whole," said Ethan Aumack, Executive Director, Grand Canyon Trust.

"This legislation is a critical step to supporting Grand Canyon National Park's recovery after the devastating Dragon Bravo Fire. Senator Gallego and Senator Kelly have brought forward a strong solution that grants emergency authority to the National Park Service to efficiently rebuild the North Rim's iconic facilities, while taking great care to preserve the historic structures that survived the fire. Just as important, it ensures new construction respects the historic character of the North Rim as it is remembered, so this treasured place can welcome visitors again while protecting the natural resources that make it so special," said Christina Hazard, Legislative Director for Government Affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association.

Background:

Since the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the North Rim last summer-burning nearly 150,000 acres, destroying more than 100 structures including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and forcing the park's closure-Kelly has led efforts to support impacted communities and restore access. In August, he visited the Grand Canyon to observe the burn scar and meet with local business owners about the economic toll. Earlier this month, he pressed the Department of the Interior to safely reopen overlooks and trails to bring visitors back. Alongside Senator Gallego, Kelly also demanded answers on the federal government's handling of the fire.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.