Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7957

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Native Americans

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-17: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-07-01T08:09:26Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.R. 7957: Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District Act

Purpose

The bill aims to protect and preserve the Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District (also known as Oak Flat), a sacred traditional cultural place for Western Apache and other Native American Tribes, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It seeks to maintain its natural and cultural integrity by withdrawing National Forest System (NFS) lands from development and prohibiting mining-related activities.

Key Provisions

• Land Withdrawal (Sec. 4): NFS lands within the Historic District are withdrawn from:
• Entry, sale, or disposal under public land laws.
• Mining claims, entry, and patents.
• Mineral or geothermal leasing and material sales.
• Preservation Requirements (Sec. 5(a)):
• The Secretary of Agriculture must preserve the natural condition of NFS lands as a traditional cultural place (a location tied to a living community's cultural practices and history).
• No activities that harm its physical, cultural, landscape, water, wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
• Mining Prohibitions (Sec. 5(b)): Bans all mining and related activities on NFS lands, including rights-of-way, pipelines, power lines, waste disposal, roads, and infrastructure.
• Tribal Consultations (Sec. 5(c)): Requires government-to-government talks with affected Indian Tribes (federally recognized Native American groups) and cooperative agreements for tribal access to sacred sites and traditional uses.
• Findings (Sec. 2): Details the site's cultural, historical, and religious importance; past consultations; land transfer to Resolution Copper; and risks from proposed mining (e.g., crater formation, groundwater loss, toxic waste).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Overrides aspects of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act (2014, part of a defense bill), which transferred 2,422 acres of the District to Resolution Copper for mining, by prohibiting mining support infrastructure on remaining NFS lands.
• Strengthens National Historic Preservation Act protections for traditional cultural places by mandating preservation and withdrawal, limiting Forest Service discretion for development.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases U.S. Forest Service (under USDA) duties for preservation, consultations, and enforcement; may limit future land uses in Tonto National Forest.
• Citizens and Communities: Protects sacred sites and ecosystems for Tribes; reduces risks to downstream water supplies, aquifers, and air quality from mining waste and subsidence (ground sinking); preserves recreational/public access.
• Mining and Economy: Halts Resolution Copper's infrastructure plans (pipelines, power lines, roads) on NFS lands, potentially delaying or altering the mine project.
• International Relations: Affects foreign-owned Resolution Copper (Rio Tinto and BHP, with Chinese ties), limiting U.S. copper extraction primarily for export.

Main Stakeholders

• Native American Tribes: Western Apache and at least 9 Arizona Tribes with cultural ties, gaining protected access for ceremonies, gathering, and prayer.
• Resolution Copper Mining, LLC: Foreign-owned entity (Rio Tinto 55%, BHP 45%) blocked from key project elements.
• U.S. Forest Service: Responsible for implementation and enforcement.
• Local Communities: Residents near Tonto National Forest and Gila River watershed, impacted by water use and waste risks.
• Environmental and Preservation Groups: Benefit from ecosystem protections.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Enforces National Register listing via land withdrawal (removal from development eligibility), potentially sparking lawsuits over prior land exchange or property rights; prioritizes cultural preservation under National Historic Preservation Act.
• Constitutional: Upholds tribal treaty rights and government-to-government relations (rooted in U.S. Constitution and federal Indian law); balances public land use with First Amendment religious freedoms.
• Political: Highlights tensions between cultural/environmental protection and mining interests; introduced with bipartisan historical context but opposes foreign mining amid national security concerns (e.g., mineral exports to China).

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-17: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2026-03-17: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act — issued 2026-03-17 — PDF (12 pages)