U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today praised passage of bipartisan legislation creating a National Heritage Area in the Santa Cruz Valley, a cultural treasure trove in one of the longest-inhabited regions in the country.
"Today marks a true milestone in the long history of environmental awareness in Southern Arizona," the Tucson lawmaker said. "With today’s vote, Congress is making sure that preservation and conservation efforts will be based on voluntary decision-making at the local level. This is participatory democracy at its best."
Introduced by Giffords and U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, the bill creating the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area passed the House of Representatives this morning in a 291 to 122 vote. It was part of broader legislation authorizing six new heritage areas in nine states. Supporters of each area include residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and local and state governments.
"The Santa Cruz Valley’s designation as a National Heritage Area will preserve the deep connection between our precious natural resources, our unique cultural traditions and our fragile historic places," said Giffords. "It means Southern Arizonans will set the agenda as we determine the best way to manage urban growth in the fastest-growing state in the country."
Stretching across Southern Arizona, the Santa Cruz Valley contains cactus-covered slopes, open grasslands, rugged canyons, forested mountain ranges, and rare desert streams. It also is home to Spanish missions, fortresses, ghost towns, and old mines. Traces of human habitation in the valley stretch back more than 12,000 years.
"This designation helps our community create a future that honors the cultural traditions, historic places and natural treasures that are so important to us all," said Vanessa Bechtol, programs manager for Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, a non-profit group advocating creation of the heritage area. "We applaud Congresswoman Giffords and Congressman Grijalva for introducing legislation that celebrates and promotes our rich heritage."
The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area will encompass approximately 3,300 square miles. National heritage areas differ from national parks and other types of federal designations because they do not impose federal zoning rules or regulations on land use. It does not affect private property rights or prevent the renovation or removal of existing buildings on private property.
A video of Congresswoman Giffords’ floor statement supporting this bill can be found in the video library on the Press Center page of her website, http://giffords.house.gov/press/movie-clips/index.shtml. The full text of the legislation creating the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area can be found online at http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr388).