For years, the communities we represent have called for the creation of Chuckwalla National Monument. Located south of Joshua Tree National Park, this monument is about more than protecting land—it’s about strengthening our economy, preserving our shared history, and honoring the service and sacrifice of those who came before us.

We want to be clear: Chuckwalla National Monument enjoys strong, bipartisan support. Tribal leaders, veterans, business owners, and local elected officials have joined together to back this effort, and the voices of many of our constituents—who have written, called, and spoken up—deserve to be heard.

Safeguarding these lands makes sense for our economy. More than 300 businesses, as well as Chambers of Commerce and eight cities across the region, support Chuckwalla because they know it will mean more jobs and more tourism. Visitors already come from around the world to experience Joshua Tree National Park and our desert public lands. Research from Visit Greater Palm Springs shows that potential visitors are looking for activities in nature and the outdoors. By elevating Chuckwalla as a national monument, we can bring even greater recognition and economic opportunity to our communities.

Chuckwalla National Monument is also sacred ground for local tribes who have cared for these lands for thousands of years. Seven tribes led the charge for this designation: the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. Their voices were backed with a resolution of support from the National Congress of American Indians. We have met with tribal leaders and heard directly about the deep cultural and spiritual importance of this landscape. Protecting Chuckwalla means ensuring this history is honored and passed down to future generations.

Read the full story in the Press-Enterprise.