Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Elijah Crane

Re: HR 5729 (119th Congress), North Rim Restoration Act · Latest action (2026-09-30): Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
VFA SI Solution #194 · published 2026-07-23 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/194
Office of record (Congress.gov): 307 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-3361

North Rim Restoration and Fiscal Responsibility Act

The measure, as described from the official record: Restore and protect the ecological health, recreational infrastructure, and visitor safety of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon through federal land management and restoration projects.

The proposal

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, to carry out restoration projects on federal lands within the North Rim area of Grand Canyon National Park. Projects shall include habitat restoration, trail and road maintenance, erosion control, and visitor safety improvements. All activities shall be limited to lands under federal jurisdiction and shall not impose any requirements on state, tribal, or private lands. The Secretary shall consult with the State of Arizona, affected tribal nations, and local communities before initiating any project. Funding for this Act shall be drawn from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, with a total authorization of $50 million over five fiscal years. No funds may be used for land acquisition or for any purpose outside the defined North Rim area. The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing expenditures, project milestones, and environmental outcomes. This Act shall sunset five years after enactment, unless reauthorized by Congress. Any funds not obligated within the five-year period shall be returned to the Treasury. The Secretary may issue regulations to implement this Act, but such regulations shall not exceed the scope of activities authorized herein.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) appropriations, capped at $50 million total over five years.
funding amount: $50 million
sunset years: 5 years
oversight body: National Park Service, with annual reporting to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
enforcement mechanism: The Secretary of the Interior shall ensure compliance with all provisions. Any funds used for unauthorized purposes shall be recovered and deposited into the Treasury. The Government Accountability Office may audit expenditures upon request.
effective date: Upon enactment

Constitutional basis

Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 (Property Clause – federal management of public lands)
Tenth Amendment (limits federal action to federal lands, respecting state sovereignty)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (Spending Clause – funds drawn from existing LWCF for general welfare)

Concerns with the measure as written:

If the original bill imposed binding restoration requirements on non-federal lands or state governments, it would violate the Tenth Amendment.
If the original bill lacked a clear funding source or imposed unfunded mandates, it could raise concerns under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (Spending Clause) and general welfare limitations.

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Democratic priorities: protects public lands, funds environmental restoration, and includes tribal consultation. Republican priorities: imposes a firm spending cap, includes a sunset clause, limits federal action to existing federal lands, and avoids new taxes or mandates on states.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/194 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology