Ciscomani Introduces Bill to Strengthen Military Readiness and Environmental Stewardship

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani has introduced legislation aimed at ensuring military installations can more effectively manage the surrounding lands essential to operational readiness and environmental conservation.

The bill will amend the Sikes Act to increase flexibility for cooperative and interagency agreements for land management efforts near federal and state military installations such as Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista and the many National Guard facilities in Arizona and other states.

“This commonsense update ensures that our military installations, including Fort Huachuca, have the tools they need to protect surrounding lands while staying mission-ready,” said Ciscomani. “It’s about improving flexibility, enhancing coordination with local and state partners, and supporting conservation without compromising national security.”

The legislation clarifies that cooperative agreements under the Sikes Act can be used not only for current or anticipated military activities, but also for the broader operations of the military installation or state-owned National Guard installations. This change provides the Department of Defense and state military departments greater latitude to protect and manage off-installation lands critical to training, environmental resilience, species conservation and public safety.

The Sikes Act, first enacted in 1960, enables the Department of Defense to partner with federal, state, and local organizations to manage natural resources on military lands. Congressman Ciscomani’s bill builds on this legacy, recognizing the importance of intergovernmental partnerships and proactive land stewardship around military bases.

This legislation is supported by:

“The City of Sierra Vista strongly supports H.R. 4293, which strengthens the Sikes Act while balancing the need for military readiness with environmental stewardship,” said Sierra Vista Mayor Clea McCaa. “Without this critical amendment, the City’s economic development plans remain vulnerable to legal actions from external special interest groups that allege Fort Huachuca’s operations negatively impact off-post habitat. This bill represents a thoughtful and balanced approach, and the City is grateful for Rep. Ciscomani’s leadership and commitment to our region’s economic and national security.”

“The Huachuca 50 supports Rep. Ciscomani’s efforts to amend the Sikes Act through H.R. 4293,” said Huachuca 50 President Dr. Randy Groth. “For over 20 years, special interest groups from outside Cochise County have targeted Fort Huachuca and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with lawsuits, threatening the Fort’s critical role in national defense. This legislation provides a common-sense update that maintains environmental protections while safeguarding military readiness and the local economy. We commend Rep. Ciscomani for his dedication to protecting Cochise County and the nation’s defense capabilities.

Read the full bill text here.