Bill · S. 4458· Senate(119-S-4458)
Caja del Rio Protection Act
- Introduced
- 4/30/2026
- Last activity
- 7/15/2026 — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
- Sponsored by
- Martin Heinrich
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Caja del Rio Protection Act aims to establish the Caja del Rio Special Management Area and the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area in New Mexico. The bill seeks to protect the cultural, spiritual, ecological, and historical values of these lands. It includes provisions for managing specific land areas through comprehensive management plans developed by the Secretary. The legislation also addresses travel management to control motorized access and road use. Additionally, it provides for land exchanges between the federal government and the State of New Mexico. Finally, the act establishes a withdrawal area to restrict certain types of land entry and resource leasing.
Yes· 3 of 5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+9
The bill provides significant protections for tribal rights, cultural practices, and management opportunities.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+8
The bill establishes conservation areas to protect ecological, wildlife habitat, and natural values.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+6
The bill enhances opportunities for Indian Tribes to engage in the preservation and management of the lands.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?-3
The bill limits motorized access and new road construction in the managed areas.
Does this invest in rural communities?-2
The bill implements restrictions on road construction and access that may impact rural connectivity.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-2
The bill restricts resource extraction and new permanent road construction, which may limit some small business activities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Cultural and Spiritual Preservation: The bill establishes areas specifically designed to conserve and protect cultural, spiritual, religious, and traditional values (Section 101(b) and Section 201(b)).
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Support for Indian Tribes: The Act enhances opportunities for interested Indian Tribes to engage in the preservation and management of the areas (Section 101(b) and Section 201(b)). It also allows for tribal contracting to perform administrative or management functions (Section 302(a)).
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Protection of Traditional Uses: The bill allows for the continuation of traditional historic uses, such as hunting, fishing, and gathering, by land grant-merced or traditional historic communities (Section 2 of the Act, under "Traditional historic use").
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Tribal Resource Rights: Members of interested Indian Tribes are permitted to collect plants and mineral resources for noncommercial traditional and cultural uses (Section 302(d)(1)).
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Protection of Sacred Sites: The Act includes protections to prevent the public disclosure of information regarding the nature or location of sacred sites to protect cultural resources and privacy (Section 303(e)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Land Use and Access: The bill implements travel management plans to decrease unauthorized road access and motorized use (Section 102(c)(3) and Section 202(d)).
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Road Decommissioning: The Secretary is required to decommission any roads in a covered area that are not specifically designated on the Map or in a travel management plan (Section 301(a)(3)).
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Restrictions on New Construction: No new permanent road construction is permitted in the covered areas unless specifically designated under certain exceptions (Section 301(a)(1)).
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Limitations on Resource Extraction: The bill withdraws lands from forms of entry, appropriation, disposal, and the operation of mineral and geothermal leasing laws (Section 301(c) and Section 401).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+8Reduces Fossil Fuel Production+5Improves Rural Development-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+6
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+9Good For Rural Residents-3Good For Low Income Households-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-2
- 7/15/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
- 4/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico