Gosar Highlights Legislative Hearing on H.R. 8686 Supporting Yuma Proving Ground Mission

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) issued the following statement in response to a legislative hearing held today before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands regarding H.R. 8686, his legislation authorizing the withdrawal and reservation of approximately 22,000 acres of federal land in Yuma and La Paz Counties to support the critical national security mission of the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground:

"The Yuma Proving Ground plays a vital role in America's national defense and military readiness. This legislation ensures our service members can safely conduct advanced testing and training operations while protecting the long-term mission of one of the most important military installations in the country. Arizona is proud to support the men and women who defend our nation, and this bill strengthens that mission for decades to come.

"This is not a partisan issue. This is about military readiness, national security, and protecting the safety of the troops training at Yuma Proving Ground. Our military must have the tools, land, and operational flexibility necessary to prepare for modern threats and evolving battlefield conditions," stated Congressman Gosar.

Congressman Gosar thanked Yuma, Arizona Mayor Doug Nicholls for traveling to Washington to testify before the committee and for highlighting the broad local support for the legislation.

"I appreciate Mayor Nicholls' testimony and his continued leadership in supporting Yuma's defense community," Gosar added. "His testimony reinforced that this legislation strikes the right balance between military readiness, responsible land management, public safety, and regional economic stability."

During the hearing, Mayor Nicholls testified in strong support of the legislation, emphasizing the vital role Yuma Proving Ground plays in both America's national defense and the regional economy. Mayor Nicholls described Yuma Proving Ground as "one of the most important economic engines in southwestern Arizona" and noted that the installation generates more than $1.1 billion annually in economic activity while supporting thousands of civilian and military jobs throughout the region.

Mayor Nicholls also stressed the public safety and military readiness benefits of the proposal, explaining that modern testing operations require "higher altitudes, greater offsets, and more complex tactical scenarios than the current land boundary can safely support." He further testified that expanding the withdrawal area to Highway 95 would improve public safety by creating a clear and visible boundary while allowing the Army to safely conduct advanced air delivery testing critical to future military operations.

Background:

Congressman Gosar introduced H.R. 8686 on May 8, 2026. The bill authorizes the withdrawal of approximately 21,783 acres adjacent to Highway 95 to establish a larger safety buffer zone for military air delivery system testing. According to Army analysis, the additional land is necessary to support higher-altitude testing, longer glide distances for guided parachute systems, and more advanced tactical training scenarios that cannot safely occur under current land limitations.

The legislation also formally withdraws and reserves approximately 249 acres within the Howard Cantonment area that has been continuously utilized by the Army since 1955 under authorities that have since expired.

Importantly, the proposal originated during the Biden Administration and underwent environmental review and interagency approval before ultimately receiving formal approval under the Trump Administration, underscoring the nonpartisan nature of the military's operational need.

Click here to watch my questions directed to Mayor Nicholls.