A defense policy bill approved by the U.S. House and sent to the U.S. Senate includes several provisions on New Mexico historical and conservation topics.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the bill would transfer management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service.
It also would create an historical park preserving sites at Los Alamos and elsewhere where the atomic bomb was built, and it would designate 45,000-acre Columbine Hondo Wilderness Area north of Taos.
The House's vote of 300-199 on Thursday sends the measure to the Senate where some Republican senators don't like the addition of various provisions to expand wilderness areas.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.