[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 17, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H4022-H4023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVER AND SAN GABRIEL RIVER 
                      WATERSHEDS STUDY ACT OF 2001

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to bring forward legislation 
that I want to introduce regarding the Lower Los Angeles River and the 
San Gabriel River Watershed Study Act of 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, I grew up in the shadow of one of the largest landfills 
in the country, communities exposed to high levels of smog, and one of 
the largest Superfund sites in the region. All this has inspired my 
passion to preserve our remnants of open space.
  Today, children in my district are still living next to this 
landfill, and their playgrounds are often small concrete slabs with 
little green space. With this knowledge, today I introduce the Lower 
Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River Watershed Study Act of 2001. 
The bill will study the Lower Los Angeles River and the San Gabriel

[[Page H4023]]

River and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains for potential inclusion 
in the National Parks Service system.
  The bill will direct the National Park Service to study the area and 
its natural, historic, scenic, recreational, and national significance.
  If deemed appropriate, I plan to introduce a bill that will 
officially designate the area. Thus, laying the groundwork for open 
space preservation, environmental revitalization, curbing urban sprawl, 
and giving communities of color the option of experiencing more than 
car horns and skyscrapers.
  Currently, there are only five national recreation areas near urban 
centers. Such urban parks combine scarce spaces with the preservation 
of significant historic resources and important natural areas in 
locations that can provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of 
people. The population growth in California, as you know, is projected 
to double in over the next 40 years. It is of critical importance to 
plan for the future of open space.
  Study after study find that open space creates high property values, 
more community-oriented events, and safer environments for our 
families. It is estimated that there are less than one-half acre square 
space per 1,000 residents in low-income areas, and up to 1.7 acres in 
West Los Angeles. Yet, three to four acres of open space per 1,000 
residents is what is recommended by our Park Service.
  After the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, nearly 77 percent of 
neighborhood residents when asked what they felt was most important 
felt that improved parks and recreation facilities was absolutely 
critical and important to the restoration of their communities.
  There is a growing concern that poor planning has resulted in the 
loss of too much open space in the San Gabriel Valley and in the 
foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The threat of the total 
buildout of the last remnants of open space has increased concern about 
the cumulative impacts of that buildout on what little remains of our 
natural resources.
  This concern has reached a critical mass, sparking community action 
to form local conservancies. In fact, I was a partner in helping to 
establish one of the largest urban conservancies in the State of 
California effecting well over 6 million people.
  There is a need out there to provide open space. People in my 
community and across the country want to see that there is some 
preservation and some area for families to recreate. As a California 
State Senator, I was proud to have introduced that piece of legislation 
last year.
  There are over 30 local community governments and organizing groups 
that are now waiting for us to move ahead at the Federal level to 
create this park service area.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert the following editorial published 
on May 30, 2001 of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
  It is time for the Federal Government to offer the next step for 
protection and revitalization in the San Gabriel Valley. This study is 
the first step in accomplishing that venture.

          [From the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, May 30, 2001]

               Our View: Bush Should Join Solis Park Plan

       The president was in town this week visiting Camp Pendleton 
     and meeting with Gov. Gray Davis in Los Angeles on energy 
     issues. Some say President George W. Bush should use this 
     visit to improve his standing on the environment, an issue 
     dear to Golden Staters. Specifically, he should support Rep. 
     Hilda Solis' idea to declare the San Gabriel River--and 2,000 
     acres around it--a national recreation area.
       Solis, who has not formalized her idea, but rather is 
     sending it up as a trial balloon, wants to siphon federal 
     dollars into making the river a national park. Last year, 
     $1.38 billion was available through the National Park 
     Service. While we support the preservation and maintenance of 
     more traditional national parks, we believe the feds should 
     change direction and provide for creation of closer-in, urban 
     green spaces.
       Efforts are under way to restore the 29-mile San Gabriel 
     River, which runs from the Angeles National Forest to the 
     beach. Our river, and our forest for that matter, are visited 
     by just as many people as many national parks--eight million 
     a year visit the Angeles, which includes the river's West 
     Fork and the East Fork regions. Creating more urban 
     recreation areas can be more important than preserving chunks 
     of wild lands in remote parts of the country because these 
     are closer to millions of people who need a green space to 
     de-stress, relax and get away from the burdens of everyday 
     life.
       In addition, it seems as if the new San Gabriel and Lower 
     Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy started by Solis 
     and Sally Havice is stalled, but it's nothing that a little 
     federal momentum could not kick start.
       We would like to see an education center, more bike trails 
     and more river access for hikers, horseback riders, birders, 
     mountain bikers, picnickers and all.
       Likewise, to the west, the Arroyo Seco should be restored. 
     The Arroyo Seco Foundation and North East Trees are working 
     on a plan to make the river that runs through Pasadena, South 
     Pasadena to Los Angeles a place of beauty instead of a 
     concrete channel off-limits to visitors.
       These are projects that are not about saving a species of 
     frog or fish but rather, about saving a quality of life for 
     almost 2 million San Gabriel Valley residents who 
     increasingly spend more time in their cars in traffic than in 
     nature. Many have come here from Mexico, as the new census 
     figures show, living in poorer and middle-class neighborhoods 
     of South El Monte, El Monte, Pico Rivera, Northwest Pasadena, 
     El Sereno, Azusa and Duarte and rarely go beyond the streets 
     where they live.
       Most do not have the means to travel to Yosemite, Mammoth 
     Lakes and other spots that are favorites of the Valley's more 
     well-to-do population. Hence, more than 75 percent of those 
     who visit the East Fork, Whittier Narrows, Marrano Beach and 
     Santa Fe Dam are Latino.
       The Bush Administration can't miss this chance to start 
     working on an urban, national park that will benefit Latinos 
     in California.
       It's an opportunity for Bush to improve his image in the 
     state and at the same time work with Democrat Solis in a 
     bipartisan effort. Sounds like win-win-win to us.

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