[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S2207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 347. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a joint special resources study to 
evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Rim of the 
Valley Corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce this bill 
today to direct the Interior Secretary to conduct a study to evaluate 
the suitability and feasibility of expanding the Santa Monica National 
Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor.
  The Rim of the Valley Corridor encircles the San Fernando Valley, La 
Crescenta, Simi, Santa Clarita, Conejo Valleys, consisting of parts of 
the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susanna Mountains, San Gabriel 
Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills and connects to the 
adjacent Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests.
  This parcel of land is unique because of its rare Mediterranean 
ecosystem and wildlife corridor that stretches north from the Santa 
Monicas. With the population growth forecasted to multiply 
exponentially over the next several decades, the need for parks to 
balance out the expected population growth has become critical in 
California.
  Since the creation of the Santa Monica Recreation Area in 1978, 
Federal, State, and local authorities have worked successfully together 
to create and maintain the highly successful Santa Monica Mountains 
National Recreation Area, the world's largest urban park, hemmed in on 
all sides by development.
  Park and recreational lands provide people with a vital refuge from 
urban life while preserving valuable habitat and wildlife. With the 
passage of this legislation, Congress will hold true to its original 
commitment to preserve the scenic, natural, and historic setting of the 
Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. With the inclusion of the Rim 
of the Valley Corridor in Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, 
greater ecological health and diversity will be promoted, particularly 
for larger animals like mountain lions, bobcats, and the golden eagle.
  After the study called for in this bill is complete, the Secretary of 
the Interior and Congress will be in a key position to determine 
whether the Rim of the Valley warrants national park status.
  This bill enjoys strong support from local and State officials and I 
hope that it will have as much strong bipartisan support this Congress, 
as it did last Congress. Congressman Adam Schiff plans to introduce 
companion legislation for this bill in the House and I applaud his 
commitment to this issue.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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