[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 67 (Monday, April 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2132-S2133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 4080. A bill to modify the boundary of the Berryessa Snow Mountain 
National Monument to include certain Federal land in Lake County, 
California, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Berryessa Snow 
Mountain National Monument Expansion Act.
  This legislation would expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National 
Monument to include approximately 3,925 acres of adjacent public land 
managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
  In 2015, President Obama established the Berryessa Snow Mountain 
National Monument, proclaiming that ``once covered by ocean waters, it 
is a landscape shaped by geologic forces of staggering power overlain 
with bountiful but fragile biodiversity. Anchored in the north by Snow 
Mountain's remote forests and in the south by scenic Berryessa 
Mountain, this area stretches through unbroken wildlands and important 
wildlife corridors, a mosaic of native grasslands, picturesque oak 
woodlands, rare wetlands, and wild chaparral . . . This dramatic and 
diverse landscape is a biological hotspot providing refuge for rare 
plant and animal species and showcasing the human history of north-
central California.''
  The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is managed jointly by 
the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service, USFS 
and provides for unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities, is 
home to rich biodiversity, and contains lands that are culturally 
significant to over two dozen federally recognized tribes. This 
legislation would add over 3,900 acres of adjacent, BLM-administered 
land to the existing national monument.
  This expansion would include portions of the land known previously as 
Walker Ridge in Lake County, CA. Importantly, the legislation renames 
``Walker Ridge'' to ``Condor Ridge,'' which is translated from Molok 
Luyuk in the indigenous Patwin language. For thousands of years, these 
sacred lands have been central to Tribal origin stories, and Condor 
Ridge is an area that retains deep cultural significance to the Patwin 
people and over two dozen Native American tribes. The legislation also 
directs the BLM and USFS to complete the management plan for the 
national monument and to consult with federally recognized Tribes to do 
so.
  I am proud that this legislation would better enable federally 
recognized Tribes to be involved in the day-to-day management of the 
national monument. This essential, landmark component of the 
legislation would enable Tribal communities to share their rich history 
and ecological knowledge to better conserve and care for these lands.
  With the protections provided by this legislation, the abundant 
natural resources and the rich history on Molok Luyuk will be preserved 
for our children and future generations. By requiring the Federal 
Agencies to finally develop a management plan and by allowing for 
Tribal governments to be involved in the management of the monument, 
the bill would improve the health of these lands to benefit both people 
and biodiversity.

[[Page S2133]]

  I thank Senator Feinstein for introducing this legislation with me, 
and I thank Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson for spearheading this 
effort in the House of Representatives. I would also like to thank the 
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their leadership and desire to 
cooperatively manage ``Molok Luyuk'' to ensure that all Californians 
and Americans have the opportunity to benefit from these sacred lands.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Berryessa 
Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act as quickly as possible.

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