[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 126 (Thursday, July 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3784-S3785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
  S. 4669. A bill to establish the Western Riverside National Wildlife 
Refuge, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Western 
Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge Act, along with my California 
colleague, Senator Alex Padilla.
  As our country's population grows, so does the need for 
infrastructure like housing and highways. However, we must find a way 
to balance the needs of growth with the preservation of our natural 
resources, including endangered species habitat and green space for the 
health and safety of our communities.
  Senator Padilla and I are proud this legislation would accomplish 
those goals by creating a Federal wildlife refuge in western Riverside 
County as part of a collaborative land management plan created by 
Riverside County.
  The newly created wildlife refuge would provide expanded recreation, 
conservation, and educational opportunities for the local community--
one of the fastest growing in the Nation.

[[Page S3785]]

  This legislation builds off Riverside County's multiple species 
habitat conservation plan, allowing land that has already been acquired 
by the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority to be 
included in the new Federal wildlife refuge this bill would create.
  Our bill would establish a new unit of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System--the Western Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge. The 
refuge would be comprised of donated lands from Western Riverside 
County Regional Conservation Authority, as well as any additional lands 
deemed appropriate by the Interior Department acquired from willing 
sellers or donors, including Federal, State, or local agencies, Tribes, 
or private land owners.
  This refuge would not only create increased recreation, outdoor 
access, and educational opportunities in Southern California but also 
work to protect endangered species in the region like the arroyo toad, 
the southwestern willow flycatcher, and the quino checkerspot 
butterfly. These protections would in turn help streamline 
infrastructure projects and support smart growth and land management 
planning.
  As temperatures continue to rise and California experiences another 
historic drought and wildfire season, it is more important than ever to 
ensure that we conserve green spaces. As I stated earlier, Riverside 
County's population is one of the fastest growing in the country, and 
it is well documented that human development can have damaging effects 
on the health of endangered and threatened species. Additionally, 
overdevelopment results in poor community health and well-being.
  That is why smart, collaborative land management planning is our best 
option on how to move forward with a growing population and economy, 
while safeguarding the resources that keep our communities and wildlife 
populations healthy.
  This bill would support the conservation of habitat for 146 different 
species in the region, including 33 species that are listed as 
threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The acquisition boundary 
for the refuge was created in collaboration with the county, 
environmental groups and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 
boundary area expands on local conservation efforts and increase access 
to green spaces, especially to underserved communities.
  The coronavirus pandemic and recent extreme heat waves in our State 
have served to underscore the importance of ensuring access and 
preservation of open spaces, especially as our Nation's population 
grows and its cities expand.
  This bill also meets the Biden administration's call to conserve 30 
percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, an initiative known as 
America the Beautiful. We are proud the creation of this refuge would 
contribute to that important goal.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
                                 ______