[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1846-S1847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 1776. A bill to provide for the protection of and investment in 
certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

[[Page S1847]]

  

  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the Protecting 
Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California, PUBLIC 
Lands Act. This measure would increase protections for over 1 million 
acres of Federal public lands throughout northwest California, the 
central coast, and Los Angeles, including nearly 600,000 acres of new 
wilderness, more than 583 miles of new wild and scenic rivers, and over 
100,000 acres of an expanded national monument.
  This legislation would preserve our public lands for the benefit of 
current and future generations and help protect California communities 
from the impacts of the climate crisis.
  The PUBLIC Lands Act is grounded in the best conservation principles: 
It expands access to the outdoors for all, addresses disparities in 
access to nature, supports locally led efforts, and is based on 
science.
  In northwest California, this bill would designate new wilderness, 
wild and scenic rivers, recreation and conservation areas, and forest 
and watershed restoration areas. Importantly, it would increase 
wildfire resiliency in northwest California, where the impacts of the 
climate crisis have resulted in more frequent and severe wildfires.
  Along the central coast, the bill would designate nearly 250,000 
acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo 
Plain National Monument as wilderness and establish a 400-mile-long 
Condor National Recreation trail, stretching from Los Angeles to 
Monterey County. The designations in the bill would protect the Central 
Valley's abundant biodiversity, including threatened and endangered 
species.
  In Southern California, the bill would expand the San Gabriel 
Mountains National Monument to include more of the San Gabriel Mountain 
range. Los Angeles County is one of the most park-poor, densely 
populated, and polluted regions in the Nation, and this legislation 
would begin to rectify that by providing increased outdoor 
opportunities for Angelenos and ensuring that disadvantaged communities 
can benefit more easily from our public lands.
  I want to highlight that this legislation protects existing water 
rights, property rights, and land-use authorities. The bill also does 
not create any new public lands--rather, it protects existing public 
lands through the designation as wilderness in order to keep these 
lands as untouched and wild as possible.
  The science is becoming increasingly clear that we must conserve 30 
percent of our lands and waters by 2030 as part of our efforts to solve 
the climate crisis, protect nature, and save America's wildlife. This 
legislation would provide significant progress on that goal, helping 
California and the Biden administration meet our 30x30 goals and 
reverse the worst effects of climate change.
  The bill would also provide outdoor recreation opportunities for 
park-poor communities. It is imperative that as we conserve our public 
lands, we do so in a way that also reverses racial and economic 
disparities in access to nature and parks.
  This bill enjoys the support of hundreds of local municipalities and 
elected officials, community groups, and businesses and local 
outfitters. It is the product of significant public engagement in the 
legislative process over decades.
  I would like to thank my colleagues and conservation champions, 
Representatives Jared Huffman, Salud Carbajal, and Judy Chu, for 
championing these bills in the House.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the PUBLIC Lands 
Act as quickly as possible.

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