[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 169 (Monday, October 16, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4978-S4979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PADILLA:
  S. 3045. A bill to provide for the transfer of administrative 
jurisdiction

[[Page S4979]]

over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Ackerson Meadow 
Land Exchange Act. This legislation will facilitate a simple land 
exchange between the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service 
in the Sierra Nevadas.
  This bill would transfer 160 acres of Stanislaus National Forest land 
to the National Park Service to be managed as part of Yosemite National 
Park Service to be managed as part of the Yosemite National Park and 
transfer 170 acres of National Park land to the Forest Service to 
manage as part of Stanislaus National Forest. The land in the exchange 
is known as Ackerson Meadow.
  Ackerson Meadow is one of the largest midelevation meadows in the 
Sierra Nevada. It is an ecologically and regionally critical wildlife 
corridor, and the scenic meadow is an important habitat for the State 
endangered great grey owl and little willow flycatcher, as well as a 
suite of additional at-risk wildlife species. In 2016, a coalition of 
conservation groups donated Ackerson Meadow to Yosemite National Park; 
however, it is almost completely surrounded by Stanislaus National 
Forest and only partially contiguous to the rest of Yosemite National 
Park.
  The current configuration of land management presents logistical 
challenges to both NPS and Forest Service; therefore, both Agencies, as 
well as local stakeholders, support this land exchange.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this 
straightforward legislation to better manage the land in and around 
Ackerson Meadow.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA:
  S. 3046. A bill to make permanent the authority to collect Shasta-
Trinity National Forest marina fees; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Shasta Trinity 
Marina Fees Act to make permanent the existing authority for the U.S. 
Forest Service to collect and retain marina fees within the Shasta-
Trinity National Forest.
  The ability to collect these fees has proved critical to the success 
of the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, and the funds are used 
to enhance recreation, support public safety and service announcements, 
improve lake access, and provide greater marina infrastructure for 
boaters.
  In 2008, Congress gave the Forest Service the ability to collect and 
retain marina fees in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in order to 
fund the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area; however, that 
authority expired in 2019, and Congress has granted the Forest Service 
1-year reauthorizations since then.
  This bipartisan bill would make this authority permanent, providing 
certainty to the Forest Service and guaranteeing the ability to 
maintain recreation infrastructure.
  Trinity County is one of the poorest counties in the State of 
California, with declining revenue sources to fund public services and 
a strained economy. The Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area is the 
largest driver of tourism activity to the area, and visitors come to 
the region to enjoy the Shasta and Trinity Lakes.
  The ability to collect marina fees has allowed the Forest Service to 
support 15 permanent and 9 seasonal employees who provide vital support 
for recreation and has also paid for cleaning and maintenance of 
infrastructure, fire prevention patrols, and accessible facilities to 
provide greater access for people with disabilities.
  We must provide certainty to ensure that this critical investment in 
Shasta-Trinity National Forest won't be threatened congressional 
inaction, government shutdowns, or gamesmanship.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation 
to provide permanent, crucial investments for one of California's 
meccas for outdoor recreation.

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