[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Ms. Butler):
  S. 4132. A bill to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument and 
expand Joshua Tree National Park 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 Chuckwalla 
National Monument Establishment and Joshua Tree National Park Expansion 
Act.
  The Chuckwalla National Monument Establishment and Joshua Tree 
National Park Expansion Act would establish a new Chuckwalla National 
Monument to protect approximately 620,000 acres of public lands, while 
also expanding Joshua Tree National Park by adding approximately 17,842 
acres of previously designated public lands that were identified as 
suitable for inclusion in the park by the National Park Service.
  The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument's vast desert landscape 
spanning from the area along Joshua Tree National Park's southern 
boundary, along Interstate 10 from the eastern Coachella Valley, and 
all the way to the Colorado River are worthy of permanent protection.
  This area has a unique, biodiverse ecosystem; is home to habitats for 
species like the Chuckwalla lizard and the endangered desert tortoise; 
and contains critical migration corridors for desert bighorn sheep. 
This area is also cherished for outdoor recreation activities like 
hiking and rock climbing.
  The lands within the proposed national monument include the homelands 
of the Iviatim, Nuwu, Pipa Aha Macav, Kwatsaan, and Maara'yam peoples 
(Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano Nations). 
Designating the Chuckwalla National Monument would help to protect 
important spiritual and cultural values tied to the land such as multi-
use trail systems established by indigenous peoples, sacred sites and 
objects, traditional cultural places, geoglyphs, petroglyphs, 
pictographs, and native plants and wildlife.
  I am proud to work to introduce this legislation that would preserve 
part of California's vast desert landscape, help ensure more equitable 
access to nature and recreation, protect biodiversity, and preserve 
decades of cultural riches, particularly for the Tribal governments who 
have worked so hard to protect this area.
  I want to thank Representative Raul Ruiz of California for leading 
the House companion and Senator Butler for her cosponsorship in the 
Senate. I look forward to working with our colleagues to pass the 
Chuckwalla National Monument Establishment and Joshua Tree National 
Park Expansion Act as quickly as possible.

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