[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA:
  S. 5205. A bill to modify the boundaries of the San Pablo Bay 
National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the San Pablo Bay 
National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. This legislation would expand 
the boundary of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge by 
approximately 5,658 acres to conserve additional land in Solano, Marin, 
and Sonoma Counties of California.
  The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 
19,000 acres located along the northern edge of San Pablo Bay in 
Northern California. It was established in 1974 to support wetland 
habitat; endangered species, like the salt marsh harvest mouse and the 
Ridgeway's Rail; and migratory birds, including the largest wintering 
population of Canvasbacks on the west coast.
  In addition to providing habitat and wildlife conservation, the San 
Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers numerous recreation 
opportunities, including wildlife viewing, wildlife photography, 
hiking, boating, fishing, and hunting. Regulation of these recreation 
activities allows for public enjoyment of the refuge while still 
protecting the wildlife and their habitats.
  The bill would expand the San Pablo Bay National Refuge by 5,658 
acres, which is more than 28 percent of its current size. The bill 
would also authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire 
lands within the modified boundary from willing sellers or donors and 
allow other Federal Agencies to transfer federally owned land within 
the modified boundary to the Service without administrative hurdles. 
Finally, the bill would encourage the Service to allocate Land and 
Water Conservation Fund dollars to acquire any private inholdings 
within modified National Wildlife Refuge boundary.
  The Fish and Wildlife Service recently reported that 221 million 
acres of wetlands were destroyed between 2009 and 2019, representing a 
50-percent increase in the rate of loss from the previous decade. The 
loss of wetlands across the country has reduced the amount of critical 
habitat for wildlife, endangered species, and migratory birds. Given 
these trends and its prime location within the Pacific Flyway, 
expanding the boundaries of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge 
offers a unique opportunity to protect both critical wetland habitat 
and priority public uses on Federal lands.
  Importantly, expanding the refuge would also contribute to the State 
of California's and the Biden-Harris Administration's goals to conserve 
30 percent of our public lands and waters by 2030.
  I would like to thank my colleagues Representatives John Garamendi, 
Mike Thompson, and Jared Huffman for championing this bill in the 
House.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the San Pablo 
Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act as quickly as possible.
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