Four longtime Conservation Alliance priorities continued their journey through the congressional process today with a hearing in the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, and the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act now await a markup in the House of Representatives. All four bills have companion legislation that has been introduced in the Senate.
We joined forces with our friends at Outdoor Alliance and the Outdoor Industry Association to submit testimony for today’s hearing. Scroll down to read our endorsements and learn more about the legislation. Wonderful maps are courtesy of Outdoor Alliance.
The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act / S.1110 and H.R.2250
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced legislation to permanently protect 350,000 acres of Wilderness and National Recreation Areas and 450 Wild & Scenic river miles. The proposal would conserve special places on public lands, restore forests and fish habitat, enhance recreation opportunities, boost local economies, and protect communities by reducing the risks of wildfire in Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity Counties.
Lead Conservation Alliance Grantees: California Wilderness Coalition and The Pew Charitable Trusts
Click here to read out joint endorsement from The Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Alliance, and OIA.
The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act / S.1111 and H.R.2199
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) introduced legislation to protect 245,665 acres of new and expanded wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument, protecting Wild and Scenic rivers, and designating the Condor National Recreation Trail. Visitors from around the world come to these coastal mountains and grasslands to hike, backpack, camp, birdwatch, ride horses, hunt, fish, kayak, and mountain bike.
Lead Conservation Alliance Grantee: California Wilderness Coalition
Click here to read out joint endorsement from The Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Alliance, and OIA.
The San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act / S.1109 and H.R.2215
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Representative Judy Chu (D-CA-27) introduced legislation to protect wild places outside of Los Angeles. The bill would expand the San Gabriel Mountain National Monument to include portions of the Angeles National Forest, establish a new National Recreation Area, and designate 30,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains area as wilderness and 45.5 miles of river as Wild and Scenic.
Lead Conservation Alliance Grantee: California Wilderness Coalition
Click here to read out joint endorsement from The Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Alliance, and OIA.
The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act / S.1382 and H.R.2642
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA-6) introduced legislation to protect 126,000 acres of Wilderness and 469 river miles on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. The legislation would preserve salmon streams and wild lands adjacent to Olympic National Park.
Lead Conservation Alliance Grantee: American Whitewater
Click here to read out joint endorsement from The Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Alliance, and OIA.
