Colorado Wilderness Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act.

Those unfamiliar with Los Angeles may think it is a series of communities interconnected only by freeways. But in fact, the opposite is true. It is connected by the wildlife and open spaces that bridge our communities and bring us together.

Mr. Speaker, for nearly 20 years, I have worked with my constituents to expand, preserve, and protect the space that surrounds the L.A. Basin, known as the Rim of the Valley. My legislation, which is included in H.R. 803, is the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, and it would expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area to include these pristine lands. The legislation will protect almost 200,000 acres of open space for generations to come.

Los Angeles is one of the most park-poor regions in the country. And during the pandemic, while many of us are stuck in our homes, it has caused us to reevaluate our priorities and consider what matters most.

For me and many Angelenos, it has been spending time with family and getting outdoors--hikes through Griffith Park, runs through the Verdugos, or walks in the Arroyo. Trails are full on weekends, and that won't change after the pandemic ends.

By expanding the national recreation area, the National Park Service will have the authority to make capital improvements, like repairing hiking trails and maintaining facilities for public enjoyment, studying wildlife and its habitats, and participating in cooperative conservation with local landowners. It will help ensure that wildlife corridors that allow Los Angelenos to witness mountain lions, like P-22 and P-96, black bears we have come to know, like Meatball, and other precious wildlife are still present in our own backyards.

This package of bills will also support the Biden administration's commitment to conserving public lands and waters, as well as protecting communities from the effects of climate change.

Like the last Congress, it is my hope that the House can pass this bill with bipartisan support, and we will finally see this legislation through to the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we have a willing partner with President Biden, who strongly supports H.R. 803.

I thank Chairman Grijalva, Representative DeGette, and my other colleagues who have bills in this package, for all the work they did on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 803.

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