Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act. This legislation would direct the completion of a study to assess the feasibility of designating certain land along California's central coast as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area.

This bill would require the National Park Service to conduct a study to determine if coastal communities adjacent to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary meet the requirements to be designated as a national heritage area. If passed, the Park Service would hold robust consultation and listening sessions with local stakeholders and community members to assess whether this designation is appropriate.

A national heritage area designation recognizes a place's cultural, historical, and ecological value. These designations create public- private partnerships that leverage Federal support to empower local conservation efforts, provide technical assistance, and spur economic development without imposing Federal land use restrictions or affecting private property.

In California, where we already have two such designations, residents continue to retain their private property rights despite the designation. Nothing in this bill would allow the Federal Government to infringe upon private propertyb acquire land within a potential national heritage area boundary.

My bill would also not immediately authorize the designation but, rather, assess the feasibility of moving toward a designation. I want to thank Senator Schiff for cosponsoring this bill, and I want to thank Representative Jimmy Panetta for leading this effort in the House.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this straightforward legislation to recognize the unique cultural, historical, and environmental treasures in the Monterey Bay region.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source