A step closer to protect America's wilderness and public lands: The Rim of the Valley addition to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area passed the House of Representatives

An excerpt from the announcement from Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (“CLAW”)

The area in red shows the land that will be added to the National Park Service boundary under this bill

The Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act passed the House of Representatives, which means federal recognition of the Rim of the Valley is another step closer to reality!

"Those unfamiliar with Los Angeles may think it’s connected only by freeways. But that’s just not true. Los Angeles is connected by wildlife and open spaces that bridge our communities and bring us together. "

-Adam Schiff Speaking on the House Floor Today

This bill has struggled to pass through Congress in recent years, but our current legislative makeup makes passage through the Senate much more likely, and President Biden has shared with Rep. Schiff a statement of support for the Act. It is likely the package will be attached to a broader spending bill in the Senate later this year.

The Rim of the Valley features all of the critical elements that the National Park Service seeks to protect: unique ecosystems, imperiled wildlife, rare and endemic plants, and access to nature for millions of nearby residents.

Since 2016, CLAW has been part of a coalition advocating for the addition of the Rim of the Valley to the SMMNRA. As we are experiencing such an alarming rate of habitat loss in Los Angeles, CLAW wholeheartedly welcomes more federal resources and protections to these natural areas.

For more information on the Act and how to advocate for it in California, visit: Protect CA Public Lands.