Representative Judy Chu (D-27th) is seeking to bypass the legislative process and asked President Barack Obama to use his executive powers and declare the more than 600,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument. Chus bill, H.R. 4858, would establish the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area under the National Park Service. The Bill would reportedly revitalize 615,245 acres of land, including the San Gabriel River, with officials claiming the forest is under-funded and under-maintained. Chu reportedly expressed frustration over congress, which she said was not working fast enough to move H.R. 4858 along and reached out to the White House to bypass congressional approval of the bill, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. If Obama exercises his executive powers, the San Gabriel Mountains would be designated as a National Monument under the Antiquities Act with an adopted bill following after, according to the Tribune. “Let’s call upon the administration to act and help us finally turn this vision into reality,” Chu said in the Tribune article. Chu added that after speaking with the White House, the Administration is positively inclined about the idea. The Bill has been sitting in the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation since June 18. Chu said it would reportedly take years before it would make it to the floor for a vote. The U.S Forest Service and the White House have a public forum planned for Aug. 26 to seek comment about the national monument effort. Further details on the forum were not available, the Tribune reported. Chus bill aims to provide federal funding to conserve, protect and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational and scientific resources of the recreation area. The bill would also establish the San Gabriel National Recreational Advisory Council and the San Gabriel National Recreational Area Partnership to oversee the land. The language in the draft bill states that no change in jurisdiction will occur in either a federal, state, or local capacity under existing state and federal law and that the rights, responsibilities or entitlements would not be diminished. Glendora residents and area officials have shown great concern over the plan, citing a lack of information on the bills intent, confusing language. Chu stated her desire last year was to keep the effort to turn the mountains into a national recreation area a local effort and that she is committed to keeping it that way. To view the current NRA draft bill, click the link below. 1.usa.gov/1rjrJfy —Aaron C.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:07:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015