As a native Californian and westerner, I am a strong supporter of caring for our environment, and there is nothing more that I want than to provide cleaner air, purer water, and more abundant species for our future generations.  

I believe our district’s ecological health is crucial to our vibrant, flourishing communities. From cleaning up perchlorate contamination on the Whittaker-Bermite site in the City of Santa Clarita, to protecting wilderness lands in the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Mountains areas, we must continue to act as good stewards of our communities' resources that are so valuable to all of us. I have worked hard to improve environmental protection and restoration throughout our district, including in the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys as well as in Mono and Inyo Counties.  

Most recently, Senator Barbara Boxer joined me in introducing the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act (H.R. 6156), which became law (Public Law 111-11) on March 23, 2009. The new law designates an additional 430,671 acres of wilderness in Mono and Inyo Counties, and establishes more than 45 miles of the Owens River Headwaters and Amargosa River as Wild and Scenic Rivers.  The bills also designate an additional 42,000 acres of wilderness in Los Angeles County and establish more than seven miles of Piru Creek as a Wild and Scenic River. 

I will continue to fight for such protections and the restoration of our environmental surroundings, while making certain that action is conducted through the use of sound science and community consensus.

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