Schiff’s Rim of the Valley Measure Headed to President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House sent Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) Rim of the Valley Corridor Study legislation to the President to be signed into law, culminating a seven year long effort.  The measure directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of expanding the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the mountains and canyons in Southern California that are part of the Rim of the Valley Corridor, as designated by the State of California. Rep. Schiff’s measure was included in the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (S. 2739) which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resources studies of the Rim of the Valley and other lands and structures to determine the appropriate means for preservation and use.

“This important measure will enable a study of alternatives for protecting some of the most beautiful land in southern California for future generations of Americans to enjoy,” said Schiff.  “The Rim of the Valley is a special place and we owe it to our children to develop a long-range plan that will balance preservation, recreation and the needs and rights of those living in and around the area.”

The bill will authorize the Interior Department to examine the suitability of increasing the size of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by encompassing part or all of this corridor, which is an ecologically significant contiguous region that consists of parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susanna Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and adjacent connector areas to the Los Padres and San Bernadino National Forests.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sponsored the companion legislation in the Senate this year. In the past, a similar version of this bill was approved by the House Resources Committee and passed by the full Senate. This is the first time the bill has passed both Chambers of Congress and will be sent to the President to be signed into law.

Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of the House Appropriations Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.