Dear Senators Padilla and Feinstein,

As local elected leaders from communities across California, we are writing to express our strong support for the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act (S.1459).

Thank you for championing this critical legislation in the U.S. Senate.

Today, more than ever, our communities are calling for the protection of our natural public lands and rivers for future generations while ensuring that all Californians have equitable access to enjoy them.

The PUBLIC Lands Act would protect and increase access to more than one million acres of public lands and well over 500 miles of rivers throughout California spanning three regions: key forests and rivers in Northwest California, the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument on the Central Coast, and the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles.

We strongly believe that the PUBLIC Lands Act is critical to the future success and well-being of our California communities for the following reasons:  

CLIMATE CHANGE: Protecting our natural public lands and rivers is key to California’s efforts to address climate change. The PUBLIC Lands Act will help the state achieve its goals by reducing wildfire risk, protecting public lands from polluting extractive industries, increasing carbon sequestration, protecting biodiversity, and preserving wildlife corridors.

ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS: Far too many Californians lack access to the beauty and benefits of the outdoors across our state, particularly low-income communities and communities of color who experience barriers like limited transportation, lack of protections for nearby lands, and fewer resources for park maintenance. The PUBLIC Lands Act will expand protections for public lands and rivers near communities with limited access to parks and the outdoors.

PUBLIC HEALTH: The PUBLIC Lands Act is a critical investment in the health and well-being of communities throughout California. The pandemic has shown us how important it is to have stronger protections for our lands and rivers that contribute to improved air quality, and more opportunities for recreation, which benefits physical, mental, and emotional health.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY: Protecting public lands and rivers benefits economic recovery. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2019 California’s outdoor recreation economy contributed more than any other state to the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generating $57.4 billion and over 575,000 jobs in total. The PUBLIC Lands Act will invest in these industries, and help attract business investments in communities across the state. This legislation will also increase stewardship jobs that can quickly get people back to work.

Our state faces many challenges, and a healthy and prosperous future for California is dependent on the well-being of all of our people, the economic thriving of our communities, and the vibrancy and health of our environment.

We believe that passing the PUBLIC Lands Act is an integral strategy for achieving all of these goals and more, and urge the U.S. Senate to pass this critical legislation.