Barbara Boxer: “I am pleased to introduce the California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act, legislation that would expand the…”

“I am pleased to introduce the California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act, legislation that would expand the current Monument to include about 6,200 acres of pristine public lands across four California counties. I am proud to be joined in this effort by my friend from California, Senator Dianne Feinstein. In 2000, President Clinton made history when he designated the California Coastal National Monument, which stretches the entire 1,100 miles of California's coastline and protects more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs and islands between Mexico and Oregon. It also protects the habitat for a variety of wildlife including seabirds, California sea lions and southern sea otters. In 2012, I introduced legislation with Senator Feinstein and Congressman Mike Thompson to expand the Monument to include the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands in Mendocino County. We were grateful when President Obama took action last year to add these spectacular lands as the first onshore addition to the monument. The legislation we are introducing today would expand the California Coastal National Monument again to include five more onshore sites, creating a new network of federal coastal properties for the public to enjoy. By highlighting these sites, the measure would also boost tourism and the economy of communities up and down the coast.…”