Salud Ortiz Carbajal: “I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to represent the central coast of California, one of the…”

“I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to represent the central coast of California, one of the most beautiful districts in the Nation, if not the most beautiful. Places like Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument contain some of the most stunning and diverse ecosystems found anywhere in North America. Today, I am pleased to support H.R. 803, the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act. This bill would preserve the natural beauty and recreational activities available to communities in my district and beyond. This measure includes my legislation, H.R. 973, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act. I am proud to have worked with Chairman Grijalva, Representative Brownley, Representative Panetta, and local stakeholders to ensure that California's central coast was included in this bill. In particular, I want to thank the Carrizo Plain Conservancy, Los Padres Forest Watch, Condor Trail Association, CalWild, Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Sierra Club for their support and advocacy on behalf of our public lands. Title IV of this environmental package would designate nearly 250,000 acres of public land within the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness areas, the highest form of Federal protection available. It also creates a 400-mile Condor National Scenic Trail stretching from Los Angeles to Monterey County.…”