Lois Capps: “Thank you to my colleague for yielding and to Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member DeFazio for the work that has gone on…”

“Thank you to my colleague for yielding and to Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member DeFazio for the work that has gone on in bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 3008. My legislation will authorize the Forest Service to convey a small parcel of land on the perimeter of the Los Padres National Forest in my district to a local nonprofit organization, the White Lotus Foundation. Over 30 years ago, the White Lotus Foundation purchased property on the border of the Los Padres National Forest in the hills above Santa Barbara, California. Soon after acquiring the property, the foundation received notice of a small encroachment onto a piece of Forest Service land that is detached from the rest of the forest. This encroachment is located on the only road that allows White Lotus and the public access to and from the foundation's property. Due to the steep topography of the area, there are no other reasonable alternatives that would retain public access to the facility. One piece of the encroachment lies on flat ground that holds equipment for fire and flood emergencies and provides access to a water pump and other necessary equipment. There are no other viable areas to move this equipment. So without this small piece of land, the facility would be forced to close its doors.…”