Manuel Lujan: “H.R. 944 would correct a situation in which two acts from the 1930s are inadvertently preventing certain rocks…”

“H.R. 944 would correct a situation in which two acts from the 1930s are inadvertently preventing certain rocks, pinnacles, reefs, small islands, and lighthouses off the coast of Orange County from being included in the California Coastal National Monument. In 2000 President Clinton created the California Coastal National Monument, which spans the entire 1,100 miles of the California coast and encompasses more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles. However, the act designating the monument included only unreserved and unappropriated rocks and islands, and under the 1930s acts, these natural and cultural sites were reserved. H.R. 944 would strike the reservation language in one act and repeal another act to provide that these areas finally be permanently protected as part of the California Coastal National Monument. Therefore, we support the passage of H.R. 944. I reserve the balance of my time.”