Issue Position: Protecting the Santa Monica Mountains

Issue Position

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the nation's largest urban national park providing a variety of outdoor activities for over 33 million annual visitors. Over the years, I have helped secure
nearly $20 million to acquire and preserve critical open space, and complete the 65-mile Backbone Trail.
Earlier in the year, I worked to persuade the Obama Administration to include funding in its Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for land acquisitions in the Santa Monica Mountains. The President's budget includes $3
million to acquire and protect up to 350 acres of pristine land in Zuma and Trancas Canyons near Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains. I will work in Congress to preserve funding for the acquisition of these
pristine properties from the current owners who are willing sellers. The current administration has increased its interest in assisting local efforts to preserve open space in the Santa Monica Mountains. In July
2010, I joined Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on a tour of the Santa Monica Mountains as part of the administration's America's Great Outdoors Initiative. I invited Secretary Salazar to visit the Santa Monica Mountains to showcase the successful efforts of federal, state and local park agencies, community organizations and ordinary citizens to conserve open space, protect critical habitat, and increase recreational opportunities for millions of visitors from across Los Angeles, the United States, and the world.

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