On Feb. 12, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) applauded the landmark, bipartisan passage of the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preserv­ation Act, which would add more than 191,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor to the Santa Mon­ica Mountains National Re­creation Area (SMMNRA). The bill passed the House of Represent­atives on a bipartisan vote of 231-183.

Schiff first introduced this legislation in 2017, and U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris (both D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the Sen­ate. It recently passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resour­ces Committee.

“I am thrilled that the House of Representatives has passed the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, legislation I have championed for nearly 20 years,” Schiff said. “Preservation of the open space in our communities is not only good for our environment, wildlife and ecosystems, but it is beneficial for the health and well-being of residents of all ages. The Rim of the Valley Corridor is an area of striking and breathtaking natural beauty, and we must do whatever we can to preserve that beauty for the benefit of L.A. residents, the millions each year who visit and for generations to come.”

“[The] vote in the House is a win for the Rim of the Valley Corridor and the millions of Los Angeles County residents living in the surrounding communities,” Feinstein said. “Preserving this unspoiled terrain will protect sensitive habitat for California wildlife and open space to benefit local economies.”

“The Rim of the Valley corridor is home to some of Southern California’s most beautiful wildlife and landscapes,” Harris said. “That is why we must take immediate steps to protect this area’s habitats and natural resources. I am grateful to Congressman Schiff for his leadership on this issue, and I applaud the House of Representatives for prioritizing the preservation of this area so it can be enjoyed by future generations. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line.”

The lands included within the expansion will be known as the Rim of the Valley Unit, stretching from the Simi Hills and Santa Susanas to the Verdugos and on to the San Gabriel Mountains.

The bill will enable NPS and the local commu­nities to better protect natural resources and habitats, and provide members of the community with improved access to nature for recreational and educational purposes.