By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
U,S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Pasadena) yesterday introduced identical companion legislation in both Congressional chambers, which would designate 35,335 acres of protected wilderness and 20.2 miles of wild and scenic rivers in and around the San Gabriel Mountains.
Chu’s legislation in the House is called the San Gabriel Mountains, Foothills, and Rivers Protection Act of 2025. Padilla’s legislation is called the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act.
The San Gabriel Mountains’ rivers and natural spaces provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, including the California condor, Nelson’s bighorn sheep, and the Santa Ana sucker. Protecting the wildlife and waters of the San Gabriel Mountains is the next step toward preserving these natural spaces for years to come.
“My district is fortunate to be home to the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains right in our backyard. But, as one of the most park-poor regions in the country, increasing access and expanding protections is critical,” said Chu.
“That’s why I worked for years with community advocates and the Obama Administration to secure the designation of the San Gabriels as a national monument in 2014 — and why I continued pushing under President Biden to expand the monument’s boundaries last year to better protect these lands and improve access for millions of Angelenos. Still, more work remains to protect the wilderness and rivers of the San Gabriels,” the House lawmaker added.
Padilla said public lands and natural spaces are some of California’s greatest gifts — from the Northern California Redwoods, to the Carrizo Plain, to the San Gabriel Mountains.
“As the Trump Administration tries to sell off our state’s precious public lands and waters, we must protect and restore these areas to mitigate wildfire risk, reach California’s conservation goals, protect our natural resources, and ensure generations to come can enjoy access to the outdoors,” said Padilla.
In 2024, following advocacy by Chu, Padilla, and dedicated advocates, President Biden expanded the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by 105,919 additional acres to include the western Angeles National Forest—protecting the significant natural, cultural, and recreational resources in Southern California.
This declaration was also followed by millions of dollars in new investments into the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, including new field staff, enhanced visitor engagement and interpretation resources, trash and pollution mitigation, and more.
“I was thrilled to see President Biden heed our calls to permanently protect the entire San Gabriel Mountains last year, and I urge my colleagues to pass this package to protect access to green space for millions of Californians,” said Padilla.
This House bill was co-sponsored by many in the Los Angeles County Congressional delegation, including Reps. Nanette Diaz Barragán, Julia Brownley, Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr, Laura Friedman, Robert Garcia, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Linda T. Sánchez, Brad Sherman and Maxine Waters.
