REP LIEU SECURES OVER $8.6 MILLION FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS IN APPROPRIATIONS BILL

July 5, 2022

Press Release

WASHINGTON -Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) announced that the over $8.6 million in federal funding for environmental projects in Los Angeles County that he requested has been included in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill that will be brought up for a vote in the House in the coming weeks. These projects tackle several issues including fire management, reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and outdoor recreation and conservation.

"I came to Congress in large part because I wanted to champion issues that would help our environment and curb climate change. I'm pleased to support these projects and advocate for their funding. Each of these projects is a piece of a bigger puzzle when it comes to environmental stewardship. I look forward to championing these projects as they move through the appropriations process. Securing funding to support these programs is a top priority."

$2,000,000 for Los Angeles Training Center (LATC) Fire Reentry Project:The Fire Reentry Project at LATC will provide a valuable job training program for young adults who have experience in the justice or foster care systems. The 12-month paid residential training program will provide participants with stable housing, wrap-around supportive services, and career-focused training with job placement assistance. Participants will be trained in fire suppression and fire prevention, with access to secure employment after graduation from the program. The program will focus on reducing recidivism rates among participants, increasing employment opportunities among typically disadvantaged populations, and providing supportive services to young adults with prior justice or foster care system involvement.$2,000,000 for SeaChange: Carbon Sequestration Demonstration:Carbon capture technology is a key component to reducing greenhouse gasses and addressing climate change. The funding for this project will enable UCLA to pilot a streamlined carbon sequestration and storage system that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and safely stores it at scale. The technology uses a flow reactor, which runs seawater through electrically charged mesh that then lowers the acidity of the water and causes the carbon dioxide in the water to combine with calcium and magnesium to create minerals. Through this process, seawater is drained of carbon dioxide so it can then clean the atmosphere by absorbing more carbon dioxide. The process also creates hydrogen, which can be used as a clean fuel.$1,150,000 for Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail:The Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail will transform 36,000 square feet of underutilized land along the hillside adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway into a half-mile long connection trail between Temescal Canyon Road and the George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon Park, a valuable coastal resource providing substantial public benefits including walking trails, educational interpretive signs and overlooks. The new trail will provide access to Will Rogers State Beach, a historic beach that attracts residents across all of Los Angeles County and tourists from around the world. Funds will allow for the grading and installation of a 3,000-foot long, 12-foot wide decomposed granite trail and protective fence that will meander over the naturally hilly terrain along Pacific Coast Highway to the nearest signaled intersection and crosswalk at Temescal Canyon Road. Since there is no traffic signal or pedestrian crossing at the mouth of the canyon, a safe pathway to the Temescal Canyon intersection leading to the beach will provide public access to the coast and is necessary to prevent park and beachgoers from attempting to cross Pacific Coast Highway dangerously.$1,000,000 for Manhattan Beach Safe Cycling Project:The Manhattan Beach Safe Cycling project will close gaps and deficiencies on existing bike lanes to reduce risk of accidents, increase safety and comfort, facilitate access to beach recreation, and encourage people to use bicycles as transportation. The improved bike path, planned with community input, will help increase equitable access to our district's coastline for all constituents.$2,500,000 for Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing:The goal of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project is to increase public safety and protect wildlife. Highway traffic poses a significant threat to many native animals in Southern California because their habitats have been split up by roadways. This presents an obvious threat to animals who intend to cross the freeways, but also motorists who may encounter and potentially hit an animal. To solve this, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, located within the boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, will span ten lanes of pavement across the U.S. 101 Freeway. This visionary structure will preserve biodiversity across the region by re-connecting an integral wildlife corridor, and most critically, help save a threatened local population of mountain lions from extinction. When complete, the crossing will be the largest in the world, the first of its kind in California, and will serve as a global model for urban wildlife conservation.

Background:

Last year, in Fiscal Year 2022, Congressman Lieu secured nearly $11 million in federal funding for local projects in Los Angeles County. The projects address homelessness, protect our environment, support our veterans, and more. These environmental projects are among the 15 community projects for which Congressman Lieu has requested funding in Fiscal Year 2023.

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