Rep. Chu Celebrates President Biden’s Expansion of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released the following statement:

"What a momentous day for Angelenos! Thanks to the passionate advocacy for many decades of a vibrant, diverse coalition of indigenous leaders, community activists, and nature-lovers across Southern California, President Biden has expanded the boundaries of the existing San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and protected more of a national treasure in our backyard. President Biden's actions here bring us closer to achieving his goal of conserving 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030 and help cement his legacy as a champion of conservation and our environment.

"I'm exceptionally proud to have worked in Congress with Senator Padilla, other local, state, and federal elected officials, and many local advocacy groups for over a decade to highlight the significance of the San Gabriel Mountains to our environment, economy, and health. In 2014, President Obama answered our calls by designating the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument for the first time. Since then, we have introduced legislation and fought to complete the vision of an expanded Monument that includes some of the most visited and beautiful lands in the western Angeles Forest. President Biden and the Biden-Harris Administration heard us.

"From increasing access to nature for low-income and underserved communitiesto protecting the source of one-third of Los Angeles County's drinking water, today's proclamation will be so meaningful to our region. As we celebrate this proclamation by President Biden, let's recommit to protecting these pristine public lands for the future and working together to give everyone access to their immense benefits."

In June 2023, Rep. Chu joined Sen. Alex Padilla (CA) to write to President Biden urging him to use his Antiquities Act powers to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

In May 2023, Rep. Chu reintroduced the San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act in the House of Representatives, which is incorporatedin Sen. Padilla's Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act.

In February 2020, July 2020, February 2021, September 2021, and July 2022, Rep. Chu's standalone bill was includedin legislation and amendments that passed the House of Representatives. Although the bill has not yet passed the Senate, it received a hearing in the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee in October 2021.

Click here to see a map of the expansion.

Click here for a White House fact sheet on the expansion.