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NEW CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS BILLS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

Contact: Keith Hammond, 530-758-0380 ext. 100; Tina Andolina, 530-758-0380 ext. 103

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2002

Reps. Solis and Thompson Introduce "California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act" ­
Conservation Groups Applaud "New Generation" of Wilderness Leaders

DUARTE, July 2, 2002 ­ Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) today announced legislation to designate many of California’s last wild places as Wilderness Areas or Wild and Scenic Rivers. The "Southern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002" (HR 4947) will protect about 1.6 million acres of public lands in Southern California, including Silver Mountain, South Fork Merced, Kings River, and Los Padres National Forest areas that are home to the endangered California condor.

Like many Southern Californians, Congresswoman Solis grew up recreating on the National Forests with her family. The National Hispanic Environmental Council joined her today to applaud her efforts to protect California’s remaining wild places ­ a proposal supported by 81% of Hispanic voters, according to the first ever Wilderness public opinion survey conducted exclusively in the Hispanic community. The May 2002 survey by Bendixen and Associates interviewed 500 likely Hispanic voters in English and Spanish, and has a 4% margin of error.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa), a champion of restoring Northern California salmon, recently introduced the "Northern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002" (HR 4948) to designate more than 800,000 acres as Wilderness Areas, new Salmon Restoration Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and the Sacramento River National Conservation Area. Together the Solis and Thompson bills are the counterpart to Senator Barbara Boxer’s (S. 2535) bill in the Senate.

"It’s thrilling to see a new generation of wilderness champions is stepping up to the plate," said Keith Hammond of the California Wilderness Coalition. "It’s been 20 years since California’s last statewide wilderness bill, and since then we’ve lost an area of wilderness the size of Yosemite National Park. Representatives Solis and Thompson and Senator Boxer are taking up a great responsibility to save remaining wilderness for future generations. We think they’re heroes."

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Founded in 1976, the California Wilderness Coalition defends the pristine landscapes that make California unique, provide a home to our wildlife, and preserve a place for spiritual renewal