CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratAmendment · S.Amdt. 6042· Senate(119-SAMDT-6042)

S.Amdt. 6042

Rep. Padilla
Age: 53 years
California
Introduced
6/24/2026
Sponsored by
Alex Padilla
Cosponsors
None
Changes bill
119-S-4784 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Padilla, adds Division E to bill S. 4784, titled the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California Lands Act (or the PUBLIC Lands Act). Its purpose is to protect, restore, and invest in specific federal lands in California.

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

  • Forest Restoration: Creates the California Public Land Remediation Partnership to clean up land damaged by illegal activities, specifically illegal marijuana cultivation, and establishes the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area.

  • Recreation: Authorizes visitor centers in Del Norte County and Weaverville, as well as feasibility studies and designations for the Trinity Lake Trail, Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail, and Bigfoot National Recreation Trail.

  • Conservation: Designates several river segments as wild, scenic, or recreational under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, establishes new special management areas (Fox Mountain, Sanhedrin, and Horse Mountain), and designates new wilderness areas or adds acreage to existing ones.

  • Infrastructure and Access:

    • Protects existing utility facilities and rights-of-way for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, including allowing facilities in the Horse Mountain and Sanhedrin Special Management Areas.
    • Requires the Secretary to publish plans for emergency and regular access to company rights-of-way and inholdings in the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail and the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area.
    • Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to authorize the continued operation, reconstruction, and maintenance of water diversion or transport facilities in the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness, provided the facility existed before designation, has been used continuously, the owner has a valid state water right, and relocation is not feasible.

  • Tribal Access: Ensures Indian Tribes can access special management, scenic, and wilderness areas for religious and traditional cultural purposes. This includes allowing the Secretary to temporarily close certain areas to the public at a Tribe's request to protect their privacy.