Bill · H.R. 3414· House(119-HR-3414)
Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act
- Introduced
- 5/14/2025
- Last activity
- 5/14/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Raul Ruiz
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act," aims to amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994. It seeks to expand the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park by adding approximately 20,149 acres of land. As part of this expansion, administrative jurisdiction of the new land is transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service. The Act also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land through donation, purchase, exchange, or transfer. Additionally, it includes a technical correction regarding a specific land measurement. Finally, the bill redesignates the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the "Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center."
Yes
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+5
The expansion of the national park boundary enhances the preservation and protection of land.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+5
The bill transfers jurisdiction to the National Park Service to better manage the expanded park land.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill transfers administrative jurisdiction from the BLM to the National Park Service, expanding federal park management.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-2
The bill places restrictions on how the Secretary can acquire land specifically owned by the State of California.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park: The bill adds approximately 20,149 acres of land to the park's boundary, transferring jurisdiction from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service (Section 2(a) and 2(b)).
-
Land Acquisition Flexibility: The Secretary of the Interior is given several ways to acquire land and interests within the park boundary, including donation, purchase from willing sellers, exchange, or transfer (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limitations on State Land Acquisition: If land within the Joshua Tree National Park boundary is owned by the State of California or its political subdivisions, the Secretary of the Interior is restricted to acquiring it only through donation or exchange (Section 2(c)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+5Improves Public Land Management+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3Increase States Rights-2
- 5/14/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.