Bill · S. 1777· Senate(119-S-1777)
Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act
- Introduced
- 5/15/2025
- Last activity
- 12/9/2025 — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
- Sponsored by
- Alex Padilla
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act," seeks to amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994. It proposes to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park by adding approximately 20,149 acres of land. This action would transfer administrative jurisdiction of that land from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service. Additionally, the bill provides the Secretary of the Interior with methods to acquire land within the park boundaries. Finally, it requires the redesignation of the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the "Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center."
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expansion of National Park Land: The bill expands the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park by approximately 20,149 acres (Section 2(a)). This moves administrative jurisdiction from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service (Section 2(b)).
-
Flexible Land Acquisition: The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire land and interests within the park through donation, purchase from willing sellers, exchange, or transfer (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on State Land Acquisition: Any land or interest in land within the Joshua Tree National Park boundary that is owned by the State of California or its political subdivisions can only be acquired through donation or exchange, preventing the Secretary of the Interior from purchasing it (Section 2(c)(2)).
- 12/9/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
- 5/20/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: S2953)
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California