State Legislature,
Key Leaders Endorse Boxer Wilderness Bill

Release from Boxer's office about the State Legislature vote
http://www.senate.gov/~boxer/newsroom/200208/20020829_env.html

Sacramento, CA—U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today announced that the California State Legislature and key state leaders have endorsed her California Wild Heritage Act of 2002 (S. 2535). The Legislature's action was completed with Assembly passage of Senate Joint Resolution 52 today. This step marks the passage of the resolution by both houses of the California Legislature. The resolution passed the State Senate on August 19, 2002.

"The California Wild Heritage Act of 2002 balances the needs of the military, agricultural, law enforcement, firefighting and recreational-use communities with the intrinsic environmental value of wilderness areas," stated the resolution, authored by State Senator Sheila Kuehl. "The Legislature respectfully memorializes the President and the United States Congress to enact S. 2535."

"I am very pleased the California Legislature has formally supported my efforts to protect California's precious heritage," said Senator Boxer. "I deeply appreciate the strong efforts of Senator Sheila Kuehl for authoring SJR 52 and skillfully moving it through the State Senate. Assemblymember Joe Nation successfully guided the measure to passage in the State Assembly. I thank them and their colleagues who supported the resolution."

The California Legislature's endorsement of S. 2535 follows support from Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Treasurer Phil Angelides and dozens of local elected officials across the state.

Senator Boxer introduced the California Wild Heritage Act of 2002 on May 21, 2002. The bill would protect approximately 2.5 million acres of public lands in 81 different areas across the state, as well as the free-flowing portions of 22 rivers and streams. The bill has been introduced in the House as two bills: the Northern California wilderness bill sponsored by Congressman Mike Thompson and the Southern California wilderness bill sponsored by Congresswoman Hilda Solis.