Introduced in Senate — S. 1777

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1777

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 15, 2025

Mr. Padilla introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, to redesignate the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act.

Sec. 2. Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park

(a) Boundary adjustment

Section 402 of the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 410aaa–22) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting after October 1991 or prior, the following: and including the approximately 20,149 acres of land generally depicted on the map entitled Joshua Tree National Park Proposed Boundary Addition, numbered 156/193,676, and dated June 2024.

(b) Transfer of administrative jurisdiction

Administrative jurisdiction over the land described in the amendment made by subsection (a) is transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service.

(c) Land acquisition

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Interior may acquire land and interests in land within the boundary of the Joshua Tree National Park by—

(A)

donation;

(B)

purchase from a willing seller;

(C)

exchange; or

(D)

transfer.

(2) Limitation

Any land or interest land within the boundary of the Joshua Tree National Park that is owned by the State of California or a political subdivision of the State of California may only be acquired by the Secretary of the Interior by donation or exchange.

Sec. 3. Technical correction

Section 1433(a) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 700) is amended by striking 156/149,375 each place it appears and inserting 156/149,375A.

Sec. 4. Redesignation of the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center

(a) Redesignation

The Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park, or any successor to that visitor center, shall be known and designated as the Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center.

(b) References

Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the visitor center referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center.