H.R. 3414 – Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 12:35 AM UTC

The Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act expands the park by roughly 20,000 acres in California, shifting management of the new land from the BLM to the National Park Service. It gives the Interior Secretary tools to acquire the added land, with special limits on land owned by California. The bill also renames the park’s Cottonwood Visitor Center after former Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Key Provisions

Adds about 20,149 acres to Joshua Tree National Park’s boundary, as shown on a June 2024 map.
Moves administrative control of the added land from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service.
Lets the Interior Secretary acquire land inside the new boundary by donation, purchase, exchange, or transfer, but California‑owned land can only be taken by donation or exchange.
Renames the Cottonwood Visitor Center in the park to the “Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center,” and treats that name as the official reference in all federal documents.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

May 14, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 14, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

May 14, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 14, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3414

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 14, 2025

Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 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.

1.

Short title

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

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.

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.

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.