We have joined dozens of environmental, tribal, human rights, and conservation organizations in strong opposition to a new proposal in the House Committee on Homeland Security’s budget reconciliation package that would allocate $46.5 billion for border wall construction. If passed, this proposal would more than double the amount historically spent on walls and barriers—wasting billions of taxpayer dollars, destroying critical ecosystems, and violating the rights of communities living along the U.S.–Mexico border.

The proposed Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern California represents a vital opportunity to protect one of the state’s most ecologically, culturally, and hydrologically significant regions. Often called the “headwaters of California,” Sáttítla provides fresh water to millions across the state, supporting wildlife, agriculture, and communities from the highlands to the San Francisco Bay.