U.S. Rep Suzan DelBene (D-Medina) praised the passage of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act (H.R. 361) today as well as legislation to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The bipartisan bills were a part of a large package of public lands bills that passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 300 to 119 and is expected to be voted on by the U.S. Senate soon.

“For years, there has been a broad coalition of stakeholders from our region who have fought tirelessly to protect these important public lands,” DelBene said, “and I am thrilled that these bills were adopted by the House today. With the inclusion of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness expansion bill, we will be preserving one of the most popular and most beautiful outdoor destinations in the country.”

DelBene noted that the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is special because of its proximity to a major metropolitan area and provides a place “for residents and tourists to camp, fish, hike and enjoy some of the most spectacular open spaces that the Northwest has to offer.”

DelBene thanked U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) for their work to make the expansion of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness a reality.