FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – As President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, some California lawmakers are urging him to turn federal forest land into a national monument. The Range of Light National Monument Act was first introduced two years ago. It would turn 1.4 million acres of land between Yosemite National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks into a national monument, similar to the Grand Canyon. It would place the entire Sierra National Forest under the supervision of the National Park Service, protecting it from private use. Unite the Parks Executive Director Deanna Wulff says the Creek Fire proved the land needs better care. “I just noticed that it was in decline, and that was over ten years ago. And of course, now so much has changed that it really seems like the best option,” Wulff said. The bill died when it was first introduced, though. However, last month, 52 California lawmakers picked it back up and asked Governor Gavin Newsom to urge President Biden to enact it before he leaves office. When Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig heard about the effort, he and other local officials wrote their own letter to the Biden Administration, pleading with him to leave the land alone. “If a monument was created over it, literally, the federal government would come in and say, ‘We believe your property is worth $100,000.’ And they would take that from residents and give them $100,000. So it would be moving land that's in private hands right now into the federal government's hands,” Magsig said. He believes the government has failed to properly care for the national park land they already possess and he does not think they need 1.4 million more acres. “We need less government, not more. And keep your hands off of our private property here in Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa counties,” Magsig said. He challenges any of the supporting lawmakers to a debate about the bill. As of Friday, more than 8,000 people signed a Change.org petition opposing the bill. Residents in Oakhurst say they do not trust the National Parks Service to take care of the land either. “As far as I'm concerned, the government already owns too much property, so giving them control of more is not a good idea,” lifelong resident Steve Hunter said. “They're taking too much of everything away, and I don't like that. So, yeah, no, I have a problem with it,” 14-year resident Therrie Marrone said. Many who signed the petition commented that their ranching and logging businesses depend on the land. However, Wulff says only about 10% of the land is usable. So she suggests the ranchers and loggers work for the National Parks Service instead. “For people who have the ranching skills, there's so much to do in terms of support work for the backcountry restoration. We did have a study done that looked at this, and it shows that there would be a phenomenal increase in jobs,” Wulff said. While she hopes the bill is enacted, she says it would take a miracle for it to happen before the end of President Biden’s term. One thing both sides agree on is that the president has more pressing issues to address. Wulff says her best chance is for Congress to pick it up in the next legislative session. If that happens, she says they would hold many public meetings to glean resident feedback.