I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1997 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 25, 2011 Mr. Miller of Florida (for himself, Mr. Ross of Arkansas, Mr. Latta, and Mr. Shuler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to ensure that amounts are made available for projects to provide recreational public access, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Making Public Lands Public Access Act.

2.

Availability of land and Water Conservation Fund for recreational public access projects

(a)

In general

Section 3 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6) is amended to read as follows:

3.

Availability of funds for certain projects

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that, of the amounts requested for the fund for each fiscal year, not less than the greater of 1.5 percent of the amounts or $10,000,000 shall be made available for projects identified on the priority list developed under subsection (b). (b)

Priority list

The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the head of each affected Federal agency, shall annually develop a priority list for the sites under the jurisdiction of the applicable Secretary. (c)

Criteria

Projects identified on the priority list developed under subsection (b) shall secure recreational public access to Federal public land in existence as of the date of enactment of this section that has significantly restricted access for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes through rights-of-way or acquisition of land (or any interest in land) from willing sellers.

. (b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Land and Water Conservation Fund Act

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–4 et seq.) is amended— (A)in the proviso at the end of section 2(c)(2) (16 U.S.C. 460l–5(c)(2)), by striking notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act; (B)in the first sentence of section 9 (16 U.S.C. 460l–10a), by striking by section 3 of this Act; and (C)in the third sentence of section 10 (16 U.S.C. 460l–10b), by striking by section 3 of this Act. (2)

Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act

Section 206(f)(2) of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (43 U.S.C. 2305(f)(2)) is amended by striking section 3 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (16 U.S.C. 460l–6) and inserting the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–4 et seq.).