95 HR 8616 IH: Caja del Rio Protection Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-04-30 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8616IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 30, 2026Ms. Leger Fernandez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo establish the Caja del Rio Special Management Area and Caja del Rio National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Caja del Rio Protection Act.(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Caja del Rio Special Management AreaSec. 101. Establishment of the Caja del Rio Special Management Area.Sec. 102. Management of the Special Management Area.TITLE II—Caja del Rio National Conservation AreaSec. 201. Establishment of the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area.Sec. 202. Management of the Conservation Area.Sec. 203. Land exchanges.TITLE III—General ProvisionsSec. 301. Management of Covered Areas.Sec. 302. Tribal contracting and protected rights.Sec. 303. Effect.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Conservation Area

The term Conservation Area means the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area established by section 201(a)(1).(2)

Covered area

The term covered area means each of—(A)the Conservation Area; and(B)the Special Management Area.(3)

Decommission

The term decommission, with respect to a road, means—(A)reestablishing native vegetation on the road;(B)effectively blocking the road to vehicular traffic, where feasible; and(C)developing and implementing an effective monitoring and response plan for invasive species and vehicular traffic incursions.(4)

Ecological restoration

The term ecological restoration has the meaning given the term restoration in section 4 of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6703).(5)

Indian land

The term Indian land has the meaning given the term Indian lands in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).(6)

Indian Tribe

The term Indian Tribe means the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).(7)

Indigenous knowledge

The term Indigenous knowledge has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).(8)

Interested indian tribe

The term interested Indian Tribe, with respect to the covered area, means an Indian Tribe with—(A)historic, precontact, cultural, or religious connections to the public land within the covered area;(B)a former reservation located within the covered area; or(C)treaty rights or other reserved rights associated with the covered area.(9)

Land grant-merced

The term land grant-merced means a community land grant issued under the laws or customs of the Government of Spain or Mexico that—(A)is recognized under New Mexico Statutes Chapter 49, Articles 1 and 4 (or a successor statute);(B)has a record of traditional historic use in the covered area; or(C)has a patented exterior boundary that is or was previously located on or adjacent to the covered area.(10)

Map

The term Map means the map entitled The Caja del Rio Special management Area and National Conservation Area and dated April 20, 2026.(11)

Secretary

The term Secretary means—(A)in title I, the Secretary of Agriculture;(B)in title II, the Secretary of the Interior; and(C)in this section and title III—(i)the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior; and(ii)the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.(12)

Special management area

The term Special Management Area means the Caja del Rio Special Management Area established by section 101(a)(1).(13)

State

The term State means the State of New Mexico.(14)

Traditional historic community

The term traditional historic community means a historic community that—(A)meets the definition of that term in New Mexico Statutes Section 3–7–1.1 (or a successor statute); and(B)has a record of traditional historic use in the covered area.(15)

Traditional historic use

The term traditional historic use means a habitual use conducted by a land grant-merced or traditional historic community within the covered area for noncommercial or personal benefit, including—(A)hunting, fishing, grazing, wood gathering, pinon harvesting, or herb and plant gathering; or(B)any long-established and habitual and sustainable use by the land grant-merced or traditional historic community, as determined by the Secretary, in coordination with the land grant-merced or traditional historic community, that is agreed to in writing by the Secretary and the land grant-merced or traditional historic community.(16)

Tribal organization

The term Tribal organization has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), except that such organization shall be affiliated with an interested Indian Tribe.(17)

Withdrawal area

The term withdrawal area means the area withdrawn by section 401.