[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMAS (for himself and Mr. Enzi):
  S. 449. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to 
the personal representative of the estate of Fred Steffens of Big Horn 
County, Wyoming, certain land comprising the Steffens family property; 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


      legislation to transfer property in big horn county, wyoming

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
which was passed by the Senate during the 105th Congress and 
unfortunately was not passed by the House of Representatives. This 
measure, which would return a family farm in Big Horn County, WY, to 
its rightful owners, has also gained the Administration's full support.
  The family of Fred Steffens lost ownership of the property where they 
lived and prospered for almost 70 years, as a result of a 
misrepresentation by the original property owners. Mr. Steffens' 
relatives have explored every avenue to regain the title to their 
property, and are left with no other option than to seek congressional 
assistance. I stand before you today, on behalf of my constituents, to 
request help in providing a timely solution to this problem. It is my 
hope that in doing so, this wrong can be righted.
  Upon the death of Fred Steffens on January 20, 1995, his sister Marie 
Wambeke was appointed personal representative of the 80-acre Steffens 
Estate. In February 1996, Ms. Wambeke learned from the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) that she did not have a clear title to her brother's 
property, and she submitted a Color-of-Title application. Shortly 
thereafter, Ms. Wambeke was informed that her brother's property was 
never patented, so her application was rejected.
  The injustice of this situation is that when Mr. Steffens purchased 
this property in 1928, he did receive a Warranty Deed with Release of 
Homestead from the former owners. Unfortunately, these individuals did 
not have a reclamation entry to assign to Mr. Steffens. In fact, 2 
years before selling the property, the original owners had been 
informed that the land they occupied was withdrawn by the Bureau of 
Reclamation for the Shoshone Reclamation Project. At the same time, 
they were notified that they had never truly owned the property.
  Unethically, this did not stop them from selling the land to Mr. 
Steffens in 1928. In good faith Mr. Steffens purchased the property, 
paid taxes on the property from the time of purchase, and is on record 
at the Big Horn County Assessor's office as owner of this property. Due 
to the dishonesty of others, his family now faces the sobering reality 
of losing this land unless a title transfer can be effected 
legislatively.
  Mr. President, the legislation I am introducing today would transfer 
the land from Fred Steffens' Estate to his sister Marie. This property 
has been in their family since 1928. Through no fault of their own, 
these folks are being forced to relinquish rights not only to their 
land, but to a part of their heritage and a legacy to their future 
generations. I hope we can expedite this matter by turning this land 
over the Marie Wambeke's ownership.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the legislation 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 449

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF STEFFENS FAMILY PROPERTY.

       (a) Conveyance.--Subject to subsection (b) and valid 
     existing rights, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue, 
     without consideration, a quitclaim deed to Marie Wambeke of 
     Big Horn County, Wyoming, the personal representative of the 
     estate of Fred Steffens, to the land described in subsection 
     (c).
       (b) Reservation of Minerals.--All minerals underlying the 
     land described in subsection (c) are reserved to the United 
     States.
       (c) Land Description.--The land described in this 
     subsection is the parcel comprising approximately 80 acres 
     and known as ``Farm Unit C'' in the E\1/2\NW\1/4\ of Section 
     27 in Township 57 North, Range 97 West, 6th Principal 
     Meridian, Wyoming.
       (d) Revocation of Withdrawal.--The withdrawal for the 
     Shoshone Reclamation Project made by the Bureau of 
     Reclamation under Secretarial Order dated October 21, 1913, 
     is revoked with respect to the land described in subsection 
     (c).
                                 ______