[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 20 (Friday, February 8, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H431-H432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. GOSAR:
       H.R. 596.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill addresses management of federal land. 
     Accordingly, we turn to the following constitutional 
     authority:

[[Page H432]]

       Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2.
       The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all 
     needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or 
     other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in 
     this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any 
     Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
       Currently, the federal government possesses approximately 
     1.8 billion acres of land. The U.S. Constitution specifically 
     addresses the relationship of the federal government to 
     lands. Article IV, Sec. 3, Clause 2--the Property Clause--
     gives Congress plenary power and full authority over federal 
     property. The U.S. Supreme Court has described Congress's 
     power to legislate under this Clause as ``without 
     limitation.'' This bill falls squarely within the express 
     Constitutional power set forth in the Property Clause.