[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 144 (Monday, December 1, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8188-H8190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEVADA NATIVE NATIONS LAND ACT
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 2455) to provide for the sale or transfer of
certain Federal lands in Nevada, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2455
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Nevada
Native Nations Land Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--ELKO MOTOCROSS LAND CONVEYANCE
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Conveyance of land to county.
TITLE II--CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO INDIAN TRIBES
Sec. 201. Conveyance of land to be held in trust for certain Indian
tribes.
Sec. 202. Administration.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
TITLE I--ELKO MOTOCROSS LAND CONVEYANCE
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) City.--The term ``city'' means the city of Elko,
Nevada.
(2) County.--The term ``county'' means the county of Elko,
Nevada.
(3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Elko
Motocross Park'' and dated January 9, 2010.
SEC. 102. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO COUNTY.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, subject to valid existing rights and
such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be
necessary and after agreement from the county, the Secretary
shall convey to the county, without consideration, all right,
title, and interest of the United States in and to the land
described in subsection (b).
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in
subsection (a) consists of approximately 275 acres of land
managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Elko District,
Nevada, as generally depicted on the map as ``Elko Motocross
Park''.
[[Page H8189]]
(c) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the legal
description of the parcel to be conveyed under this section.
(2) Minor errors.--The Secretary may correct any minor
error in--
(A) the map; or
(B) the legal description.
(3) Availability.--The map and legal description shall be
on file and available for public inspection in the
appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(d) Use of Conveyed Land.--The land conveyed under this
section shall be used only as a motocross, bicycle, off-
highway vehicle, or stock car racing area, or for any other
public purpose consistent with uses allowed under the Act of
June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the ``Recreation and Public
Purposes Act'') (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
(e) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary shall require the
county to pay all survey costs and other administrative costs
necessary for the preparation and completion of any patents
for, and transfers of title to, the land described in
subsection (b).
(f) Reversion.--If the land conveyed under this section
ceases to be used for a public purpose in accordance with
subsection (d), the land shall, at the discretion of the
Secretary, revert to the United States.
TITLE II--CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO INDIAN TRIBES
SEC. 201. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO BE HELD IN TRUST FOR CERTAIN
INDIAN TRIBES.
(a) Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada
(Elko Band).--
(1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term
``map'' means the map entitled ``Te-moak Tribal Land
Expansion'', dated September 30, 2008, and on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the land described in paragraph (3)--
(A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit
of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada
(Elko Band); and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Te-Moak Tribe
of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada (Elko Band).
(3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph
(2) is the approximately 373 acres of land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the
map as ``Lands to be Held in Trust''.
(b) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Fort
McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.--
(1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term
``map'' means the map entitled ``Fort McDermitt Indian
Reservation Expansion Act'', dated February 21, 2013, and on
file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the land described in paragraph (3)--
(A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit
of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe; and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Fort McDermitt
Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.
(3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph
(2) is the approximately 19,094 acres of land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the
map as ``Reservation Expansion Lands''.
(c) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Shoshone
Paiute Tribes.--
(1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term
``map'' means the map entitled ``Mountain City Administrative
Site Proposed Acquisition'', dated July 29, 2013, and on file
and available for public inspection in the appropriate
offices of the Forest Service.
(2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the land described in paragraph (3)--
(A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit
of the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian
Reservation; and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Shoshone Paiute
Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.
(3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph
(2) is the approximately 82 acres of land administered by the
Forest Service as generally depicted on the map as ``Proposed
Acquisition Site''.
(d) Transfer of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Summit
Lake Paiute Tribe.--
(1) Definition of map.--In this section, the term ``map''
means the map entitled ``Summit Lake Indian Reservation
Conveyance'', dated February 28, 2013, and on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the land described in paragraph (3)--
(A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit
of the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe; and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Summit Lake
Paiute Tribe.
(3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph
(2) is the approximately 941 acres of land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the
map as ``Reservation Conveyance Lands''.
(e) Transfer of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Reno-
Sparks Indian Colony Land.--
(1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term
``map'' means the map entitled ``Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Expansion'', dated June 11, 2014, and on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the land described in paragraph (3)--
(A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit
of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony; and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Reno-Sparks
Indian Colony.
(3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph
(2) is the approximately 13,434 acres of land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the
map as ``RSIC Amended Boundary''.
(f) Transfer of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Pyramid
Lake Paiute Tribe.--
(1) Map.--In this subsection, the term ``map'' means the
map entitled ``Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation Expansion'',
dated July 26, 2014, and on file and available for public
inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land
Management.
(2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the land described in paragraph (1)--
(A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit
of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe; and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe.
(3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph
(2) is the approximately 11,719 acres of land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the
map as ``Reservation Expansion Lands''.
SEC. 202. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a survey
of the boundary lines to establish the boundaries of the land
taken into trust for each Indian tribe under section 201.
(b) Use of Trust Land.--
(1) Gaming.--Land taken into trust under section 201 shall
not be eligible, or considered to have been taken into trust,
for class II gaming or class III gaming (as those terms are
defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25
U.S.C. 2703)).
(2) Thinning; landscape restoration.--With respect to the
land taken into trust under section 201, the Secretary, in
consultation and coordination with the applicable Indian
tribe, may carry out any fuel reduction and other landscape
restoration activities, including restoration of sage grouse
habitat, on the land that is beneficial to the Indian tribe
and the Bureau of Land Management.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lowenthal) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
{time} 1645
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
First, I would like to commend the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Amodei
from Nevada, for his tireless work on this important piece of
legislation. Because he will speak further on the details of this
legislation, I will provide a very brief summary of the bill.
H.R. 2455, as amended, requires that 45,000 acres of Federal land be
held in trust by the U.S. to expand the reservations of several tribes
residing in Nevada while requiring that this land may not be used for
gaming purposes.
The bill also directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey 275
acres of Federal land to the county of Elko, Nevada, to be used only as
a motocross, bicycle, off-road vehicle, or stock car racing area.
Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei)
for his legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2455 would convey approximately 275 acres of Bureau
of
[[Page H8190]]
Land Management-administered land to Elko County, Nevada, at fair
market value. The bill requires the land conveyed, the Elko motocross,
to be used specifically as a motocross, bicycle, off-highway vehicle,
or stock car racing area.
If the land is not used for these specific purposes, then it may be
used for any other public purposes consistent with the Recreation and
Public Purposes Act.
The bill would also transfer several thousand acres of BLM-
administered land to seven Nevada tribes in trust: the Te-Moak Tribe of
Western Shoshone Indians, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe,
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, Summit
Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe.
This bill was amended by subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young), to address among other things the administration's
concerns about sage grouse habitat.
I thank my colleagues, Representative Mark Amodei and Representative
Don Young, for their efforts to address these concerns. I support the
passage of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei), the author of this legislation.
Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the
committee for yielding me this time, and I also thank my colleague from
California, the ranking member, and also the subcommittee chairman, the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), for processing this bill.
I also want to associate myself with the remarks of my colleague from
Idaho earlier regarding the departure of the committee chairman, Mr.
Hastings from Washington, and while he talked about who is going to
miss who more, I think it is probably accurate to say that I will miss
Mr. Hastings more than he will miss me, but I will endeavor to change
his mind over the years no matter what. This is a prime example of what
happens when we work together.
This is several tens of thousands of acres which some have been
waiting since I was in the eighth grade. The original legislation for
the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe was introduced in 1971 by
then-United States Senators Alan Bible and Howard Cannon who
represented Nevada, so those folks get the patience award.
This bill does housekeeping things that we should all be happy to
have been part of finally finishing up. With checkerboard reservations,
you have multiple issues of law enforcement--you are on the
reservation, you are off the reservation--economic development, jobs
for some of the most economically-challenged cultures in our Nation,
multiple use, cultural resource protection, all those sorts of things
which I am proud to be associated with.
I want to thank the chairman and the tribal council members who
brought this to our attention at a meeting originally with Mr. Young in
Nevada several years ago, and we are looking forward to, since the
committee and the subcommittee did great work, along with the minority,
on changing some of this since it now conforms with the Senate wishes,
to the Senate processing this expeditiously.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, again, a lot of these bills
can be very complex, and I am glad there is a solution to it. I urge
adoption of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2455, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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