[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.

                          ____________________