[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2161-H2162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1615
CONVEYANCE OF PLEASANT VALLEY RANGER DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SITE TO
GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA
Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1829) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the
Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County,
Arizona, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1829
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PLEASANT VALLEY RANGER DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATIVE SITE TO GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Gila County,
Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Pleasant Valley Admin Site Proposal'' and dated September
23, 2021.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service.
(b) Conveyance Required.--Subject to this section, if the
County submits to the Secretary a written request for
conveyance of the property described in subsection (c) not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall convey to the County all right, title,
and interest of the United States in and to the property
described in subsection (c).
(c) Description of Property.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b)
is the parcel of real property, including all land and
improvements, generally depicted as ``Gila County Area'' on
the map, consisting of approximately 232.9 acres of National
Forest System land located in the Tonto National Forest in
Arizona.
(2) Map.--
(A) Minor errors.--The Secretary may correct minor errors
in the map.
(B) Availability.--A copy of the map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the Forest Service.
(3) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the
National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection
(b) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the
Secretary.
(d) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection
(b) shall be--
(1) subject to valid existing rights;
(2) made without consideration;
(3) made by quitclaim deed; and
(4) subject to such other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers to be appropriate to protect the
interests of the United States.
(e) Costs of Conveyance.--As a condition of the conveyance
under subsection (b), the County shall pay all costs
associated with the conveyance, including the cost of--
(1) a survey, if necessary, under subsection (c)(3);
(2) any environmental analysis or resource survey required
under Federal law; and
(3) any analysis required to comply with division A of
subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly
referred to as the ``National Historic Preservation Act'').
(f) Environmental Conditions.--Notwithstanding section
120(h)(3)(A) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C.
9620(h)(3)(A)), the Secretary shall not be required to
provide any covenant or warranty for the land and
improvements conveyed to the County under subsection (b).
(g) Use of Land.--The land conveyed to the county under
subsection (b) shall be used by the County only for the
purposes of serving and supporting veterans of the Armed
Forces.
(h) Reversion.--If any land conveyed under subsection (b)
is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the
requirements of subsection (g), all right, title, and
interest in and to the land shall revert to the United
States, at the discretion of the Secretary.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger
Fernandez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.
General Leave
Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1829, as amended, the bill now
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Wyoming?
There was no objection.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Representative Crane's bill,
H.R. 1829. This is a good bill that would transfer land from the Forest
Service to create a retreat facility in Gila County, Arizona, for
veterans and their families to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Gila County is home to more than 5,000 veterans. Overall, the State
of Arizona has a population of more than 500,000 veterans. Creating
this facility will help those who have served our country find healing
and reconnect with nature, and it will help ease the transition back to
civilian life.
Almost 60 percent of the land in Gila County is federally owned,
which creates significant limitations on available land for laudable
efforts like this proposed retreat for veterans. This retreat center
would be created from a Forest Service site that was scheduled to be
torn down. In total, this 232-acre site includes 17 buildings, 2
residences, 2 barracks, a historic ranger house and barn, and helipads.
Gila County intends to remodel many of the buildings to provide an
excellent experience for veterans and their families. Repurposing the
site in this way is a win-win, as it will be a great resource for
Arizona's veterans while freeing the Forest Service from maintaining
the property that it no longer needs.
I applaud Representative Crane for his leadership in this effort. His
diligent work with Gila County and the Forest Service has led to an
important effort which will make a meaningful difference in the lives
of Arizona's veterans. I support this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1829, which would authorize
the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger
District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
Adjacent to the rural town of Young, Arizona, the parcel was
previously an administrative site for the Forest Service but is no
longer in use for this purpose. The conveyance authorized by this bill
would provide Gila County with the opportunity to establish a veterans
retreat and community center that would support the communities in
Young and the surrounding area.
Supporting and uplifting our Nation's veterans is a goal that we can
all get behind. It is never enough to tell our veterans: ``Thank you
for your service.'' We must always act to show our gratitude by
providing veterans the services they need wherever they live.
Our rural and Native American veterans deserve to have a place of
their own on their own land to carry out the services we owe these
patriotic rural and first Americans. This bill contributes to that goal
by conveying Forest Service land to create a vibrant veterans center
with family housing, resources, meeting and event spaces, a VA mobile
clinic, ceremonial grounds, and access to outdoor recreational
opportunities. The partnership made possible by this bill will provide
new life to deteriorating buildings, barns, barracks, and existing
wastewater systems.
During our hearing on the bill, the chair of the Gila County Board of
Supervisors noted the goal of creating ``the ultimate experience for
veterans and their families.'' This bill is a win-win.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Crane).
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of my bill, which
was the first piece of legislation I introduced and is a testament to
veterans in Arizona. Specifically, my bill would enable Gila County,
Arizona, to operate a veterans center on 232 acres in Young, Arizona.
As a veteran myself, I know the importance of providing these
resources cannot be overstated. This legislation will serve our State
and its heroes well.
The veterans center would protect and maintain the rich history of
the property while providing family housing, meeting and activity
spaces, resource rooms, veteran ceremonial grounds, and outdoor
recreation. It would be the first of its kind in northern Arizona,
providing resources and support to primarily rural veterans and their
families.
Furthermore, this legislation is an exemplary model of efficient land
management. Out West, the Federal Government retains vast amounts of
land, limiting States' ability to maintain, conserve, recreate, and
responsibly produce on the lands within their own States.
[[Page H2162]]
Anytime Congress can vote on legislation that returns power to the
State is a good thing. In this case, veterans of northern Arizona will
get a space to heal and reconnect with their families after putting
their lives on the line for the peace and freedom of all Americans.
I would like to take a moment to thank the gentleman from Arizona
(Mr. Gosar), my friend who helped lay the foundation for this effort,
as well as Senators Sinema and Kelly, who are leading this bill in the
Senate.
It is my hope that we can get this bill across the finish line.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation to put into good use this land for the benefit of our
veterans, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I again applaud Representative Crane for
his leadership in this effort. As a veteran himself, I know that he
understands just how important this veterans retreat center will be for
the community.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1829, 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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