[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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