[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 190 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7276-S7277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CLIFTON OPPORTUNITIES NOW FOR VIBRANT ECONOMIC YIELDS ACT

  The bill (H.R. 2997) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey to Mesa County, Colorado, certain Federal land in Colorado, and 
for other purposes, was ordered to a third reading, was read the third 
time, and passed.
  Mr. HICKENLOOPER. Madam President, Mesa County, CO, out in the far 
west part of the State, is bursting with opportunities for economic 
development. The CONVEY Act, which passed the Senate today, will help 
make sure there is sufficient space to continue that growth.
  This bill will direct the transfer of Federal land near Clifton, CO, 
to the local Mesa County government to support their domestic economic 
development. Specifically, the bill accelerates the sale of 31 acres of 
land near Interstate 70 in Clifton, CO. It is a parcel of land that was 
previously set aside for the Bureau of Reclamation's Grand Valley 
Reclamation Project, but Reclamation has indicated its intent to 
relinquish the 31 acres considered in the

[[Page S7277]]

sale. The county will pay fair market value for those 31 acres of 
Federal land. The Federal Government has already determined that it no 
longer needs this land, and Mesa County has plans for ways to put it to 
work.
  This is a win-win for the Federal Government, for Mesa County, for 
Colorado, and for our country. By passing the CONVEY Act today, we will 
finally push this land transfer over the finish line.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I would just like to say a few words, 
if I may, about the Senate passing S. 1553. In Wyoming, we refer to it 
as the RANCH Act, and that stands for Resiliency for Ranching and 
Natural Conservation Health.
  This is an important piece of legislation for my home State of 
Wyoming and for all Western States. Livestock grazing plays a critical 
role in my State of Wyoming and in a lot of the Rocky Mountain West. It 
is important to maintain rangeland health, and this is what this bill 
does. This also supports ranchers' livelihoods.
  Natural disasters and emergencies occur. They can have a huge impact 
on so many of our rural communities. In fact, this past summer, we had 
significant wildfires, and this is just one example of how bad it can 
get and how quickly.
  So when ranchers face the loss of the use of their normal public land 
allotments for grazing, they do need access to emergency pastures in a 
timely manner for their animals to continue to graze. So the RANCH Act 
allows for temporary use of vacant grazing allotments during extreme 
events and disasters, which, regrettably, happen more frequently than 
we would like.
  This bill promotes resilient and healthy rangelands. It also supports 
effective grazing management for the West. The RANCH Act is going to 
provide land management agencies the authorities that they need to help 
ranchers and rural communities facing emergency situations. I am so 
pleased it has passed the Senate today by unanimous consent.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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