[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 13, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1975-H1977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
APACHE COUNTY AND NAVAJO COUNTY CONVEYANCE ACT OF 2025
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1829) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey
certain lands within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and for
other purposes.
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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Apache County and Navajo
County Conveyance Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE APACHE-
SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS TO NAVAJO COUNTY,
ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Navajo County,
Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Pinedale Cemetery Expansion'' and dated May 23, 2022.
(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)(1) 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)(1).
(c) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b)
is--
(A) the parcel of real property, including all land and
improvements, generally depicted as ``Exist. Cemetery'' on
the map, consisting of approximately 2.5 acres of National
Forest System land located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National
Forests in Arizona; and
(B) the parcel of real property, including all land and
improvements, generally depicted as ``Proposed Expansion'' on
the map, consisting of approximately 2.5 acres of National
Forest System land located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National
Forests 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--
(1) be subject to valid existing rights;
(2) be made without consideration;
(3) be made by quitclaim deed;
(4) not be subject to section 120(h) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(5) be subject to any other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers 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); and
(2) any environmental analysis and resource surveys
required by Federal law.
(f) Required Use as Cemetery.--The property conveyed to the
County under subsection (b) shall be used by the County as a
cemetery.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection
(b) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the
requirement of subsection (f), all right, title, and interest
in and to the property shall revert to the United States.
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE APACHE-
SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS TO APACHE COUNTY,
ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Apache County,
Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Exhibit, Alpine Cemetery Townsite'' and dated October,
2019.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service.
[[Page H1976]]
(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)(1) not
later than 365 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)(1).
(c) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b)
is--
(A) the parcel of real property, including all land and
improvements, generally depicted as the ``Existing Alpine
Cemetery'' on the map, consisting of approximately 2.56 acres
of National Forest System land located in the Apache-
Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona; and
(B) the parcel of real property, including all land and
improvements, generally depicted as the ``Proposed Townsite
Tract'' on the map, consisting of approximately 8.06 acres of
National Forest System land located in the Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forests 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--
(1) be subject to valid existing rights;
(2) be made without consideration;
(3) be made by quitclaim deed;
(4) not be subject to section 120(h) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(5) be subject to any other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers 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); and
(2) any environmental analysis and resource surveys
required by Federal law.
(f) Required Use as Cemetery.--The property conveyed to the
County under subsection (b) shall be used by the County as a
cemetery.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection
(b) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the
requirement of subsection (f), all right, title, and interest
in and to the property shall revert to the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. 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, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Congressman Crane's bill, the Apache
County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025. This legislation would
transfer small parcels of Federal land to Apache and Navajo Counties to
expand existing cemeteries.
Located in eastern Arizona, the communities in Pinedale and Alpine
are surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Given the
large Federal footprint, both communities have struggled to expand
their respective cemeteries, which are currently located on U.S. Forest
Service land and operated under a special use permit. If the cemeteries
are not expanded, families will be forced to travel long distances to
distant cemeteries to visit their deceased relatives.
To address this need, Pinedale and Alpine have worked with their
respective counties to identify additional land to expand their
cemeteries.
This bill provides a straightforward, commonsense solution by
transferring U.S. Forest Service land adjacent to the cemeteries to the
respective counties.
While this is a straightforward bill, I think many of us can attest
to the invaluable role a burial place can play in the grieving process.
Burial sites are sacred, eternal resting places that provide closure
for the families of the deceased. Families should not be forced to
travel long distances to lay their loved ones to rest due to the red
tape of Federal land ownership.
As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I fought to elevate
the voices of rural communities and highlight their unique challenges.
This bill addresses one of those unique challenges.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Crane for his work on this
legislation. I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of
H.R. 1829, the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025,
a commonsense bill that will help rural Arizona communities meet an
essential public service need.
This legislation would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey
small parcels of land within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to
Apache County and Navajo County for the expansion of existing
cemeteries.
These cemeteries are running out of space. Without this bill, local
families face serious barriers in accessing burial services close to
home.
This bill would ensure the land remains dedicated to cemetery use. It
also protects Federal interests through a reversion clause and places
the costs of surveys and environmental review on the counties.
This is a respectful, efficient solution that reflects both local
priorities and responsible Federal land management.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Crane), the lead sponsor of the bill.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my bill,
the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025.
This legislation would transfer Federal land currently under the
purview of the U.S. Forest Service to Navajo and Apache Counties.
For more than a decade, the communities of Pinedale and Alpine have
struggled to find appropriate cemetery space to meet the needs of
family members wishing to enter and pay respects to their loved ones.
My bill would expand the land adjacent to the Alpine Community
Cemetery, preventing the need for members of the community to be laid
to rest in a distant cemetery.
These communities have storied histories dating back to the pioneers,
and they deserve to lay their loved ones to rest in a place that means
so much to them.
My primary objective as a public official is to remain principled and
effective for the district that I represent, ensuring that rural
communities are not forgotten by the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Chairman Westerman, Navajo County
Supervisor Seymore, and Apache County Supervisor Nelson, and also my
colleagues on the other side for their support and their leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
support this sensible solution.
{time} 1700
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1829 will ensure that two rural
communities in eastern Arizona have the space to lay their beloved
community members to rest. I thank Congressman Crane for spearheading
this critical issue on behalf of his constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McDowell). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1829.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
[[Page H1977]]
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