[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 18, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3459-S3461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SALEM MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK REDESIGNATION AND BOUNDARY
STUDY ACT
A bill (H.R. 2215) to redesignate the Salem Maritime National
Historic Site as the ``Salem Maritime National Historical Park'', and
for other purposes, was ordered to a third reading and was read the
third time.
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I know of no further debate on the bills en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
The bills having been read the third time, en bloc, the question is,
Shall the bills pass en bloc?
The bills were passed en bloc, as follows:
The bill (S. 154) was passed, as follows:
S. 154
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 ``Colorado River Basin System
Conservation Extension Act''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM CONSERVATION
PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 206 of the Energy and Water Development and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (43 U.S.C. 620 note; Public
Law 113-235), is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``this Act'' and
inserting ``the Colorado River Basin System Conservation
Extension Act'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``2024'' and
inserting ``2026''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``2025'' and inserting
``2027''.
The bill (S. 282) was passed, as follows:
S. 282
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 ``Katahdin Woods and Waters
National Monument Access Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Authorized acquisition area.--The term ``authorized
acquisition area'' means the designated area outside the
boundary of the National Monument depicted as ``Authorized
Acquisition Area'' on the map entitled ``Katahdin Woods and
Waters National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment'',
numbered 686/193,181 and dated March 2024.
(2) National monument.--The term ``National Monument''
means the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the
State of Maine established by the Proclamation.
(3) Proclamation.--The term ``Proclamation'' means
Presidential Proclamation Number 9476, dated August 24, 2016
(54 U.S.C. 320301 note).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL LAND FOR NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Boundary.--The boundaries of the National Monument
shall be the boundaries established by the Proclamation.
(b) Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or
exchange, land or interests in land within the authorized
acquisition area.
(2) Prohibition on use of eminent domain.--Nothing in this
Act authorizes the use of eminent domain to acquire land or
an interest in land.
(c) Treatment of Acquired Land; Boundary Adjustment.--On
acquisition by the Secretary of any land pursuant to
subsection (b)--
(1) the land shall be included in the National Monument;
and
(2) the boundaries of the National Monument shall be
adjusted accordingly.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the
National Monument (including the land added to the National
Monument under this Act) in accordance with--
(1) this Act;
(2) the Proclamation; and
(3) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System.
(b) Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation on Acquired
Land.--The Secretary shall allow hunting, fishing, or any
other outdoor recreation activity on land acquired pursuant
to section 3(b)--
(1) if that activity was in existence on the day before the
date of acquisition of the land; and
(2) consistent with the management of that activity under
the Proclamation.
(c) Collection of Fiddlehead Ferns.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall allow the gathering by hand of fiddlehead ferns
(Matteuccia struthiopteris) in the National Monument for
noncommercial personal use and consumption by the general
public.
(2) Limitation.--If the Secretary determines that the
gathering of fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
under paragraph (1) may adversely affect resources of the
National Monument, the Secretary may limit the gathering of
fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) under that
paragraph in accordance with applicable regulations.
(d) Public Education.--In accordance with the mission of
the National Park Service, the Secretary shall collaborate
with local communities and Tribal governments to educate the
public regarding the natural environment and history of land
management in the National Monument, including the shaping of
that landscape by Native communities and practices,
successive generations of timber management, and other
activities.
(e) Forestry.--In accordance with the management plan for
the National Monument, the Secretary may conduct such
noncommercial timber harvests as the Secretary determines to
be necessary.
(f) Protection of Existing Access.--Nothing in this Act
affects valid existing rights, including existing rights of
access through the National Monument for the removal of
timber outside the boundaries of the National Monument.
(g) Public Safety.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to the public
appropriate safety education and notification materials to
ensure safe interactions between visitors and logging trucks,
equipment, and operations on roads in or adjacent to the
National Monument.
(2) Procedures.--The Secretary shall collaborate with
affected stakeholders to establish procedures to meet the
needs of visitors to the National Monument, logging and
trucking operations, and other users of roads in or adjacent
to the National Monument to ensure safe interactions between
active logging operations and visitors.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SITES AND VISITOR FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--To facilitate the administration of the
National Monument, the Secretary may acquire, by purchase
from a willing seller, donation, or exchange, not more than
10 acres of land or interests in land, including
improvements, for the administration of the National Monument
and visitor services outside the boundaries, but within the
vicinity, of the National Monument.
(b) Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into agreements
with State of Maine, units of Tribal or local government, or
private entities--
(1) to carry out this section; and
(2) to develop a cooperative information center for the
National Monument.
The bill (S. 356) was passed, as follows:
S. 356
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 ``Secure Rural Schools
Reauthorization Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-
DETERMINATION ACT OF 2000.
(a) Secure Payments for States and Counties Containing
Federal Land.--
(1) Secure payments.--Section 101 of the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16
U.S.C. 7111) is amended--
(A) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ``2023'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2026''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Special Rule for Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025
Payments.--
``(1) State payment.--If an eligible county in a State that
will receive a share of the State payment for fiscal year
2024 or 2025 has already received, or will receive, a share
of the 25-percent payment for that fiscal year distributed to
the State before the date of enactment of this subsection,
the amount of the State payment shall be reduced by the
amount of the share of the eligible county of the 25-percent
payment.
``(2) County payment.--If an eligible county that will
receive a county payment for fiscal year 2024 or 2025 has
already received a 50-percent payment for that fiscal year,
the amount of the county payment shall be reduced by the
amount of the 50-percent payment.
[[Page S3460]]
``(3) Prompt payment.--Not later than 45 days after the
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall make all payments under this title for each of
fiscal years 2024 and 2025.''.
(2) Distribution of payments to eligible counties.--Section
103(d)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7113(d)(2)) is amended
by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2026''.
(b) Payments to States and Counties.--Section 102 of the
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000 (16 U.S.C. 7112) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Payments for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.--The
election otherwise required by subparagraph (A) shall not
apply for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Fiscal years 2024 and 2025.--The election described
in paragraph (1)(A) applicable to a county in fiscal year
2023 shall be effective for each of fiscal years 2024 and
2025.''; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Payments for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.--The
election made by an eligible county under subparagraph (B),
(C), or (D) for fiscal year 2023, or deemed to be made by the
county under paragraph (3)(B) for that fiscal year, shall be
effective for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Payments for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.--
This paragraph does not apply for each of fiscal years 2024
and 2025.''.
(c) Extension of Authority To Conduct Special Projects on
Federal Land.--
(1) Committee composition waiver authority.--Section
205(d)(6)(C) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125(d)(6)(C)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2026''.
(2) Extension of authority.--Section 208 of the Secure
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000
(16 U.S.C. 7128) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``2025'' and inserting
``2028''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``2026'' and inserting
``2029''.
(d) Extension of Authority To Expend County Funds.--Section
305 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7144) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2025'' and inserting
``2028''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``2026'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 3. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE PILOT PROGRAM EXTENSION.
Section 205(g) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125(g)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2026''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (6).
SEC. 4. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Resource Advisory Committees.--Section 205 of the
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``concerned,'' and
inserting ``concerned''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``the date of the
enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``October 3, 2008'';
and
(2) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``to extent'' and
inserting ``to the extent''.
(b) Use of Project Funds.--Section 206(b)(2) of the Secure
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000
(16 U.S.C. 7126(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``concerned,''
and inserting ``concerned''.
The bill (S. 1112) was passed, as follows:
S. 1112
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 ``Big Bend National Park
Boundary Adjustment Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Big
Bend National Park, Proposed Boundary Adjustment'', numbered
155/167,296, and dated November 2022.
(2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Big Bend National
Park established under the Act of June 20, 1935 (49 Stat.
393, chapter 283; 16 U.S.C. 156).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
(a) Land Acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire
approximately 6,100 acres of land or interests in land
generally depicted on the map as ``Tracts to Include in
Boundary'' by donation or exchange.
(b) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the National Park Service.
(c) Boundary Revision and Administration.--On acquisition
of any land or interests in land under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) revise the boundary of the Park to include the acquired
land or interests in land; and
(2) administer the acquired land or interests in land as
part of the Park in accordance with applicable laws
(including regulations).
(d) Eminent Domain or Condemnation.--In carrying out this
Act, the Secretary may not use eminent domain or
condemnation.
The bill (H.R. 42) was passed.
The bill (H.R. 43) was passed.
The bill (H.R. 618) was passed.
The bill (H.R. 2215) was passed.
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the motions
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Nevada.
Apex Area Technical Corrections Act
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, we just passed a bipartisan package
of bills. Some of them were passed by the Senate in the last Congress,
and recently some of them were passed by the House.
The package includes one of my pieces of legislation which was needed
in Nevada, which was H.R. 618, the Apex Area Technical Corrections Act.
This bill will cut through redtape at the Apex Industrial Park in North
Las Vegas and speed up the cumbersome and unnecessary permitting
process for businesses looking to build or expand there. Here is how:
All Nevada developers know that the Federal Government owns more than
80 percent of the land in our State. That requires us to have this
Federal partnership. Every time a company wants to develop a project on
public land, they need a permit from the Bureau of Land Management.
That process, as we all know, can take years, and in that time, we are
losing out on economic growth and on new job creation. That is what is
currently happening at the Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas.
APEX has over 7,000 acres of developable land where various companies
are building new sites. That includes Air Liquide's largest hydrogen
plant in the world, an 885,000 square foot distribution center for the
grocery chain Smith's, and a 1 million square foot distribution center
for the footwear company Crocs. The Smith's center is projected to add
250 jobs for Nevadans, while the Crocs center could create up to 1,200
jobs.
Unfortunately, because of an outdated permitting law, too many
businesses that want to set up shop at APEX are bogged down by
burdensome obstacles.
When the Apex Industrial site was created in 1989, Congress passed
legislation to transfer Federal land to private ownership, but the
Bureau of Land Management maintained control over large utility
corridors that crisscrossed throughout the whole development. That
means every business that wants to start constructing or even expand at
APEX has to go through the complicated Federal permitting process if
they want to access necessities like gas, power, sewage, access roads,
and broadband lines across those BLM-controlled corridors.
In the initial law passed in 1989, Congress gave Clark County, NV,
the authorization to speed up the permitting process, but since then,
APEX's primary management has changed to the city of North Las Vegas
and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association as well. Unfortunately,
these two entities don't have the authority to permit new pipelines,
power connections, or roads for businesses and their facilities. That
has caused delays that could last years.
That is why I am fighting to pass the Apex Area Technical Corrections
Act. This bill will give the city of North Las Vegas and the Apex
Industrial Park Owners Association the authority they need to issue
permits and get new and existing businesses the utilities they need to
operate.
This legislation cuts through unnecessary government obstacles and
allows our businesses to grow at a sustainable pace. It is essential to
ensure businesses can efficiently continue to build and expand in
Nevada, including at the Apex Industrial Park, bring new jobs to North
Las Vegas, and continue to strengthen our economy.
This bill has already passed through the House of Representatives,
and I look forward to the President signing it into law soon.
With that, I yield the floor.
[[Page S3461]]
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I am really very glad we were able to
reach agreement today to pass these four bills by unanimous consent and
will send them to the President to be signed into law.
I want to acknowledge and thank my colleague and friend from Nevada
Senator Cortez Masto. I also want to acknowledge Senator Markey from
Massachusetts. They worked with us to try to get us to the place we are
today in which we were able to move these bills across the floor.
I also want to thank the chairman of the Energy Committee and the
ranking member, Chairman Lee and Ranking Member Heinrich. Their teams
worked with us on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as well
as the cloakroom teams, to make sure we were able to be successful
today.
The Senate passed all four of these measures last December, so we
have seen them once. Now we have seen them twice. But the House ran out
of time at the end of the last Congress to take them up, so we are
where we are. But now these bills are going to be going to the
President for his signature.
Two of the bills we just passed are important for Alaska Natives, and
I am proud to have been able to work on these important measures. It
has been a multiyear effort to get them to the President's desk. Again,
I don't care, really, if we send an H.R. or if we send a Senate bill to
the President; we just want to get it accomplished. We want to get some
things done for Alaska.
The first measure, which is H.R. 42, amends the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act, or ANCSA. It amends it to ensure that when Alaska
Native elders, the blind, and the disabled receive dividends from their
settlement trusts, they do not inadvertently become, then, ineligible
to participate in Federal needs-based assistance programs.
This is pretty common sense. You have a situation where Alaska
Natives who are aged, blind, or disabled should not have to choose
between accepting the settlement trust income they are entitled to or
qualifying for Federal benefits such as supplemental security income,
SSI, or SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as
housing assistance. Now, with this bill, they are not going to have to
make that choice.
The second measure is H.R. 43, the Alaska Native Village Municipal
Lands Restoration Act. What this does is eliminate a requirement under
ANCSA, section 14(c)(3), that Alaska Native village corporations convey
land to the State of Alaska to be held in trust for future
municipalities, which are not likely to ever be established.
So what we are doing with this measure is sunsetting this requirement
and allowing village corporations to regain title to conveyed lands.
This will allow village corporations to fully utilize their lands for
the benefit of their communities. This is what we want to see happen.
Again, it has been a long time coming. So I am pleased that we are
here.
I am hopeful that the Senate can pass more of these similar, very
noncontroversial bills through the unanimous consent process. We
shouldn't get into the practice where we wait until the end of a
Congress or perhaps even multiple Congresses for a package to be knit
together. People in these communities are waiting on us, as Senator
Cortez Masto noted in her State of Nevada and in my State of Alaska.
They are waiting on us to deliver these small legislative priorities
that will allow them to move forward, whether it is economic
development or just making sure that there is a level of equity and
fairness.
So I thank my colleagues, I thank the Energy Committee, as well as
the floor team, and my staff who helped us move these measures forward.
I yield the floor.
____________________