[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3498-H3500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LA PAZ COUNTY SOLAR ENERGY AND JOB CREATION ACT
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1043) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain
Federal land in Arizona to La Paz County, Arizona, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1043
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 ``La Paz County Solar Energy
and Job Creation Act''.
[[Page H3499]]
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means La Paz County,
Arizona.
(2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the
approximately 3,400 acres of land managed by the Bureau of
Land Management and designated as ``Federal Land to be
Conveyed'' on the map.
(3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map prepared by the
Bureau of Land Management entitled ``BLM Arizona--La Paz
County Land Conveyance Map'' and dated June 29, 2023.
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE TO LA PAZ COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the planning requirement
of sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713) and in
accordance with this section and other applicable law, as
soon as practicable after receiving a request from the County
to convey the Federal land, the Secretary shall convey the
Federal land to the County.
(b) Restrictions on Conveyance.--
(1) In general.--The conveyance under subsection (a) shall
be subject to--
(A) valid existing rights; and
(B) such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines
to be necessary.
(2) Exclusion.--The Secretary shall exclude from the
conveyance under subsection (a) any Federal land that
contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or
recreational resources.
(c) Payment of Fair Market Value.--The conveyance under
subsection (a) shall be for the fair market value of the
Federal land to be conveyed, as determined--
(1) in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(2) based on an appraisal that is conducted in accordance
with--
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land
Acquisitions; and
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice.
(d) Protection of Tribal Cultural Artifacts.--As a
condition of the conveyance under subsection (a), the County
shall, and as a condition of any subsequent conveyance, any
subsequent owner shall--
(1) make good faith efforts to avoid disturbing Tribal
artifacts;
(2) minimize impacts on Tribal artifacts if they are
disturbed;
(3) coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal
Historic Preservation Office to identify artifacts of
cultural and historic significance; and
(4) allow Tribal representatives to rebury unearthed
artifacts at or near where they were discovered.
(e) Availability of Map.--
(1) In general.--The map shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of
Land Management.
(2) Corrections.--The Secretary and the County may, by
mutual agreement--
(A) make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal land to
be conveyed under subsection (a); and
(B) correct any minor errors in the map, an acreage
estimate, or the description of the Federal land.
(f) Withdrawal.--The Federal land is withdrawn from the
operation of the mining and mineral leasing laws of the
United States.
(g) Costs.--As a condition of the conveyance of the Federal
land under subsection (a), the County shall pay--
(1) an amount equal to the appraised value determined in
accordance with subsection (c)(2); and
(2) all costs related to the conveyance, including all
surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs
associated with the conveyance of the Federal land to the
County under subsection (a).
(h) Proceeds From the Sale of Land.--The proceeds from the
sale of land under this section shall be--
(1) deposited in the Federal Land Disposal Account
established by section 206(a) of the Federal Land Transaction
Facilitation Act (43 U.S.C. 2305(a)); and
(2) used in accordance with that Act (43 U.S.C. 2301 et
seq.).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on H.R. 1043, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
{time} 1640
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1043, the La
Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act.
My bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to convey 3,400 acres
of BLM land to La Paz County, Arizona, for rural economic and solar
development.
If you have ever visited southwest Arizona, Mr. Speaker, you will
know it is pretty darn sunny. Conveying the land to the county for
solar maximizes the potential for renewable energy generation and
unlocks employment opportunities for county residents.
It is simple: energy and jobs.
This conveyance is vital to the financial future of La Paz County.
Only established in 1983, La Paz is home to nearly 17,000 residents
with a median household income of $49,000 per year. It is primarily a
farming economy, with nearly 78 percent of cash receipts derived from
the sale of crops, like sugarcane and alfalfa hay.
As Arizona expands its technology and semiconductor industries, it is
critical to meet the needs of our electric grid, and I believe we must
take an all-of-the-above energy approach to ensure the grid's
reliability.
In fact, on July 9, Arizona's largest utility providers, APS and SRP,
reported a State record of energy demand as we were hit by a heat wave.
Luckily, Arizona did not have a blackout, but we must meet the growing
needs for electricity.
Mr. Speaker, this has been a legacy priority of mine since 2015. In
2019, the House passed the first allotment of this land for the county,
and now my bill conveys the remaining acres to provide the maximum
benefit of renewable energy production and a vibrant local economy.
Importantly, this bill respects the land's cultural and Tribal
significance. It requires consultation with the Colorado River Indian
Tribes if any Tribal artifacts are uncovered during the conveyance
process. However, it also enhances the partnership between the county
and the Tribes for years to come.
At a time when Congress is exploring all opportunities for cost
savings, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act is a win-
win. The county receives opportunities for jobs and economic
development, and the Federal Government receives a fiscal benefit for
otherwise undeveloped lands.
My neighbors in La Paz County need a hand up, and I hope that I can
count on my colleagues to lend a helping hand.
Mr. Speaker, I once again ask my friends to support this legislation,
H.R. 1043, and our Nation's domestic energy dominance, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 1043, the La Paz County Solar Energy and
Job Creation Act, introduced by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
This bill would allow the Department of the Interior to convey
approximately 3,400 acres of BLM land in La Paz County in Arizona for
renewable energy generation and energy storage. La Paz County has
significant solar energy potential and is working to develop the
largest solar installation in the United States.
This project represents a step toward our clean energy future and
underscores the support for renewable energy development and
infrastructure, particularly at the State and local level.
H.R. 1043, led by Congressman Gosar and Arizona Senators Gallego and
Kelly, reflect the kind of bipartisan cooperation we need more of in
Congress.
After Republicans' reckless budget bill rolled back critical
renewable energy programs, I hope this bill signals at least a partial
recognition that in America we must keep building, not dismantling our
clean energy capacity where possible.
The legislation will help power thousands of homes with affordable,
reliable energy, support the creation of good-paying jobs, and boost
local economy all while reinforcing our commitment to energy
independence.
Importantly, this bill ensures that the Colorado River Indian Tribes
and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office are actively consulted to
protect any culturally significant artifacts. This is the right way to
approach land transfers: collaborative, respectful, and forward
thinking.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan,
future-focused bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H3500]]
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, American energy is America First. My bill means more
American jobs, more American energy, and more American prosperity.
On January 20, 2025, his very first day in office, President Trump
declared a national energy emergency to expedite permitting and
emergency regulations to unlock domestic energy production. Now it is
time for Congress to do its part.
This modest land conveyance will empower the people to meet the
national demand for energy generation with countless jobs and the
capacity to power thousands of American homes.
I thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. Westerman, committee
staff, and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for helping
me bring this legislation to the floor today. A special thank you to my
Arizona delegation cosponsors, my good friends, Representatives Biggs
and Schweikert.
Mr. Speaker, I once again ask all my colleagues to support my
legislation, H.R. 1043, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation
Act. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1043.
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.
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