[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3957-S3958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6688. Mr. KING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of section 1091, add the following:
(f) Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) 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.
(B) National monument.--The term ``National Monument''
means the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the
State of Maine established by the Proclamation.
(C) Proclamation.--The term ``Proclamation'' means
Presidential Proclamation Number 9476, dated August 24, 2016
(54 U.S.C. 320301 note).
(D) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(2) 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.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary may
acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or
exchange, land or interests in land within the authorized
acquisition area.
(ii) Prohibition on use of eminent domain.--Nothing in this
subsection 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
subparagraph (B)--
(i) the land shall be included in the National Monument;
and
(ii) the boundaries of the National Monument shall be
adjusted accordingly.
(3) Administration of national monument.--
[[Page S3958]]
(A) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the
National Monument (including the land added to the National
Monument under this subsection) in accordance with--
(i) this subsection;
(ii) the Proclamation; and
(iii) 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 paragraph (2)(B)--
(i) if that activity was in existence on the day before the
date of acquisition of the land; and
(ii) consistent with the management of that activity under
the Proclamation.
(C) Collection of fiddlehead ferns.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 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.
(ii) Limitation.--If the Secretary determines that the
gathering of fiddlehead ferns under clause (i) may adversely
affect resources of the National Monument, the Secretary may
limit the gathering of fiddlehead ferns under that clause 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
subsection 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.--
(i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(4) 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 the State of Maine, units of Tribal or local government,
or private entities--
(i) to carry out this section; and
(ii) to develop a cooperative information center for the
National Monument.
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