[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H5567-H5568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 8454) to provide for the transfer of administrative
jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8454
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER
CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
(a) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--
(1) National forest system land.--Administrative
jurisdiction over the approximately 160 acres of National
Forest System land more particularly described as T.1 S.,
R.19 E., sec. 24, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Mount Diablo Meridian,
Tuolumne County, California, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange'' and dated
February 24, 2022, is transferred to the Secretary of the
Interior to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park, in
accordance with laws applicable to the National Park System.
(2) National park system land.--Administrative jurisdiction
over the approximately 170 acres of National Park System land
more particularly described as the SE\1/4\ of sec. 23 and the
land to the north and west of Road 1S25 within the NW\1/
4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\ of sec. 24, T.1 S., R. 19 E., Mount Diablo
Meridian, Tuolumne County, California, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange'' and
dated February 24, 2022, is transferred to the Secretary of
Agriculture to be managed as part of Stanislaus National
Forest in accordance with laws applicable to the National
Forest System.
(b) Corrections.--
(1) Minor adjustments.--The Secretary of Agriculture and
the Secretary of the Interior may, by mutual agreement, make
minor corrections and adjustments to the Federal land
transferred under subsection (a) to facilitate land
management, including making a correction or adjustment to
any applicable survey.
(2) Publications.--Any correction or adjustment made under
paragraph (1) shall be effective on the date of publication
of a notice of the correction or adjustment in the Federal
Register.
(c) Effect on Existing Rights and Authorizations.--Nothing
in this section affects--
(1) any valid existing rights; or
(2) the validity or terms and conditions of any existing
withdrawal, right-of-way, easement, lease, license, or permit
on the land to which administrative jurisdiction is
transferred under this section, except that beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act, the head of the agency to
which administrative jurisdiction over the land is
transferred shall be responsible for administering the
interests or authorizations in accordance with applicable
law.
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 to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 8454, 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 rise in support of H.R. 8454, introduced by
Representative McClintock, which executes a commonsense boundary
adjustment between Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National
Forest in California.
Ackerson Meadow supports important wildlife habitat, outdoor
recreation, and livestock grazing by the Erickson family, whose
ranching history in the area dates to the late 1800s.
A portion of Ackerson Meadow was officially donated and added to
Yosemite National Park in 2016, but this inadvertently created a
boundary that left parcels within the meadow under the administrative
jurisdiction of two different Federal agencies.
As a result, the National Park Service and Forest Service manage
adjoining parcels within the same meadow, complicating restoration
work, grazing operations, and recreational management.
H.R. 8454 provides a straightforward solution. The bill transfers
administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of land
currently managed by the Forest Service to the National Park Service to
be managed as part of Yosemite National Park.
{time} 1620
In return, the Forest Service will assume jurisdiction over 170 acres
of land currently managed by the National Park Service.
This is not a Federal land acquisition, and it does not increase the
size of the Federal estate. Instead, this bipartisan and bicameral
legislation adjusts which Federal agency manages each parcel so map
lines don't interfere with important restoration work on the ground.
By placing these lands under the agency best suited to manage them,
this legislation will improve coordination, support ongoing restoration
work, and enhance the efficiency of grazing operations, while
simplifying the management of recreation opportunities within Ackerson
Meadow.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McClintock for his leadership on
the legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8454, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8454 would authorize a land exchange between
Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest in California.
This is a straightforward exchange that will transfer 160 acres of
National Forest System land to the National Park Service, and
approximately 170 acres of National Park System land that will be
transferred to the Forest Service.
The purpose of this legislation is simply to make Federal land
management more efficient. This is needed because the Service recently
added a parcel known as the Ackerson Meadow to Yosemite National Park.
Ackerson Meadow has significant scenic value and provides key
habitats for endangered species, such as the great grey owl and the
little willow flycatcher.
[[Page H5568]]
Adding this land to Yosemite was a win-win. However, while much of
the Ackerson Meadow meets the criteria for inclusion in the National
Park, it is largely surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, and
there is a conflict with existing uses. This includes one of the
longest continuously running cattle drives in California, which is
inconsistent with Park Service laws and regulations.
H.R. 8454 is the result of negotiation and compromise, and I thank
the bill's sponsor and Chair Westerman for that work. It will result in
more efficient land management and noteworthy expansion of Yosemite
National Park.
This is exactly the kind of work that Congress is expected to do. It
stands in clear contrast to the recent proposal to sell off a piece of
Yosemite to a private developer. We should be working together to
increase conservation and improve the management of our public lands,
not trying to cut deals and exclusive access for millionaires.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8454, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), the lead sponsor of the
bill.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas and
the gentlewoman from Oregon for their bipartisan support of this
measure, and I want to assure the gentlewoman from Oregon that the land
exchange that she had suggested in Yosemite will not happen.
The Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange Act is a simple proposal to
transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of
national forestland to Yosemite National Park, and then it would
transfer approximately 170 acres of National Park System land to be a
part of the Stanislaus National Forest.
Senator Padilla is carrying identical legislation in the Senate. We
don't agree on much, but we certainly agree on this.
This legislation addresses a familiar problem in Federal land
management in the Sierra Nevada, the checkerboard boundary lines that
make land management disjointed and inefficient. This bill simply
consolidates land jurisdictions between the National Park System and
the National Forest System, without increasing the Federal footprint.
At issue is Ackerson Meadow. This meadow supports livestock grazing
operations that have been part of the history and economy of this
region for generations. These operations are essential for brush
control and fire suppression, maintaining meadow conditions, and
sustaining the rural economy that depends on the productive use of
these lands.
Federal agencies, conservation organizations, and local ranchers have
all worked together to improve the meadow while maintaining grazing
opportunities.
Restoration projects have improved wetland conditions, enhanced water
storage, improved habitat, and supported continued public uses,
including grazing.
The proposed land exchange would make that cooperative approach
easier by eliminating the confusion caused by split jurisdiction.
Ranchers need to know where their permits apply, where infrastructure
can be maintained, and who is responsible for decisions affecting their
operations.
The bill also protects existing rights and authorizations. It
specifically provides that valid existing rights, including rights-of-
way, easements, leases, licenses, and permits remain protected after
the transfer. This ensures that current users, including grazing permit
holders, are not unfairly disrupted by a change in administrative
jurisdiction.
It also appropriately maintains Federal responsibilities for
hazardous substance cleanup and other obligations.
This bill reflects a principle that should guide Federal land policy.
Management decisions should be based on the realities of the landscape
and not simply of the boundaries drawn on a map decades ago.
Our national forests and parks serve many purposes. They preserve
wildlife habitat, protect watersheds, provide recreation, and support
rural economies. A balanced approach recognizes all of these values.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 8454.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this good legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative
McClintock for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues
to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8454, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 8454, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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