Elkhorn Ranch and White River National Forest Conveyance Act of 2015

Floor Speech

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1554) to require a land conveyance involving the Elkhorn Ranch and the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 1554, introduced by my friend Congressman Scott Tipton of Colorado, would require the U.S. Forest Service to convey by patent a small area of land near Rifle, Colorado, to its rightful owner.

Conflicting surveys between Federal agencies resulted in the inclusion of this land in the White River National Forest even though it was originally patented in the early 20th century and was legally owned by private landowners for decades. These landowners have paid property taxes on the acreage and have used it for a variety of purposes, including agriculture and grazing.

Earlier this year, the Forest Service testified that the bill would ``resolve a longstanding title issue associated with the property'' and has recommended that the area be ``confirmed in the successors in interest to the original patentees.''

The bill is supported by Garfield County, Colorado, the city of Rifle, Colorado, and many others.

Congressman Tipton has worked hard to correct this survey discrepancy and return this land to its rightful owner. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1554.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I join the gentlewoman in requesting the adoption of this bill.

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