Big Bear Land Exchange Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCLINTOCK.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 255, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), authorizes a locally supported equal value land exchange between the Forest Service and San Bernardino County. The county has proposed to convey an inland parcel within the San Bernardino National Forest to the Forest Service in exchange for land further north to be conveyed by the county.

The land conveyed by the county will allow needed forest management infrastructure to be located closer to the forest and promote road safety by reducing the need to drive forest products down narrow, winding roads.

H.R. 255 also authorizes cooperation between the county and the Forest Service to relocate a portion of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, if needed, and requires that the trail relocation be completed before the exchange is consummated.

This legislation is the result of a Congressman who has listened to the voices of his community, an administration sympathetic to the plight of our forest communities, and community members and their local representatives putting forward a reasonable and workable plan that is fair to all parties.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I share my colleague's high words of praise and warmth for our colleague, Mr. Cook, the author of this measure, and I am also somewhat annoyed with him for his decision to leave the Congress at the end of this session for the county board of supervisors.

I assure my friend, they are not sarcastic. He will be sorely missed in this House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure and urge my colleague to change his mind and come back next session, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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