Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1657, introduced by Representative Stauber, would authorize the U.S. Forest Service to exchange a parcel of Chippewa National Forest land for a parcel of land currently owned by the Big Winnie Land and Timber company in Minnesota.

The Forest Service parcel is commercially zoned and already leased annually for the management and operation of a marina and resort, so the land exchange is designed to ease and simplify management.

In exchange for the land that includes the marina, the Forest Service will receive a parcel that consolidates ownership in the Chippewa National Forest, providing for better land management of undisturbed sites, critical wetlands, and wildlife habitat that are currently adjacent to Federal lands. In turn, Big Winnie will continue management and operation of the marina and resort for continued visitor and commercial activity.

This bill is a commonsense solution that follows the standard protocols for these types of transactions.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for working with us to incorporate feedback from the Forest Service, including extending the timeline to allow for the completion of the exchange.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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