Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act. This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into good faith negotiations with Hitchcock County and Frontier County in southern Nebraska to establish a title transfer agreement for certain lands within the Swanson Reservoir and Red Willow Reservoir lands.

The Swanson Reservoir and Hugh Butler Reservoir serve as home to several communities and popular recreation sites. Transferring ownership of these lands from the Bureau of Reclamation to the counties will allow the counties to manage and develop the land for recreational use and conservation in alignment with the communities' needs.

It is worth noting that there are some health and safety concerns at the concession areas that need to be met to increase public safety and access to recreation facilities.

For that reason, the bill would require that prior to any conveyance, the local entities must demonstrate their ability to effectively operate, maintain, and enhance the lands for the same purposes for which they are currently being used and to establish a concrete plan to address health and safety concerns. This legislation will help improve the management of these sites for the surrounding communities.

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. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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