Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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

Madam Speaker, I support this bill, which would authorize the Forest Service to exchange a parcel of the Chippewa National Forest for a parcel of land currently owned by the Big Winnie Land and Timber company in Minnesota.

We note that the Forest Service land in question is already used commercially through a permit at the site of Bowen Lodge, a fishing and hunting resort that operated a marina on the shores of Lake Winnie, a place where Mr. Stauber has never invited me to go fishing, I am sad to say, even though it sounds pretty wonderful and I might be able to catch the first musky in my life. I will continue to wait for that invitation.

In the meantime, the land exchange in this bill would help simplify the operation of the resort and marina for continued visitor and commercial activity. In turn, the Forest Service would gain a parcel of land directly adjacent to the Chippewa National Forest and the shoreline of Lake Winnie.

Integrating this parcel into the Forest Service will provide for better management of undisturbed sites, critical wetlands, and wildlife habitat that are currently adjacent to Federal lands. That makes good sense.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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