Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1829) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1829
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE APACHE- SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS TO NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Navajo County, Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Pinedale Cemetery Expansion'' and dated May 23, 2022.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Conveyance Required.--Subject to this section, if the County submits to the Secretary a written request for conveyance of the property described in subsection (c)(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the County all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the property described in subsection (c)(1).
(c) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b) is--
(A) the parcel of real property, including all land and improvements, generally depicted as ``Exist. Cemetery'' on the map, consisting of approximately 2.5 acres of National Forest System land located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona; and
(B) the parcel of real property, including all land and improvements, generally depicted as ``Proposed Expansion'' on the map, consisting of approximately 2.5 acres of National Forest System land located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona.
(2) Map.--
(A) Minor errors.--The Secretary may correct minor errors in the map.
(B) Availability.--A copy of the map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.
(3) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
(d) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection (b) shall--
(1) be subject to valid existing rights;
(2) be made without consideration;
(3) be made by quitclaim deed;
(4) not be subject to section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(5) be subject to any other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(e) Costs of Conveyance.--As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (b), the County shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of--
(1) a survey, if necessary, under subsection (c)(3); and
(2) any environmental analysis and resource surveys required by Federal law.
(f) Required Use as Cemetery.--The property conveyed to the County under subsection (b) shall be used by the County as a cemetery.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection (b) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the requirement of subsection (f), all right, title, and interest in and to the property shall revert to the United States. SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE APACHE- SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS TO APACHE COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Apache County, Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Exhibit, Alpine Cemetery Townsite'' and dated October, 2019.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Conveyance Required.--Subject to this section, if the County submits to the Secretary a written request for conveyance of the property described in subsection (c)(1) not later than 365 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the County all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the property described in subsection (c)(1).
(c) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b) is--
(A) the parcel of real property, including all land and improvements, generally depicted as the ``Existing Alpine Cemetery'' on the map, consisting of approximately 2.56 acres of National Forest System land located in the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona; and
(B) the parcel of real property, including all land and improvements, generally depicted as the ``Proposed Townsite Tract'' on the map, consisting of approximately 8.06 acres of National Forest System land located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona.
(2) Map.--
(A) Minor errors.--The Secretary may correct minor errors in the map.
(B) Availability.--A copy of the map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.
(3) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
(d) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection (b) shall--
(1) be subject to valid existing rights;
(2) be made without consideration;
(3) be made by quitclaim deed;
(4) not be subject to section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(5) be subject to any other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(e) Costs of Conveyance.--As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (b), the County shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of--
(1) a survey, if necessary, under subsection (c)(3); and
(2) any environmental analysis and resource surveys required by Federal law.
(f) Required Use as Cemetery.--The property conveyed to the County under subsection (b) shall be used by the County as a cemetery.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection (b) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the requirement of subsection (f), all right, title, and interest in and to the property shall revert to the United States.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. 1829, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Congressman Crane's bill, the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025. This legislation would transfer small parcels of Federal land to Apache and Navajo Counties to expand existing cemeteries.
Located in eastern Arizona, the communities in Pinedale and Alpine are surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Given the large Federal footprint, both communities have struggled to expand their respective cemeteries, which are currently located on U.S. Forest Service land and operated under a special use permit. If the cemeteries are not expanded, families will be forced to travel long distances to distant cemeteries to visit their deceased relatives.
To address this need, Pinedale and Alpine have worked with their respective counties to identify additional land to expand their cemeteries.
This bill provides a straightforward, commonsense solution by transferring U.S. Forest Service land adjacent to the cemeteries to the respective counties.
While this is a straightforward bill, I think many of us can attest to the invaluable role a burial place can play in the grieving process. Burial sites are sacred, eternal resting places that provide closure for the families of the deceased. Families should not be forced to travel long distances to lay their loved ones to rest due to the red tape of Federal land ownership.
As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I fought to elevate the voices of rural communities and highlight their unique challenges. This bill addresses one of those unique challenges.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Crane for his work on this legislation.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1829 will ensure that two rural communities in eastern Arizona have the space to lay their beloved community members to rest. I thank Congressman Crane for spearheading this critical issue on behalf of his constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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