Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5131) to extend military land withdrawals in Alaska, New Mexico, and California for a period of 25 years and to make technical corrections to descriptions for certain military land withdrawals, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5131
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 ``Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN MILITARY LAND WITHDRAWALS AND CORRECTION OF CERTAIN LAND DESCRIPTIONS.
(a) Extension of Withdrawal and Reservation for Military Use of Certain Lands.--
(1) Yukon training area, donnelly training area east, and donnelly training area west, alaska, and mcgregor range, fort bliss, new mexico.--Section 3015(a) of the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 (title XXX of Public Law 106-65; 113 Stat. 892) is amended by striking ``25 years after November 6, 2001'' and inserting ``on November 6, 2051''.
(2) Fort irwin military lands.--Section 2910(a) of the Fort Irwin Military Land Withdrawal Act of 2001 (title XXIX of Public Law 107-107; 115 Stat. 1339) is amended by striking ``25 years after the date of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``on December 31, 2051''.
(b) Correction of Land Descriptions.--
(1) Mcgregor range military lands.--Section 3011(d)(2) of the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 (title XXX of Public Law 106-65; 113 Stat. 892) is amended by striking ``608,385 acres of land'' and inserting ``approximately 605,401 acres of land''.
(2) Fort irwin military lands.--Section 2902(c) of the Fort Irwin Military Land Withdrawal Act of 2001 (title XXIX of Public Law 107-107; 115 Stat. 1336) is amended--
(A) by striking ``110,000 acres'' and inserting ``117,710 acres''; and
(B) by striking ``as `Proposed Withdrawal Land' on the map entitled `National Training Center--Proposed Withdrawal of Public Lands for Training Purposes', dated September 21, 2000'' and inserting ``on the map entitled `Fort Irwin Withdrawal' dated February 28, 2025''.
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Mr. CRANK. 5131, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5131, the Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Begich of Alaska.
This is an important bill that ensures our military continues to have access to the lands they need to train, test, and remain ready to deter and defeat our Nation's adversaries abroad.
H.R. 5131 extends critical land withdrawals for an additional 25 years at Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright in Alaska, Fort Irwin in California, and the McGregor Range at Fort Bliss in New Mexico. These lands provide unique training environments, restricted airspace, and infrastructure that cannot be replicated elsewhere. They are essential for Arctic operations, brigade-level exercises, missile defense testing, and joint training with our allied forces.
The importance of this legislation cannot be overstated. It is vital that we continue to allow the Army to use these unique areas. Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright in Alaska have the only Arctic training environments in this Nation. Fort Irwin, in California's Mojave Desert, houses the National Training Center, the Army's premier site for brigade-level, force-on-force training exercises. Finally, the McGregor Range in southern New Mexico supports Patriot missile live-fire exercises, aerial gunnery, and large-scale mobilization training. Without these vital training areas, we would risk losing our military's strategic advantage over hostile foreign nations.
I commend Representative Begich for his leadership on this effort. His bill provides long-term certainty to the U.S. Army so they can continue training and testing effectively as they prepare for the threats of tomorrow. By advancing this legislation, he is not only helping Alaska, but the entire Nation, by ensuring we have the most capable, prepared Armed Forces in the entire world.
I also thank the U.S. Army for their continued service to our Nation and for their collaboration on this effort. They strongly support this bill, and we were grateful to work alongside them to advance this legislation.
This is a good bill. It strengthens national security, provides certainty for our servicemembers, and ensures America remains prepared to deter aggression and protect our interests around the world. This legislation also directly reflects the priorities set forth in President Trump's executive order on prioritizing military excellence and readiness, which reaffirmed America's commitment to the military superiority necessary to counter new and emerging threats.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Begich for his hard work on this legislation which helps our military. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC, December 8, 2025. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman: H.R. 5131, the ``Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025'', was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on Armed Services.
H.R. 5131 contains provisions within the Committee on Armed Services' Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Armed Services will forego action on the bill. This is being done based on our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar bills.
I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the committee report or in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Mike Rogers, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, December 8, 2025. Hon. Mike Rogers, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Rogers: I write regarding H.R. 5131, the ``Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on November 20, 2025.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Armed Services will not formally consider H.R. 5131 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 5131. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
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Mr. CRANK.
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Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank Representative Begich for his leadership on the Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025. This bill ensures that our military's capabilities and readiness will remain strong as we move into the future.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5131, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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