HB 19-33: We Don't Need This Land, So Why Keep It? Act (Passed)

[Dr. MB]

Introducing an amendment:

WE DON’T NEED THIS LAND, SO WHY KEEP IT?

House Bill

To direct the Secretary of the Internal Affairs to sell certain Federal lands in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, previously identified as suitable for disposal.

Section 1: Title
This Act may be cited as the We Don't Need This Land, So Why Keep It? Act.

Section 2: Sale of Certain Federal Lands Previously Identified as Suitable for Disposal
(a) Competitive Sale of Lands
The Secretary of Internal Affairs (SoIA) shall offer the identified Federal lands for disposal by competitive sale for not less than fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser.

(b) Existing Rights
The sale of identified Federal lands under this section shall be subject to valid existing rights.

(c) Proceeds of Sale of Lands
All net proceeds from the sale of identified Federal lands under this section shall be deposited directly into the Treasury for reduction of the public debt.

(d) Report
Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the SoIA shall submit —
   1. A list of any identified Federal lands that have not been sold under subsection (b) and the reasons such lands were not sold; and
   2. An update of the report submitted on May 27, 1997, pursuant to section 390(g) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127; 110 Stat. 1024), including a current inventory of the Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the SoIA that are suitable for disposal.

(f) Definitions
The term "identified Federal lands" means the parcels of Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of the SoIA that were identified as suitable for disposal in the report submitted on May 27, 1997, pursuant to section 390(g) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127; 110 Stat. 1024), except the following:

   A. Lands not identified for disposal in the applicable land use plan.
   B. Lands subject to a Recreation and Public Purpose conveyance application.
   C. Lands identified for Regional selection.
   D. Lands identified for Indian tribe allotments.
   E. Lands identified for local government use.


Section 3: Clarification Regarding Regional Laws
Nothing in this Act shall affect the implementation of Regional laws, including Regional enabling Acts.

Section 2. Home on the Range
1. The Small Tract Act of 1938 is hereby reinstated.
2. The Stock-Raising Homestead Act of 1916 is hereby reinstated.
3. The Homestead Act of 1862, including succeeding amendments to this Act, is hereby reinstated.
4. The Timber Culture Act of 1873 is hereby reinstated.

[Dr. MB]

Also, my amendment was up for 24 hours so it should have been adopted.

[Dr. MB]

Oh yeah that too I suppose.

What does MB’s amendment do BTW?

I think it forces people to move to the area rather than buying it from afar and just investing?

Pretty much.

[Dr. MB]

Oh yeah that too I suppose.

What does MB’s amendment do BTW?

I think it forces people to move to the area rather than buying it from afar and just investing?

Pretty much.

So what land is being privatized?

None, unless someone wants to build a homestead.

[Dr. MB]

Anything else to say?

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[Dr. MB]

Pretty sure MB's amendment got adopted, and so that is not the bill that passed

Yeah. The bill should look like this:

WE DON’T NEED THIS LAND, SO WHY KEEP IT?

House Bill

To direct the Secretary of the Internal Affairs to sell certain Federal lands in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, previously identified as suitable for disposal.

Section 1: Title
This Act may be cited as the We Don't Need This Land, So Why Keep It? Act.

Section 2: Home on the Range
1. The Small Tract Act of 1938 is hereby reinstated.
2. The Stock-Raising Homestead Act of 1916 is hereby reinstated.
3. The Homestead Act of 1862, including succeeding amendments to this Act, is hereby reinstated.
4. The Timber Culture Act of 1873 is hereby reinstated.

House of Representatives
Passed in the House of Representatives 4-0-3-2
X YE