Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on nine bills, including legislation offering solutions to increase grazing flexibility in the West, reduce the federal estate, promote domestic energy production, support local law enforcement, create a new national park in Georgia and more. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) issued the following statement in response:

"Today’s hearing highlighted several bills aimed at addressing the needs of ranchers through commonsense solutions focused on increasing flexibility in grazing policies and cutting through unnecessary red tape. Additionally, the Federal Lands Subcommittee looked to improve local law enforcement's role in search and rescue operations on federal lands, prioritizing the safety of rural communities."

Background

H.R. 7666, introduced by U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), will direct the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to expand the use of proactive, targeted grazing in fuels management programs to lower wildfire risk. An identical provision was included in the House-passed “Fix Our Forests Act.”

H.R. 8182, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), will re-designate the current 2,000-acre Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and authorize the creation of Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve. 

H.R. 8517, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), will convey 3,400 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to support the continued development of a large-scale solar farm. The project is one of the largest in the United States and is expected to produce 1,000 megawatts of solar power, hundreds of megawatts of battery storage capacity and numerous jobs for the local community.

H.R. 9062, the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), will assist grazing permit holders in adapting their grazing operations to changing landscape conditions, enabling them to manage their allotment effectively while balancing the landscape's needs with their own operations. 

H.R. 9165, the Public Land Search and Rescue Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), would establish a grant program to assist with the cost of remote search and rescue activities on federal land. Entities carrying out SAR activities could use these grant funds to purchase necessary gear and equipment, maintain and repair SAR equipment and reimburse remote SAR operations conducted on federal lands.

H.R. 10082, the Oregon Owyhee Wilderness and Community Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), will provide protections for ranchers and grazing permittees in Malheur County, Ore. These include continued grazing access in any newly designated wilderness area and increased operational flexibility for permittees. This bill is the result of collaboration between those who live, work and recreate in Malheur County. 

H.R. 6441, the Ranching Without Red Tape Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), will minimize the disruptions to livestock grazing on federal land as a result of bureaucratic red tape by requiring BLM and USFS to streamline procedures for authorizing minor range improvements carried out by grazing permittees.

H.R. 9528, introduced by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), will rename two sites in the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park to honor the late Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. of New Jersey.

H.R. 10084, the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), reauthorizes the African American Civil Rights Network program for an additional 10 years. Reauthorizing the program is an important step in ensuring the continuation of this successful program, which honors the sacrifices and struggles of the African American civil rights movement.