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This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes., members such as Bruce Westerman.
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September 14, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextTRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8454) to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8454
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER
CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
(a) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.—
(1) National forest system land.—Administrative
jurisdiction over the approximately 160 acres of National
Forest System land more particularly described as T.1 S.,
R.19 E., sec. 24, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Mount Diablo Meridian,
Tuolumne County, California, as generally depicted on the map
entitled “Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange” and dated
February 24, 2022, is transferred to the Secretary of the
Interior to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park, in
accordance with laws applicable to the National Park System.
(2) National park system land.—Administrative jurisdiction
over the approximately 170 acres of National Park System land
more particularly described as the SE\1/4\ of sec. 23 and the
land to the north and west of Road 1S25 within the NW\1/
4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\ of sec. 24, T.1 S., R. 19 E., Mount Diablo
Meridian, Tuolumne County, California, as generally depicted
on the map entitled “Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange” and
dated February 24, 2022, is transferred to the Secretary of
Agriculture to be managed as part of Stanislaus National
Forest in accordance with laws applicable to the National
Forest System.
(b) Corrections.—
(1) Minor adjustments.—The Secretary of Agriculture and
the Secretary of the Interior may, by mutual agreement, make
minor corrections and adjustments to the Federal land
transferred under subsection (a) to facilitate land
management, including making a correction or adjustment to
any applicable survey.
(2) Publications.—Any correction or adjustment made under
paragraph (1) shall be effective on the date of publication
of a notice of the correction or adjustment in the Federal
Register.
(c) Effect on Existing Rights and Authorizations.—Nothing
in this section affects—
(1) any valid existing rights; or
(2) the validity or terms and conditions of any existing
withdrawal, right-of-way, easement, lease, license, or permit
on the land to which administrative jurisdiction is
transferred under this section, except that beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act, the head of the agency to
which administrative jurisdiction over the land is
transferred shall be responsible for administering the
interests or authorizations in accordance with applicable
law.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8454, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8454, introduced by Representative McClintock, which executes a commonsense boundary adjustment between Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest in California.
recreation, and livestock grazing by the Erickson family, whose ranching history in the area dates to the late 1800s.
Yosemite National Park in 2016, but this inadvertently created a boundary that left parcels within the meadow under the administrative jurisdiction of two different Federal agencies.
adjoining parcels within the same meadow, complicating restoration work, grazing operations, and recreational management.
H.R. 8454 provides a straightforward solution. The bill transfers administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of land currently managed by the Forest Service to the National Park Service to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park.
{time} 1620
size of the Federal estate. Instead, this bipartisan and bicameral legislation adjusts which Federal agency manages each parcel so map lines don't interfere with important restoration work on the ground.
this legislation will improve coordination, support ongoing restoration work, and enhance the efficiency of grazing operations, while simplifying the management of recreation opportunities within Ackerson Meadow.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McClintock for his leadership on the legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8454, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8454 would authorize a land exchange between Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest in California.
National Forest System land to the National Park Service, and approximately 170 acres of National Park System land that will be transferred to the Forest Service.
management more efficient. This is needed because the Service recently added a parcel known as the Ackerson Meadow to Yosemite National Park.
habitats for endangered species, such as the great grey owl and the little willow flycatcher.
Adding this land to Yosemite was a win-win. However, while much of the Ackerson Meadow meets the criteria for inclusion in the National Park, it is largely surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, and there is a conflict with existing uses. This includes one of the longest continuously running cattle drives in California, which is inconsistent with Park Service laws and regulations.
H.R. 8454 is the result of negotiation and compromise, and I thank the bill's sponsor and Chair Westerman for that work. It will result in more efficient land management and noteworthy expansion of Yosemite National Park.
This is exactly the kind of work that Congress is expected to do. It stands in clear contrast to the recent proposal to sell off a piece of Yosemite to a private developer. We should be working together to increase conservation and improve the management of our public lands, not trying to cut deals and exclusive access for millionaires.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8454, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), the lead sponsor of the bill.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas and the gentlewoman from Oregon for their bipartisan support of this measure, and I want to assure the gentlewoman from Oregon that the land exchange that she had suggested in Yosemite will not happen.
transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of national forestland to Yosemite National Park, and then it would transfer approximately 170 acres of National Park System land to be a part of the Stanislaus National Forest.
Senator Padilla is carrying identical legislation in the Senate. We don't agree on much, but we certainly agree on this.
management in the Sierra Nevada, the checkerboard boundary lines that make land management disjointed and inefficient. This bill simply consolidates land jurisdictions between the National Park System and the National Forest System, without increasing the Federal footprint.
At issue is Ackerson Meadow. This meadow supports livestock grazing operations that have been part of the history and economy of this region for generations. These operations are essential for brush control and fire suppression, maintaining meadow conditions, and sustaining the rural economy that depends on the productive use of these lands.
all worked together to improve the meadow while maintaining grazing opportunities.
storage, improved habitat, and supported continued public uses, including grazing.
easier by eliminating the confusion caused by split jurisdiction. Ranchers need to know where their permits apply, where infrastructure can be maintained, and who is responsible for decisions affecting their operations.
The bill also protects existing rights and authorizations. It specifically provides that valid existing rights, including rights-of- way, easements, leases, licenses, and permits remain protected after the transfer. This ensures that current users, including grazing permit holders, are not unfairly disrupted by a change in administrative jurisdiction.
This bill reflects a principle that should guide Federal land policy. Management decisions should be based on the realities of the landscape and not simply of the boundaries drawn on a map decades ago.
Our national forests and parks serve many purposes. They preserve wildlife habitat, protect watersheds, provide recreation, and support rural economies. A balanced approach recognizes all of these values.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 8454.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this good legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative McClintock for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote “yes” on H.R. 8454, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8454, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.