Floor SpeechUrgent2026-09-30

PIT RIVER LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2026

TaxesEnvironmentLaborInfrastructureAgriculture

Context

On 2026-09-30, Senator John Thune (R-SD) delivered a floor speech titled "PIT RIVER LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2026" in the Senate.

Full Text

PIT RIVER LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S5297-S5298] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PIT RIVER LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2026 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 676, H.R. 2400. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 2400) to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Indian Affairs, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. LAND TO BE TAKEN INTO TRUST. (a) Administrative Transfer.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer administrative jurisdiction over the Four Corners Federal land to the Secretary. (b) Land to Be Taken Into Trust.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Four Corners Federal land shall be taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the Tribe. (c) Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a complete survey of the Four Corners Federal land, including the areas described in subsection (g)(1)(B). (d) Administrative Provisions Corrections.--The Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Tribe may, by mutual agreement, make minor corrections and adjustments to the land taken into trust under this section to facilitate land management, including corrections and adjustments to the survey carried out pursuant to subsection (c). (e) Administration.--On being taken into trust under this section, the Four Corners Federal land shall be-- (1) considered part of the Reservation of the Tribe; and (2) administered by the Secretary in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for an Indian Tribe. (f) Gaming Prohibited.--The land taken into trust under this section shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)). (g) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Four corners federal land.-- (A) In general.--The term ``Four Corners Federal land'' means the approximately 557 acres of land managed by the Forest Service, as generally depicted within the ``Proposed Land Conveyance'' boundary on the Map, including improvements and appurtenances thereon. (B) Exclusion.--The term ``Four Corners Federal land'' does not include the approximately 87 acres of roads, highways, public [[Page S5298]] rights-of-way, easements, and special use permit areas subject to existing easements generally depicted within the ``Proposed Land Conveyance'' boundary on the Map. (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``Proposed Land Conveyance to the Pit River Tribe'' and dated June 30, 2026. (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Pit River Tribe, California (includes XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek, and Roaring Creek Rancherias). Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to. The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a third time. The bill was read the third time. The bill (H.R. 2400), as amended, was passed. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR2400, HR2400

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PIT RIVER LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2026 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S5297-S5298] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PIT RIVER LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2026 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 676, H.R. 2400. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 2400) to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Indian Affairs, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. LAND TO BE TAKEN INTO TRUST. (a) Administrative Transfer.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer administrative jurisdiction over the Four Corners Federal land to the Secretary. (b) Land to Be Taken Into Trust.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Four Corners Federal land shall be taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the Tribe. (c) Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a complete survey of the Four Corners Federal land, including the areas described in subsection (g)(1)(B). (d) Administrative Provisions Corrections.--The Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Tribe may, by mutual agreement, make minor corrections and adjustments to the land taken into trust under this section to facilitate land management, including corrections and adjustments to the survey carried out pursuant to subsection (c). (e) Administration.--On being taken into trust under this section, the Four Corners Federal land shall be-- (1) considered part of the Reservation of the Tribe; and (2) administered by the Secretary in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for an Indian Tribe. (f) Gaming Prohibited.--The land taken into trust under this section shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)). (g) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Four corners federal land.-- (A) In general.--The term ``Four Corners Federal land'' means the approximately 557 acres of land managed by the Forest Service, as generally depicted within the ``Proposed Land Conveyance'' boundary on the Map, including improvements and appurtenances thereon. (B) Exclusion.--The term ``Four Corners Federal land'' does not include the approximately 87 acres of roads, highways, public [[Page S5298]] rights-of-way, easements, and special use permit areas subject to existing easements generally depicted within the ``Proposed Land Conveyance'' boundary on the Map. (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``Proposed Land Conveyance to the Pit River Tribe'' and dated June 30, 2026. (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Pit River Tribe, California (includes XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek, and Roaring Creek Rancherias). Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to. The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a third time. The bill was read the third time. The bill (H.R. 2400), as amended, was passed. ____________________ Referenced legislation: HR2400, HR2400