Text of Senate Amendment 6074

On 2026-06-24, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6074" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6074

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3278-S3285] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6074. Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Tuberville, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Warner, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: [[Page S3279]] At the end of title X, add the following: Subtitle H--National Forest System Land SEC. 1094. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the ``Management of Federal Eastern Lands Act of 2026''. SEC. 1094A. CHESTER COUNTY REVERSIONARY AND MINERAL INTERESTS RELEASE. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) within the parcel of State forest land located in Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee, a recent survey by the State determined that Bethel Baptist Church is encroaching on State-owned land in Chickasaw State Forest by approximately 19 inches; (2) the parcel described in paragraph (1) was conveyed to the State by the Department of Agriculture, which retained a reversionary interest in the land; and (3) it is necessary to release the interests of the United States in and to that land to resolve the encroachment issue described in paragraph (1). (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture. (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Tennessee. (3) State forest land.--The term ``State forest land'' means the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw State Forest that is identified as ``State Forest Land'' on the map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``State Forest Land Detail Map'' and dated December 13, 2019. (c) Release of Reversionary Interest.-- (1) Release.-- (A) In general.--The Secretary shall release, without consideration, the reversionary interest described in paragraph (2). (B) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any requirement for a grant of land under section 32(c) of The Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)) or any other provision of law, the release under subparagraph (A) shall occur without any appraisal, other report, or environmental or similar review being undertaken. (2) Description of reversionary interest.--The reversionary interest referred to in paragraph (1)(A) is the reversionary interest of the United States in and to the State forest land that-- (A) takes effect if the State forest land ceases to be used for public purposes; and (B) was created by the deed-- (i) granting from the United States to the State the State forest land; (ii) dated August 12, 1955; and (iii) registered on pages 588 through 591 of book 48 of the record of deeds for Chester County, Tennessee. (3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the release under paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States any administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying out the release. (d) Conveyance of Mineral Rights.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any requirement for the conveyance of Federal mineral interests under section 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1719), part 2720 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall convey to the State, by quitclaim deed, without warranty, and without consideration, the mineral interest in the State forest land owned by the United States. (2) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the conveyance under paragraph (1) shall occur-- (A) without any exploratory program as to the character of the mineral deposits in the land; (B) without any findings as to known mineral values and mineral development of the land; and (C) without any appraisal, other report, or environmental or similar review being undertaken by the Secretary. (3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the conveyance under paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States any administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying out the conveyance. SEC. 1094B. VIRGINIA WILDERNESS ADDITIONS. (a) Rough Mountain Addition.--Section 1 of Public Law 100- 326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(21) Rough mountain addition.--Certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 1,000 acres, as generally depicted as the `Rough Mountain Addition' on the map entitled `GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST--South half--Alternative I--Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions--Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement' and dated March 4, 2014, which is incorporated in the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area designated by paragraph (1).''. (b) Rich Hole Addition.-- (1) Potential wilderness designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 4,600 acres, as generally depicted as the ``Rich Hole Addition'' on the map entitled ``GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST--South half--Alternative I-- Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions--Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement'' and dated March 4, 2014, is designated as a potential wilderness area for incorporation in the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by section 1(2) of Public Law 100- 326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584). (2) Wilderness designation.--The potential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) shall be designated as wilderness and incorporated in the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by section 1(2) of Public Law 100-326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584) on the earlier of-- (A) the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') publishes in the Federal Register notice that the activities permitted under paragraph (4) have been completed; or (B) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Management.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall manage the potential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). (4) Water quality improvement activities.-- (A) In general.--To enhance natural ecosystems within the potential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) by implementing certain activities to improve water quality and aquatic passage, as set forth in the Forest Service document entitled ``Decision Notice for the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project'' and dated December 2015, the Secretary may use motorized equipment and mechanized transport in the potential wilderness area until the date on which the potential wilderness area is incorporated into the Rich Hole Wilderness Area under paragraph (2). (B) Requirement.--In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall use the minimum tool or administrative practice necessary to carry out that subparagraph with the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources. SEC. 1094C. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND LOCATED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Alliance.--The term ``Alliance'' means the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance, an instrumentality of the State of Mississippi. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Conveyance.--Subject to the requirements of this section, not later than 180 days after the completion of the appraisal under subsection (d)(2) and the written agreement under subsection (e)(2), the Secretary shall convey by quitclaim deed to the Alliance all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the surface estate of the National Forest System land generally described in subsection (c). (c) Land to Be Conveyed.-- (1) In general.--The National Forest System land referred to in subsection (b) is-- (A) the approximately 137.7 acres of real property located in secs. 5 and 6, T. 5 N., R. 4 E., and sec. 31, T. 6 N., R. 4 E., Franklin County, Mississippi, as depicted on the map prepared for the Alliance by Marling Surveying, LLC, entitled ``Map of Survey of a 137.70 Acre Tract, a Portion of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Homochitto National Forest Tracts H-41g & H-307'', and dated September 16, 2024; and (B) the approximately 173 acres of real property located in secs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, T. 5 N., R. 4 E., Franklin County, Mississippi, as depicted on the map prepared for the Alliance by Marling Surveying, LLC, entitled ``Map of Survey of a +/- 173 Acre Tract, a Portion of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Homochitto National Forest Tracts H-1, H-3b, H-41g & H-307'', and dated September 16, 2024. (2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under this section shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. (d) Consideration.--The consideration for the conveyance of any National Forest System land under this section shall be-- (1) provided in the form of cash; and (2) in an amount equal to the fair market value of the National Forest System land being conveyed, as determined by an appraisal conducted in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and approved by the Secretary. (e) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under this section shall be subject to-- (1) valid existing rights