YUHAAVIATAM OF SAN MANUEL NATION LAND EXCHANGE ACT

On 2026-09-14, Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) delivered a floor speech titled "YUHAAVIATAM OF SAN MANUEL NATION LAND EXCHANGE ACT" in the House.

YUHAAVIATAM OF SAN MANUEL NATION LAND EXCHANGE ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5580-H5581] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] YUHAAVIATAM OF SAN MANUEL NATION LAND EXCHANGE ACT Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3925) to provide for a land exchange in San Bernardino County, 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. 3925 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act''. SEC. 2. EXCHANGE OF LAND. (a) Definitions.--In this Act: (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal Land'' means the approximately 1,475 acres of National Forest System land (including any and all privileges, easements, subsurface rights, hereditaments, improvements and appurtenances thereon and thereto) depicted as F-1 and F-2 on the Federal Land Maps. (2) Federal land maps.--The term ``Federal Land Maps'' means the maps entitled-- (A) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange, San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 1 of 2)'', created July 8, 2022, revised January 10, 2023; and (B) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange, San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 2 of 2)'', created July 8, 2022, revised January 10, 2023. (3) Nation.--The term ``Nation'' means the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, a federally recognized tribe, also recognized as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. (4) Non-federal land.--The term ``Non-Federal Land'' means the approximately 1,460 acres of land (including any and all privileges, easements, subsurface rights, hereditaments, improvements and appurtenances thereon and thereto) owned by the Nation and depicted on the Non-Federal Land Maps as NF-1, NF-2, NF-3, NF-4a, and NF-5. (5) Non-federal land maps.--The term ``Non-Federal Land Maps'' means the maps entitled-- (A) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non- Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 1 of 4)'', created March 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023; (B) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non- Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 2 of 4)'', created March 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023; (C) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non- Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 3 of 4)'', created March 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023; and (D) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non- Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 4 of 4)'', created July 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023. (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (b) Land Exchange.--Subject to the provisions of this section, if the Nation offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and interest of the Nation in and to the Non-Federal Land, the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable within the 1-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary receives such offer-- (1) accept the offer; and (2) convey to the Nation all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal Land, excepting and reserving an easement for access and use by the Forest Service any portion of Forest Service roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25 located on the Federal Land. (c) Survey.-- (1) Federal land.--The exact acreage and legal description of the Federal Land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey approved by the Secretary and the Nation. (2) Non-federal land.-- (A) In general.--The exact acreage and legal description of the Non-Federal Land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey approved by the Secretary and the Nation. (B) Cost.--The cost of the survey in subparagraph (A) shall be borne by the Nation. (d) Maps, Estimates, and Descriptions.-- (1) Minor error.--The Secretary and the Nation may, by mutual agreement-- (A) make minor boundary adjustments to the lands to be exchanged under subsection (b); and (B) correct any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, or description of the land to be exchanged under subsection (b). (2) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map, acreage estimate, or description of any land to be exchanged under subsection (b), the map shall control unless the Secretary and the Nation mutually agree otherwise. (3) Availability of maps.--The Federal Land Map and the Non-Federal Land Map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region, United States Forest Service, or any other appropriate office of the Forest Service, as determined by the Secretary. (e) Arrowhead Landmark Preservation.-- (1) Agreement.--As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (b), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nation shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary under which the Nation agrees to preserve, to an extent mutually agreed upon, the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site denoted on the Federal Land Maps as ``Arrowhead Landmark GA''. (2) Records.--The agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall be recorded in the official records of the County of San Bernardino, California, and an in an appropriate records system of the Forest Service, as determined by the Secretary. (f) Management of Land.--Land acquired by the Secretary under this section shall become part of the San Bernardino National Forest and be managed in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to such National Forest. (g) Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976.--The land exchange under subsection (b) is not subject to section 206 of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) 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. 3925, 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 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), the lead sponsor of this bill. Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3925, [[Page H5581]] the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act. For nearly a decade, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to complete a land exchange in San Bernardino County. The San Manuel Reservation is surrounded by Federal lands and the communities of San Bernardino and Highland, leaving the Nation with limited space to meet its housing, infrastructure, and cultural needs. H.R. 3925 would complete an exchange of approximately 1,500 acres of Forest Service land for an equivalent amount already owned by the Nation. Much of the land being provided by the Nation was acquired specifically to facilitate this exchange at the request of the Forest Service. Completing this exchange will create a more contiguous land base, reduce checkerboard ownership, and improve land management for both the Nation and the Forest Service. This legislation also protects the historic Arrowhead landmark, a site of significant cultural importance to the Yuhaaviatam people and a well-known symbol throughout the San Bernardino Valley. This exchange will also support better wildfire preparation and land management in an area that faces significant wildfire risk. The Nation has already made substantial investments in fire protection and emergency response at the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest. Mr. Speaker, after years of work and unfortunate delay, congressional action is needed to finally complete this process. This is a straightforward measure that respects Tribal sovereignty, protects important cultural resources, and improves land management in my district. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3925. Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3925 would authorize a land exchange between the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and the U.S. Forest Service. This exchange would convey approximately 1,475 acres of Federal land within the San Bernardino National Forest for approximately 1,460 acres of Tribal land. The Nation began working with the Forest Service on this exchange in 2017. The lands the Nation is seeking to acquire are adjacent to the reservation and include an arrowhead-shaped rock formation at the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. {time} 1730 The Arrowhead landmark site and the lands toward which it points are sacred to the Nation and are intertwined with their creator and sacred stories. The land holds significant cultural and spiritual importance, and the Nation has dedicated significant time and resources towards completing this land transfer. However, administrative hurdles have delayed such an exchange. This bill would complete the exchange, consolidating parcels of the checkerboard of Tribal and Forest Service lands, while providing the Nation with culturally significant lands. The exchange would also support the preservation and cultural integ

Referenced legislation: HR3925, HR3925