[House Report 116-374]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 116-374
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YUCCA HOUSE NATIONAL MONUMENT EXPANSION ACT
_______
January 10, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1492]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 1492) to update the map of, and modify the
maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Yucca House
National Monument, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as
amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Yucca House National Monument
Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) National monument.--The term ``National Monument'' means
the Yucca House National Monument in Cortez, Colorado,
established by Presidential Proclamation 1549.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Yucca
House National Monument Proposed Boundary Addition'', numbered
318/105,085A, and dated February 27, 2019.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
SEC. 3. YUCCA HOUSE NATIONAL MONUMENT LAND ACQUISITION.
(a) Acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire by donation the
approximately 160 acres of land and any interests in the land that is
identified on the map.
(b) Boundary.--On the acquisition of the land authorized under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall adjust the boundaries of the
National Monument to include the acquired land.
(c) Administration.--The land and any interests in land acquired
under subsection (a) shall be administered as part of the National
Monument.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 1492 is to update the map of, and
modify the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the
Yucca House National Monument.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The Yucca House National Monument, established in 1919 by
President Woodrow Wilson, is one of the largest archeological
sites in Southwest Colorado. The site dates to the Great Pueblo
Period and was established as an important community center.
The 33.6-acre national monument includes 600 rooms, 100 kivas
(round, underground rooms), several towers, multiple plazas,
and one great kiva.\1\
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\1\See generally Yucca House Visitor Guide, Nat'l Park Serv.,
https://www.nps.gov/yuho/learn/historyculture/upload/
yuhositebulletin_508.pdf (last accessed Jan. 3, 2020).
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Visitors currently access the site via a permanent easement
established in 1936 across the private property of what is now
the Box Bar Ranch. The Box Bar Ranch is interested in
reclaiming the permanent easement and utilizing it for other
purposes. In order for this to occur, an alternate access route
must be established. The proposed addition of approximately 160
acres of donated land would provide an opportunity to establish
the alternate, permanent access across federal land. H.R. 1492
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept this
donation of land and then requires the Secretary to adjust the
boundaries of the National Monument to include the acquired
land.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R.1492 was introduced on March 4, 2019, by Representative
Scott Tipton (R-CO). The bill was referred solely to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. On
July 18, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On
September 25, 2019, the Natural Resources Committee met to
consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous
consent. Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment in
the nature of a substitute, which was agreed to by unanimous
consent. The bill, as amended, was adopted and ordered
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous
consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the
116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or
consider H.R. 1492: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on July 18,
2019.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, October 8, 2019.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1492, the Yucca
House National Monument Boundary Revision Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is David Hughes.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1492 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS)
to acquire, by donation, approximately 160 acres of land to add
to the existing Yucca House National Monument.
Using information from the NPS, CBO anticipates that the
agency would accept the donated land and process the transfer
in the first year following enactment. CBO estimates that the
cost to process the real estate transaction and perform
environmental inspections would not be significant. Any
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Hughes.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and
objectives of this bill are to update the map of, and modify
the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Yucca House
National Monument.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of
the federal government known to be duplicative of another
program.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing
law.
SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS
None.