John Hansen: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 822, as amended, is a bill introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Hastings].…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 822, as amended, is a bill introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Hastings]. Mr. Hastings has worked hard to make this bill acceptable to the administration. The passage of this bill will benefit the people of Washington and the people of the United States. H.R. 822 expedites a land exchange between a parcel of private property, currently within the boundaries of the Wenatchee National Forest, with the Bureau of Land Management. The Forest Service boundary needs to be removed for a land exchange to occur. The Forest Service does not have the authority to remove the boundary administratively, although they state the boundary is no longer needed. The Forest Service also agrees the old boundary does not contribute to the management of the Wenatchee National Forest. The BLM has expressed interest in acquiring the land parcel through exchange in order to consolidate their holdings which are adjacent to the private land. In order for this exchange to occur, the congressionally authorized Forest Service boundary surrounding this private property must be removed. This removal is required to allow an administrative exchange with the BLM. Mr. Speaker, this is a noncontroversial measure that is supported by the administration, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 822.”