Barbara Cubin: “H.R. 509 and H.R. 510, as introduced in the House, mirror the bills introduced by Senators Mike Enzi and Craig Thomas…”

“H.R. 509 and H.R. 510, as introduced in the House, mirror the bills introduced by Senators Mike Enzi and Craig Thomas that passed last year in the Senate by unanimous consent. The first bill, H.R. 509, transfers eighty acres of public land in Big Horn County, Wyoming, to the estate of Mr. Fred Steffens. The property outlined in the bill has been a part of the Steffens' family working farm since the land was purchased in 1928. Mr. Steffens was issued a warranty deed to the property by Mr. Frank McKinney, predecessor of interest. Unfortunately, Mr. McKinney knowingly had neither title to the property nor an assignable right of entry. However, the fact that Mr. McKinney did not own the land did not stop him from selling the property or issuing the warranty deed. In good faith, Mr. Steffens purchased the property and, according to the Big Horn County Assessor's office, paid taxes since the date of purchase in 1928. Upon Mr. Steffens' death, in an attempt to settle his estate, it was discovered that a patent had never been issued for these lands.”