Legislative Hearing on Seven Federal Lands, Parks, Trails and Recreation Bills

The subcommittee on federal lands will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess of the subcommittee at any time. The subcommittee is meeting today to consider seven bills. H R one six nine three, sponsored by Representative Hageman H R seven two five four, sponsored by Representative Huffman H R eight one two one, sponsored by Delegate Plaskett. H R eight four five four, sponsored by Representative McClintock. H R eight nine one three, sponsored by Representative Valadao. H R nine two four eight, sponsored by Representative Hurd. H R nine four one six, sponsored by Representative Scott. I ask unanimous consent that the following members be allowed to participate in today's hearing. From the dais, the gentlelady from Wyoming, Miss Hageman, the gentleman from Colorado, Mister Hurd, the gentleman from Georgia, Mister Bishop, and Mister Scott. The gentleman from California, Mister Valadao, and the gentlelady from the US Virgin Islands, Miss Plaskett. Without objection, so ordered. Under committee rule four F, any oral opening statements at hearings are limited to the chairman and the ranking minority member. I therefore ask unanimous consent that all other members' opening statements be made part of the hearing record if they are submitted in accordance with committee rule three O. Without objection, so ordered. I will now recognize myself for an opening statement. Which I sat down. Since this is a subcommittee on federal lands, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the fear, um the damage and the loss of life that wildfires are causing right now out in the west, in my home state. After the driest winter on record, we're now facing an alarming start to the fire season. The number of fires and pace of growth has everyone in my district demoralized and concerned I especially want to recognize three wildland firefighters. Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sidney Watson, who were tragically killed fighting fire on the Utah Cal- Utah Colorado border, just days ago. Even as firefighters continue battling these devastating fires, this subcommittee will continue advancing policies that reduce catastrophic fire risk and give land managers the tools they need to protect forests, communities and those on the front lines. When these blazes are under control, we will have a lot of work to do on the subcommittee rewriting policies that have made more common on federal lands. Before I discuss the legislation on today's agenda, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the work of the federal land subcommittee so far this year. Considered one of the most productive subcommittees in Congress, this year we've already held ten hearings, considered thirty-five pieces of bipartisan legislation, and conducted important oversight on topics like wildfires and forest health crisis, the budgets of our federal land management agencies, and the implementation of the explore act. As a member of this subcommittee, I look forward to continuing to advance a robust agenda as we head into the remainder of twenty twenty six. Turning to today's agenda, the bills we're considering promote better management of our federal lands, improve outdoor recreation opportunities, honor distinguished Americans, and provide common sense solutions for local communities. Representative Herd's Recreation Permitting Improvement Act builds on the success of title forty-one of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, otherwise known as FAST forty-one, by adding recreation infrastructure as an eligible sector. Outdoor recreation contributes one point three trillion to our nation's economy and supports over five million jobs across the country. As demand for outdoor recreation continues to grow, so too does the need for modern infrastructure that supports access to our federal lands. FAST forty-one created the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, and has become an effective tool for coordinating federal permitting, increasing transparency, and providing greater certainty for complex infrastructure projects. Allowing qualifying recreation projects to participate in Fast forty-one, will accelerate investment in recreation infrastructure to benefit local economies, and expand opportunities to get outside and enjoy America's public lands. And I'd like to note my constituent, Ben Burr, from New Harmony, Utah is here to testify about Mr. Hurd's bill. Welcome, Mr. Burr. Representative Valadao's HR eight nine one three similarly supports outdoor recreation by addressing a long-standing issue affecting the city of Tulare, California. By removing outdated federal reversionary interests in two important community properties the Historic Women's Club and the Rotary skate park. This legislation will provide the city with the certainty needed to effectively utilize these community recreation assets and invest in them for future generations. We will also consider Representative Hageman's HR one six nine three to rename the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, in honor of former Representative Barbara Cuban. Congresswoman Cuban is the first woman elected to Congress from Wyoming, a true trailblazer and a tireless advocate for her state and the American West. During her time in Congress, she was a respected leader on this committee, where she chaired the subcommittee on energy and mineral resources, and championed the responsible management of our nation's natural resources. Representative Cuban also led the legislation that established the center in nineteen ninety eight. Renaming the center, she helped create as a fitting tribute to her enduring leg legacy and will continue to highlight the story of America's westward expansion in the equality state. Representative McClintock's HR eighty-four fifty-four improves the management of Akerson Meadow in California by authorizing an exchange of administrative jurisdiction over roughly three hundred and thirty acres between Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest resolving the current checkerboard pattern of ownership will simplify land management support ongoing habitat restoration and grazing and improve recreational opportunities. This locally supported effort balances multiple uses and ensures Each parcel is managed by the agency best suited to do so. And finally, we will consider Congressman Austin Scott's Oak Mulgee. Am I saying that right, Congressman? Oak Mulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act.

Mm-hmm.

Oak Mulgee Mounds National Par- Historical Park in Georgia conserves one of the longest continuous records of human habitation in North America spanning seventeen thousand years and holds profound cultural significance for several tribes. This legislation will redesignate the existing Oak Mulgee National Historic Park as a national park in recognition of the site's remarkable history and cultural importance. Representative Scott has worked closely with the Trump administration to ensure that this change is a straightforward redesignation of the existing footprint that will not expand the park's boundary or increase the federal estate. I'd like to thank Representative Scott for making this important improvement to his legislation. I want to thank each of our witnesses for traveling here today, and for sharing your expertise with the subcommittee. We appreciate your willingness to assist us as we consider these important measures, And I look forward to today's discussion. With that, I will yield back and recognize Ms. Randall for an opening statement.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Unfortunately, the cancellation of votes today scrambled a lot of our schedules, and Ranking Member Nguyes and Ranking Member Huffman are unable to attend the hearing this morning. But I'm happy to fill in alongside uh my colleague from Utah. And I wanna thank you all for the opportunity and the warm welcome. Um, before starting, I also wanna acknowledge the three firefighters, Emily, Nick and Sidney, who gave their lives and the two others injured last weekend while tackling wildfires on the Colorado, Utah border. My heart is with their families and with the communities as we mourn their losses, their bravery is inspiring and we see in our communities in the west every season how wildland firefighters run into danger while everyone else is running away. And it is our job to honor their legacies, to thank them for their dedication, and to stand with them in ensuring that we are investing in the kind of solutions that we need to avoid the loss of life and damage to communities and land. Um, one of my favorite things about Natural Resources Committee is we have the opportunity like today to engage on several bipartisan bills and policy areas. Our national parks and public lands are topics in which we so often can find common ground. Just last week our committee marked up the America the Beautiful Act to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund this bill is approaching two hundred bipartisan sponsors, which means not only is it a cause for celebration, but we have room to grow, so let's keep that momentum going. And for today's bill, I'll I'll start with um Ranking Member Hoffman's Bill HR seven two five four. This bill would authorize a study to consider a national trail designation for the Bay Area Ridge Trail in Northern California. And we know that communities who have access to the outdoors are healthier, uh more thriving communities, and recognizing this new trail and expanding the now national trail system aligns with that enthusiasm for outdoor recreation that exists. throughout the country and certainly with my neighbors back home in Washington. It's a opportunity to support sustainable recreation and the economic benefits for all. I also wanna thank the ranking member for his commitment to this cause and for recognizing this opportunity in his own backyard. I'd also like to welcome Janet McBride from the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, who's here to testify on the bill. Janet has worked on the council for nearly twenty years and has extensive experience planning Um, and out and doing outreach that led to ranking member Hoffman's bill. She has deep roots in trail planning and advocacy, and we're so lucky to have her here today, and I look forward to your testimony, Miss McBride. Next up, HR eighty one twenty eight from Rupp Plaskett would recognize and commemorate the legacy of Peter G. Thurland to the Virgin Islands community. Specifically, the bill renames the Christiansen Bandstand after Mister Thurland who founded the St. Croix Community Band in nineteen thirty eight. He went on to lead the band for thirty years until passing the legacy on to his son, and naming the bandstand after him will truly honor that legacy. It's a busy week in the Virgin Islands. Today is Saint John's celebration and July third is Emancipation Day. So Delica Plaska is unable to attend the hearing, but I wanna pass on her support and the support of the community for this measure. Um, I have two letters of support here. that I would like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record from the Thurlin family and from former Senator St. Clair uh Williams.

Without objection.

Thank you. Uh, HR sixteen ninety-three redesignates the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper Wyoming after a former representative of Barbecue Bin and um listening to her legacy it sounds like she had such a meaningful impact on her state. I do wanna mention that the long-standing National Park Service policy limits honorary redesignations to those who are no longer with us and um unless we have a policy change it seems like we should honor that national park service policy um hr nine four one six from representative scott to redesignate it the alkmulgee mounds as georgia's first national park that's a hard one um in addition to redesignating the site this bill represents a significant step forward for tribal sovereignty and co-management. It represents a significant advancement for the committee's work in tribal engagement and I wanna d- thank the prime sponsor and all the advocates for engaging in that meaningful work. And I'm eager to understand how this bill reconciles with previous versions that expand the site and included a preserve component with a tribal advisory commission. It doesn't seem this bill has those elements. Um, H R ninety-two forty eight from the recreation and permitting act aims to improve the permitting process by adding certain recreation projects to the fast forty one program. And we fully support enhancing recreational opportunities. But I'm I'm interested to learn how recreation um is an appropriate sector to be included as a covered infrastructure in this particular permitting scheme. And I'll I'm excited to learn more in this hearing. In nearly every committee hearing, I take a minute to talk about staffing and agency capacity. If we really want to enhance recreation across our federal lands, we should be focusing on making sure federal land management agencies are fully staffed and have adequate resources. Additionally, House Republicans are sitting on a backlog of bills that grow the outdoor recreation economy, designate parks that reflect American stories, and support the rangers and staff that keep land safe. open and ready for everyone. Our national parks are often thought of as Americans' best idea, and they'll only remain that way if we support the people who maintain and steward them. Thank you for your grace. Uh, Madam Chair, you're back.

Thank you, Miss Randall. We will now move on to our first panel, which consists of members who are sponsoring legislation today. I now recognize Representative McClintock for five minutes on HR eight four five four.

Uh, th- thank you Madam Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss uh this bill, the Akerson Meadowland Interchange Act. Uh, the bill is a straightforward proposal to improve stewardship over Akerson uh uh meadow in the Sierra Nevada. It would transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately one hundred and sixty acres of National Forest System land to Yosemite National Park, and it would also transfer approximately one hundred and seventy acres of uh National Park System land. to be part of the Stanislaus National Forest. Uh, Senator Padilla is carrying identical legislation in the Senate. Uh, we don't agree on much, but we certainly agree on this. Uh, this legislation addresses a familiar problem in federal land management in the Sierra Nevada, the checkerboard of boundary lines that makes land management disjointed and inefficient to manage. Uh, this bill simply consolidates land jurisdictions between the national park system and the national forest system without increasing the federal footprint. Uh, at Issues the Akerson Meadow, uh, this meadow supports a responsible livestock grazing operations that have been part of the history and economy of the region, uh, and are essential for brush control, uh, maintaining meadow conditions and sustaining the rural economy that depends on these lands. Uh, federal agencies, conservation organizations, and local ranchers have worked together to improve the meadow while maintaining grazing opportunities. Uh, restoration projects have improve wetland conditions, enhance water storage, improved habitat, and support continued public uses such as grazing. The uh proposed uh land exchange uh would make uh that cooperative approach easier by eliminating the confusion that's caused by split jurisdictions. Uh ranchers need to know where their permits apply, where infrastructure can be maintained, and who's responsible for decisions affecting their operations. A fence line, water system, and access road uh uh don't recognize an arbitrary administrative boundary on a federal map. Uh, the bill also protects existing rights and authorizations. It specifically provides that uh, valid existing rights, including rights of way, easements, leases, licenses and permits remain protected after the transfer. Uh, this ensures that current uh users, including grazing permit uh holders, are not unfairly disrupted by a change in administrative jurisdiction. Uh, it also appropriately maintains federal responsibilities for hazardous substance cleanup a and other obligations. Uh, this bill reflects a principle that should guide federal land policy. A management decision should be based on the realities of the landscape, not simply on boundaries drawn on a map decades ago. Our national forests and parks serve many purposes. They preserve wildlife habitat, uh, protect uh watersheds, provide recreation, and support rural economies. A balanced approach recognizes all of these uh values. Uh, we have with us uh Mister Tim Erickson, who's

Thank you, Representative McClintock. Thank you, Representative McClintock. I now re recognize Representative Scott for five minutes on H R nine four one six. I now re recognize Representative Scott for five minutes on H R nine four, one six.

Thank you, Madam Chair, ranking member and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on H R ninety four sixteen, which would re-designate the Ocmogee Mounds National Historic Park in Macon as the Ocmogee Mounds National Park for the first national park in our great state of Georgia. This re-designation is the culmination of a decades-long bipartisan effort dating back to nineteen thirty four. In two thousand fourteen, Congressman Bishop and I, uh, along with Senator Saxby, Chambliss, and Johnny and advanced legislation that ultimately became part of the John D. Dingell Junior Conservation Management and Recreation Area Recreation Act in two thousand nineteen. That law expanded the park boundary, launched a special resource study completed in twenty twenty three, and established the current historical park designation. The bill before you is a straightforward next step. It makes no changes to the park boundary and focuses on conferring national park status. reflecting extensive collaboration between my office, committee staff, the Department of the Interior, local leaders, and tribal partners. H R ninety-four sixteen represents a historic opportunity to safeguard an important cultural landscape in the Southeast and support stewardship of natural resources for future generations. Additionally, this redesignation would bring impactful benefits to Middle Georgia, national park status elevates the site's visibility, strengthens partnerships,

Thank you very much for yielding. Uh. Chairman Molloy, Ranking Member Randall, uh, thank you for inviting uh Representative Scott and me to testify on behalf of our bill HR ninety four sixteen the Mulgay Mounds National Park Redesignation Act. I'm also grateful that Gary Wheat, the President and CEO of Visit Macon is here to testify on behalf of our legislation. In the interest of time I'll keep my remarks brief. Uh, Congressman Scott and I have a long history of working together in a bipartisan fashion to preserve and protect this special Albeit not quite as long as Akmulgee's seventeen thousand year history. Most recently we worked together to change the name from Akmulgee National Monument to Akmulgee Mounds National Historic Park. Expanding the boundaries from approximately seven hundred and two acres to over three thousand acres for that protection to additional archaeological resources, to authorize a resources study to explore the possibility of expanding the park even further. to include additional opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing, and other recreational activities. That legislation was signed into law in twenty nineteen. Our bill today represents a small, albeit meaningful, step forward that will strengthen our model and ensure that its cultural and religious sites are protected now and into the future. It reflects key input from stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels, including the Muscogee Creek Nation and the Sake whose uh sacred and uh uh revered ancestral sites are located inside the proposed boundary. Uh, legislation will create the first national park in the state of Georgia, and the designation could exponentially boost visitors to Middle Georgia, bringing in more than thirty-four million dollars annual tax revenue, uh, as well as support over three thousand jobs through visitor activity and tourism. It also includes provisions that allow the Secretary of Interior, upon request, to take approximately a hundred and thirty-three point eighty-eight acres of land held by the Muscogee Creek Nation into trust as a part of Muscogee Creek reservation. It's currently under a conservation easement and gaming is prohibited on the land. Again, I want to thank the subcommittee of federal lands for inviting Representative Sky to meet to testify. As our nation prepares to celebrate its two hundred fiftieth birthday this Saturday, It is vital that we preserve and protect our ancient history, including the stories of the indigenous peoples who lived here long before July fourth, seventeen seventy six. I urge the supporter to be happy to answer any questions. A year back.

Thank you, Representatives Scott and Bishop. Uh, I now recognize Representative Valadio for five minutes.

Thank you, Chairwoman Malloy and all members of this subcommittee for your time today. I especially want to thank Chairwoman Malloy for pronouncing Tulare correctly. In eighteen sixty-six, Union Pacific Railroad bought two parcels of land in Tulare County for railroad construction. While the railroad no longer needs this property for that purpose, the land has remained subject to a federal reversionary interest. preventing the city of Tulare from making much needed improvements. Over the years, Union Pacific has graciously allowed the city to use these parcels to build the historic Tulare Women's Club and the city's skate park. These spaces have served local families for decades, but both facilities are now in need of significant upgrades. Although Union Pacific has agreed to transfer the property, the federal government's remaining reversionary interest continues to delay these long overdue improvements. The Tulare Youth Recreation and Women's History Enhancement Act would authorize the sale of this land, so the city can finally move forward with critical upgrades. I appreciate Union Pacific's partnership in helping move this solution forward, and I look forward to seeing these sites continue to serve Tulare families, and preserve the community's history for years to come. I want to thank the subcommittee for their time and urge all members to support this bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Mister Valadao. Uh, we will now move on to our second panel. Let me remind the witnesses that under committee rules, you must limit your oral statement to five minutes, but your entire statement will appear in the hearing record. To begin your testimony, please press the on button on the microphone. We use timing lights. When you begin, the light will turn green. At the end of five minutes, the light will turn red, and I will ask you to please complete your statement. First, I'd like to introduce the honorable Terry Sayre, Councilmember on the Tulare City Council in California. Councilmember Sayre, you are recognized for five minutes.

OK, got it. Different than our dais. Um, I'm really pleased to be here this morning and appreciate so much, uh, Chairman and ranking member, members of the subcommittee, to give me an opportunity to testify in support of H R eight nine one three, the Tulare Youth Recreation and Women's History in Nats. enhancement act. As the first uh long t full term mayor woman of Tulare I am especially interested in the women's clubhouse restoration. Uh upon my election eight years ago it was one of my primary uh focus was to see that this building was restored and used as a center for our west side of Tulare which is whom I represent. So it's important that we look at this building in terms of restoring it to its beautiful original eighteen hundred first building uh built before the city was even uh chartered so i you have all the notes that i sent you so you know all the details about this uh this project i just want you to know personally i had my wedding reception there my daughter who is miss hillary county had her fundraiser there my gauntlets group used to have a pancake breakfast every fair day there so i'm totally invested in seeing this uh revisionary

mmm

uh outdated a federal uh act of converse to uh let us purchase this land from the railroad which has taken us some time to get them to also be uh willing to let that land go that we can use it and the city has not wanted to restore the building when we didn't own the land because the railroad at any moment could come and uh take that land away so that's uh that's my main interest is is looking at uh reflecting the importance of uh this act being revoked so that we can go move forward with restoring this building. We've already allocated millions of dollars in our budget to do that. We're not asking for money, we're just asking to get rid of this outdated uh federal law so that we can go move ahead with our project. Thank you.

Thank you, Cal- Councilmember Sayer. We've gotta make sure that your wedding reception is memorialized. I will now recognize Mister Tim Erickson, Sure, let me introduce myself. a rancher and member of the California Cattlemen's Association and the Public Lands Council. Mister Erickson, you are recognized for five minutes.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, Ranking Members and members of the subcommittee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify in support of Representative McClintock's HR eight four five four to provide the transfer of administrative Jurisdiction over certain federal lands in the state of California and Tuolumne County. I am Tim Erickson and for the last one hundred and thirty seven plus years my family has operated a cow calf operation in the area that is now best known as Yosemite. My great grandfather came to this country from Ireland in eighteen fifty two, had seven children and he drowned in Yosemite in the summer of eighteen seventy. My grandfather at twelve years old went to work in mines and other cattle ranches to help support the family, and he is the one who started this operation as we know it today. My wife Betty Ann and I took over the operation in our mid-twenties, and today we work with our son Dan and his family, and our and our grandchildren who are the fifth generation on the ranch. Our ranch existed before the establishment of the forest service, so we've seen our fair share of history and challenges, some of them long before me. Today we face even ever-present a risk of wildfire and policies that sometimes just don't make sense. Akerson Meadow has been owned by my family for over a hundred and twenty years. It's an important part of the way we manage our cattle. We use other parts of the forest with with forest allotments on forest allotments, but we have used Akerson Meadow to gather the cattle in in the fall before we ship to trail them home to winter pasture at lower elevations. Today we still graze in the neighboring lands, but our gathering pasture is smaller. We still do all the management on horseback, rounding up and trailing the cattle. We still gather cows into the top of the of our allotment about mid-september, sort off the calves and hire semi-trucks to ship them to lower elevations for the winter. The mother cows are moved in to a adjacent land. next to the current Yosemite Park. But we trail them fifty miles to their winter home in mid-October. Tourists and local residents enjoy seeing us on horseback trailing the cattle down the state highway. We appreciate our grazing management, especially after they they appreciate our grazing management, especially after they see how grazing helps reduce fire risk. for our land and and committee or community. And we have seen two major fires in the last forty years that devastated many thousands of acres of timber, vegetation, and and a lot of cattle burned up too. My family owned and managed this meadow for more than one hundred years, before it was sold in two thousand sixteen, uh following an estate transfer in my family. The buyer sold the four hundred acres, to the Trust for Public Lands, who then transfer the meadow to the Yosemite Park Service. This bill swaps uh two parcels of equal size between the Forest Service and the Yosemite Park Service. The park parcel is part of what was transferred to the park in two thousand sixteen, and this is what would be returned to multiple use if this bill is passed. The swap just makes sense. There is a county road, Evergreen Road, that goes right through this this portion that will swap back to the forest service. And it that road does go to uh other private lands, a major Evergreen Lodge and San Francisco Recreation Camp called Camp Mather. The forest service parcel will go to the park, and it's isolated from other forest land and surrounded on three sides right now by Yosemite Park. This swap cleans up boundaries. for both agencies and makes them better able to respond to the risks like fire and public emergencies. The land swap would allow us to restore grazing on the western part of Akerson Meadow. That's where this road, High County Road goes through. Grazing helps keep these lands resistant to fire, drought resistant tolerant, and keeps them healthy for our livestock and wildlife alike. I believe livestock grazing should be kept on the landscape to protect the land from all its um productive uses and reduce the burden on agencies and the American people. That it's what this bill does. Thank you, Mister McClintock, Representative from California, for introducing this bill. Too often, These administrative transfers that are good for the land and good for the people get lost in the slow government processes. Uh, Madam Chairwoman, Ranking Members, I appreciate the opportunity to to share this story today, and I urge the committee to advance the bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ericsson. I will now recognize Mr. Gary Wheat, President and CEO of VisitMacon. Mister Wheat, you are recognized for five minutes.

Good morning, Madam Chair, ranking and distinguished members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of HR ninety four sixteen, the redesignation of Oatmogee Mounds as America's sixty-fourth national park and the first for the state of Georgia. I'm Gary Wheat, President, CEO of Visit Macon, the destination management and tourism organization of Macon Bibb County, Georgia. I've also served on the board of directors for the Oatmogee Park and Preserve Initiative for the past ten years. I come before you not as an archaeologist or historian, but as someone whose responsibility it is helping communities grow, businesses succeed, and families build better futures through economic opportunity. From that perspective, I can say without hesitation that this legislation represents one of the most significant economic development opportunities in Georgia's modern history. For nearly one hundred years, the people of Middle Georgia have believed Ocmulgee deserved recognition as one of America's great places. What began in nineteen thirty four as a local vision has become a bipartisan movement supported by a broad coalition of advocates and stewards to the seventeen thousand years of continuous human habitation preserved at Ocmulgee Mounds. Our partners in this endeavor are too many to mention here, but represent all levels of government, association, and advocacy networks. state, regional and local, as well as active and civilian leadership of Robins Air Force Base and the Muscogee Creek Nation. Georgia is large, is the largest state east of the Mississippi River without a national park. Every year millions of Americans plan vacations around our national parks, generating billions of dollars for local communities. Yet Georgia, a state rich in American history, outdoor recreation and cultural heritage, has never had the opportunity to fully participate in that economy. H R ninety four sixteen changes that. For generations of Georgia, this has been a dream. Today, it is an achievable opportunity. Independent economic analysis estimates that national park designation could ultimately attract an additional one point three million visitors to middle Georgia every year. Those visitors are projected to generate approximately two hundred and six million in annual economic activity, create over three thousand new jobs, and produce nearly thirty million in additional annual tax revenue. These are not abstract projections. They represent hotel rooms filled with families, meals in locally owned restaurants, small businesses opening their doors, and young professionals finding opportunity exist in their own community instead of somewhere else. For Middle Georgia, those numbers translate into careers, expanded tax revenue, stronger entrepreneurship, and a higher quality of life. With support from the Knight Foundation, we have designed a strategic plan to maximize the economic return of a national park designation, while protecting the character and authenticity that make the place special. Through the vision of local leadership, over five hundred million in tourism infrastructure is being developed, with Ocmoge Mounds acting as the catalyst in the region's transition to a tourism economy. Visitation has played a vital role in rolling back property taxes already and are likely to result in the ongoing largest property tax cut in Middle Georgia history. Tourism and economic development initiatives between Macon organizations and the Muscogee Creek Nation have led to joint board representation, historical curation, and economic development plans. Regional land acquisition has ensured the land surrounding the park will be conserved and protected for future generations of visitors. The designation also supports a long-term compatibility around Robins Air Force Base, one of our nation's most important military installations. Simply put, the groundwork has already been laid. Congress is not being asked to create an opportunity. Congress is being asked to unlock one that decades of local investment have already prepared. National Park is the most recognized destination brand in the world. It encourages private investment. It strengthens rural economies. It is an opportunity to tell one of America's oldest stories, while creating one of Georgia's brightest futures. This effort also demonstrates something increasingly rare in public life. It has united people who do not always agree. Miss Madam Chair, members of the committee, our region has spent nearly a century preparing for this moment. We have built the partnerships, we have invested the resources, we have demonstrated the local commitment. Congress is not being asked to imagine what this designation could come. It is being asked to recognize what Middle Georgia has already built. We respectfully ask for your support of HR ninety-four sixteen, so Georgia can welcome its first national park. creating lasting economic opportunity for our communities and preserving one of America's oldest stories for generations to come. Thank you for your time and consideration. I welcome your questions.

Thank you, Mister Wheat, I will now recognize Miss Janet McBride, Executive Director of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Miss McBride, you are recognized for five minutes.

Good morning, Madam Chair, Representative Randall, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunities. to speak to you today in support of HR seventy two fifty four, which would authorize a feasibility study to designate the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a national scenic trail. I wanna express my gratitude to Representative Huffman for his leadership and to the entire Bay Area delegation for signing on as cosponsors. My name is Janet McBride. I'm the Executive Director of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The ambitious mission of the Ridge Trail Council is to plan, promote and sustain a continuous long-distance hiking, biking and equestrian trail on the ridgelines surrounding San Francisco Bay, linking people, parks, um and open space for today and for future generations. The council is a non-profit that partners with park agencies, local governments, land trusts and other landowners and volunteers to complete the Ridge Trail. The first section was dedicated in nineteen eighty nine and Today, four hundred and fifteen miles are ready to explore and permanently protected. And we're looking to close uh all the remaining gaps on about a hundred and forty miles. So to visualize the ridge trail route, picture a five hundred and fifty mile elliptical loop tracing the ridge lines overlooking San Francisco Bay. It starts in the northernmost tip of the region in northern Sonoma and Napa counties. It traces the hills above the Napa wine country. crosses over the Carquinez Strait, runs uh south through the East Bay Hills, down past San Jose to southern Santa Clara County, uh before making the turn back up to go north uh across the peninsula, across San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge, up through the hills of Marin and Sonoma, back up to the very top. Uh so along the route, the trail crosses nine counties. Uh it connects a hundred and forty-five parks, including five federal land units and six state parks. And we seek a national scenic trail status because it would really elevate the Ridge Trail's visibility as a world-class recreation destination, attracting new visitors from near and far, and it would help build momentum to close the remaining gaps, and to protect open space and wildlife habitat in one of America's most populous regions. So the Ridge Trail aligns uh very closely with every benchmark in the National Trail System Act, including its length much longer than a hundred miles. It offers maximum outdoor recreation potential to a diverse urban population. Nearly two and a half million people live within two miles of the Ridge Trail, and all eight million Bay Area residents live in relative proximity. It provides the enjoyment of nationally significant scenic, historic and historic and cultural qualities such as the Pacific. Goshen, Muir Woods, uh the John Muir National Historic Site, to name just a few. It passes through diverse environments, including marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, rivers, and forests. It represents landforms that showcase significant regional characteristics, like the Golden Gate Bridge, earthquake faults, volcanic areas, and many other geologic formations. And lastly, it connects with numerous side trails and connector trails that provide access to natural areas and population centers. So examples of some of these include the San Francisco Bay Trail, the Napa Valley Vine Trail, the California Coastal Trail, uh, historic trails like the Juan Bautista De Anza Trail, and many more. So the Ridge Trail Council stands ready to support an efficient feasibility study process. We've been around for forty years. We have a professional staff of eleven. We maintain detailed databases, um, maps, and information on both all the existing trail sections as well as the plan sections. And we have established relationships with all the land managing partners. We've conducted surveys of key local administrators and we've received overwhelmingly positive support from local governments, park partners, um, across all nine counties, and we've also coordinated with, coordinated with our local National Park Service office, as well as the folks that run the National Scenic Trail program. And after months of outreach, we know of no opposition to this study or to a National Scenic Trail designation. So, um, we think that a feasibility study would be a prudent and logical, uh, an exciting step forward, and I respectfully ask for your support to advance the bill. Thank you for your time and I would welcome any questions.

Thank you, Miss McBride. I will now recognize Mister Ben Burr, Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Mister Burr, you're recognized for five minutes.

Alright, well Madam Chair, Ranking Member and members of the committee, thank you for being here this morning. My name is Ben Burr. I lead the Blue Ribbon Coalition, which is a national non-profit that has fought for recreation access to our public lands since nineteen eighty seven. And we have members in all fifty states. And I wanna start with a place that's on the front line of a broken regulatory and permitting process, which is Randsburg, California. This little mining town, this spring in federal uh federal court ordered about twenty two hundred miles of routes in California's West Mojave desert to be closed. Because the Bureau of Land Management's analysis didn't satisfy the law. I'm not here to relitigate that. I'm here to tell you what it does to little towns like Randsburg that are out there in this desert. The fuel stops, the diners, the motels, and the repair shops, they live on the people who come to ride these very dirt trails that were closed. The BLM is required to reassess this route system by court order in three years. The last time they did this, it took over ten. A closure that last years isn't a hardship they wait out. For a lot of those impacted by this delay, it's the end. A business that loses a season doesn't come back when the gates reopen. And what these towns need is hope, they a reason to believe that the closure has an end date. And that's exactly what our permitting system doesn't give them. The routes stay closed until the BLM writes a new plan. That plan takes two federal agencies and the consultation the endangered species And there's no schedule, no deadline, no one accountable for finishing it. So the closure just sits there open-ended. And that's the problem this bill solves. And it solves it with one word. There's a program called Fast Forty-One. For almost ten years, it's helped big infrastructure projects go through the federal permitting on a predictable scale. Projects that include energy, broadband, semiconductors. There's nineteen sectors that qualify. And recreation is not one of them. Congressman Hurd's bill adds it. With one word, they drop recreation into that list of nineteen projects. And let me be clear about what it does and doesn't do. It doesn't change one line of environmental law. It doesn't decide any permit. What it adds is coordination, a lead agency, a published timetable, deadlines that line up, and a public dashboard so everyone can see where a project stands. It's voluntary and it doesn't require a project to be huge. There's a pathway with no dollar threshold for any project complex enough to need a full environmental study or require approval from more than two agencies. These discretionary pathways could be used to benefit a broad range of recreation projects. Let me give you two quick pictures of who this helps. First, our ski areas. When a resort on a national forest wants to add a lift or run, The forest service has to review it, and that now takes years. Brian Head in southern Utah is my home ski mountain, and there's an expansion that started a review last year, and the decision isn't expected until twenty twenty eight. Three years for one resort to plan, and that's if nothing slips or gets held up. In Colorado, Winter Park has been waiting since twenty twenty two. Targhee is in a pr- expansion process that has been going on for, I believe, seven years. Sipipu in New Mexico is facing similar challenges. We also have our reservoirs. The clearest case of all is Lake Powell, which drew almost five million visitors last year, who spent over a half a billion dollars in nearby towns like Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah. Lake Mead drew six and a half million visitors, who spent over four hundred million dollars in Boulder City in Las Vegas. Blue Mesa anchors Gunnison, Colorado, and when the water drops, the marinas get stranded and the ramps close. Every fix runs through reclamation, the Park Service and wildlife agencies with no schedule holding it together, so the access is always a step behind the changing water lines. And here's how these things connect. The closed routes in the Mojave, the mountains waiting for years, the marinas stuck above the water line, in every case, recreation was treated as an afterthought and real communities are paying for it. These folks aren't asking to skip environmental review. They're asking for what? Every sector, all every other sector already has a process with a deadline, a date they can plan around. They're asking for hope and congressman Heard delivers it in a single word. The Blue Ribbon Coalition supports H R nine two four eight. We encourage the members of this committee to do so as well. I look forward to your questions.

Thank you, Mr. Byrne. I now recognize Rep. Hegeman for five minutes on H R one six nine three.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I would like to thank the. for considering my bill h r sixteen ninety three. This legislation would rename Casper's National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in honor of former Wyoming representative Barbara Cuban. Representative Cuban is the first woman elected to federal office in Wyoming, serving the state in the US House of Representatives from nineteen ninety five to two thousand and nine. She served in the Wyoming state house with my father, and has been a close family friend for decades. Senator Lemus and I have known Barbara since the nineteen eighties. She has been a great mentor to me over the years, and I know this is true as well for Senator Lemus. Her time in this body is defined by her advocacy for Wyoming and the West. Barbara Cuban is one of the strongest political leaders in Wyoming's state history and was an inspiration to women and political leaders across the state she was a member of this very committee as well where she chaired the subcommittee on energy and mineral resources. She was founding member of the Western Caucus, a caucus of which I and many members of this committee belong to. The honor of naming the Historic Trails Interpretive Center is appropriate, because it would not exist without Barbara Cuban. Representative Cuban set a standard for public service that conin continues to inspire us all. I'm honored to join the Wyoming delegation in supporting this legislation to recognize her remarkable contributions to Wyoming and our nation. I would like to thank Senator Lemus for her hard work in getting the Senate companion to this bill across the finish line on the Senate side. I would like to enter into the record this letter from Cynthia L- Senator Lummis in support of this legislation and I just want to read one paragraph, because I think it's so appropriate. Quote, " Renaming this center in honor of Barbara is straightforward. It recognizes her decades of tireless public service as a trailblazer for this project, and many others. Her role as Wyoming's first female representative in Congress and the lasting mark she has

Thank you, Rob Hageman. I will now recognize members for five minutes for questions, and I'm going to start with Ms. Randall.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. Um, and thank you to all of our expert witnesses for bringing your experience um to your testimony. What really impresses me about the Bay Area Ridge Trail is how it's connected to a major metropolitan area and the outdoor recreation opportunities it brings for millions of Americans folks who live in the Bay Area and those who travel to visit. Um, I'm curious, how is the council using its programming to ensure that historically underrepresented communities in the region have access to these open spaces?

Right. Thank thank you for that question. Uh, so over the last several decades we've greatly expanded our events uh offerings. Um, and last year over three thousand people came came out to a Ridge Trail event. And we want the trail itself, uh, the organization, all of our events. We want them to be, uh, welcoming to everyone, including folks from underrepresented communities. Um, and so we make sure that all of our outreach, all of our social media, all of our promotional materials all represent the diversity of the Bay Area. And we also make sure that all of our major events, um, we offer scholarships, um, to them so that you know, uh, economics is not a barrier to entry. So those are just some of the ways that we make sure folks are welcome.

Wonderful. Thanks, Miss McBride. Um, and my understanding is there are about a hundred and fifty miles of trail left to complete the entire five hundred and fifty mile loop. Um, we have faced similar challenges with the Olympic discovery trail and my neck of the woods, and have piecemealed together, you know, with different funding opportunities, this incredible scenic space. What are the primary challenges you face in these final pieces and how would a national scenic trail designation help complete the puzzle?

Yep. So you're right. Um, we, there are about a hundred and fifty miles of gaps and the easy sections are done, and the more difficult and challenging sections remain. And with each um, each section along the way it becomes uh that much more difficult. Some of the big challenges relate to the fact that we need a major infrastructure like we might need to get across highway seventeen or across across highway thirty five um sometimes we need to skirt across private property uh so what we need to do is get a trail easement or sometimes acquire property and what national scenic trail status would allow is it would first you know raise the awareness the more people would know about it it would help attract more resources um we hope that it would give us a competitive advantage um when we go after grants and private funding um to to uh secure the resources that would be needed to complete those gaps.

Wonderful. And lastly, a primary concern often raised with new federal designations is the potential long-term fiscal um and management burden placed on the federal government. And the Trump administration's testimony states that it doesn't support uh studying new trail designations because it's focused on addressing deferred maintenance though i'll mention that we had a hearing a while ago um in which we saw that a lot of the deferred maintenance money was being pulled out of the national deferred maintenance projects to put into d c projects like the reflecting pool and that's been rough um But can you describe the role that your organization and organizations like the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and other partners play in the maintenance and stewardship so that the entire burden wouldn't fall on the federal government?

Right. So the Ridge Trail is and would continue to be owned and managed by forty different land managing uh partners, largely regional park districts, but also land trusts, municipalities, a handful of private properties, And National Scenic Trail's status wouldn't change any of that, um, at all. It wouldn't, it wouldn't be a new trail. It just would be simply making this a National Scenic Trail. Um, and then also as I mentioned, we, the Ridge Trail Council stands ready to really support the feasibility study process. We really do have extensive information data maps. And so, uh, they wouldn't be starting from scratch in, uh, doing a feasibility study. We're really uh far down the line. So we think that could be a very efficient process.

Wonderful. Thank you so much, Mr. Bread.

The chair now recognizes Mister Fulcher for five minutes of questioning.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Mister Burr, uh question for you um having to do with um uh ski resort. We've got a a very very popular ski resort on a federal lease. just outside of Boise, um, in Idaho. And uh, in your testimony, you had discussed some of the issues that ski resorts run into when waiting for an elongated period of time due to permitting. Uh, or have you, are you aware of any uh, proposed resorts that have actually have, have just not come to fruition at all as a function of that permitting? Or lack thereof?

It

If I'm understanding the question correctly, so a ski resort is doesn't currently exist, that's been proposed and hasn't been constructed?

Yes, as a function of the uh inability to get permits.

Yeah, that has to be the case, because we haven't built new ski resorts for decades in this country. We're mostly left with what previous generations have built before us, and I'm not aware of any new major skiers or that's been built in my lifetime.

Neither am I. That's why I thought that you you might be familiar with that, but it's in in in our state anyway, uh that's that's a ongoing struggle and uh any counsel as we move forward on how we can improve that process, please communicate because um uh we're uh attempting to make revisions and and make that easier, but it's it's not been an easy uh easy uh issue. So, thank you for that. Mister Erickson, uh shifting gears a little bit, you had talked about the uh, rimfire, the two thousand thirteen rimfire in your testimony. And uh, I wanna just given your background, ask if if there would have been a more robust grazing policy, do you think that would have happened, and do you think to what extent that might be different than how it turned out?

Uh, the the

Let's try the let's try the on off button one more time on that. Okay, now now try it again. I guess just speak up. Yes.

Hang on just a second. Let's see if we can fix your mike.

Yep.

Am I doing something wrong?

Uh

I think that's it. That

But that works. My

Not.

Oh, you're sure. Okay, thanks. Thanks for your microphone. Uh, uh, would there have been any difference with with more grazing?

Yes.

Uh, you know, I don't really know, when that fire started on uh, on the Klaviy River. Uh, the um, Cal Fire came in to help them. And they could have put it out at two hundred acres, I was told. The forest service told them to leave. They left. And they came back two days later, and it's about four hundred acres. The forest service told them to go back, we'd take care of it. So then it got into the trees going up the side of the mountain, and it ended up burning over two hundred and fifty thousand acres. So I don't know that any more grazing would have stopped it in that situation, because once the fires start up the mountain, they can go very, very fast. So, and and down there in that canyon, there was There weren't any cattle, I don't suppose any. But just grazing uh grass, it does help, but once it get in a, once it get in gets in the pine trees, it goes. Are you familiar with the pine trees? Or maybe you are, sir?

I'm I'm familiar.

OK. Were you familiar out there?

Yeah, we've we've uh we've I come from the state of Idaho, we burn up about a million acres a year, and it's usually pine trees. But there's also some fuel load issues with grazing, which is why I was asking the question.

Uh, uh, s- say that again, please.

That that's OK. I think I got, I think I got the idea. I'm gonna transition over to, uh, Mrs. Sayre.

OK.

Thank you.

Uh, you talked about the, um, uh, the clubhouse restoration. And I just wanted to, to get a little bit more information on that. To, to what extent do you, uh, ha- has the need to address federal revisionary interest in these parcels that may have already delayed that process of restoration for a while?

Right, that

it it would be such a simple fix if we could just release that uh that and be able to buy that land so that we can move forward. Our city government uh for the last three or four city managers has refused to do anything to restore or maintain that that building because we don't own the land. And we can't own the land because of the federal grant that was when the when the railroad first bought that property in the eighteen hundreds. is still in uh in force so it will take an act of congress for us to be able to purchase that land from the railroad and they are ready to do that and that's what's keeping us from moving forward and putting uh the efforts into restoring the building because we would don't own the land

ok alright thank you i think that uh that concludes my testimony or my uh commentary and i yield back

thank you mister bishop the chair or sorry thank you mister folger The chair now recognizes Mister Bishop for five minutes for questioning.

I'd just like to ask Mister Wheat uh if he would uh just uh emphasize the tremendous uh impact that the redesignation of the uh Gmogen Miles National Park redesignation as a national park would have for our area, and for the state. uh, economically and uh, culturally.

Thank you, Congressman Bishop. I appreciate the uh opportunity to answer this question and, and obviously from a cultural perspective, the Muscogee Creek Nation, that was their ancestral homes, uh, that they were forcibly removed, and contained seventeen thousand years of continuous human habitation. For us, that's the significance of that in the relationship with the Muscogee Creek Nation. But also from a standpoint of economic development, we've discussed the three thousand plus jobs, uh the two hundred and six million in uh additional spending each year, uh as well as the thirty million increase in tax revenues. Um that means a lot to Middle Georgia uh insomuch that our coalition is is comprised of um city, county, Middle Georgia Regional Commission, um Robins Air Force Base, all these components and partners come together uh to create a coalition that understands and agrees on the significance of this redesignation for middle Georgia, and what it means to the economy, and the economies in middle Georgia as a whole.

Um, mister wheat, I had the opportunity uh the first time I attended the uh the Macon uh Cherry Blossom Festival. And uh the festival invited uh the uh chiefs of the Muscogee Creek Nation to come to the festival and that has been a recurring um uh event uh and invitation uh for many years now uh since I've been representing the area uh over three decades. And I had an opportunity to sit next to uh uh the chief. And I did not know uh he seemed to be very, very perturbed and he actually was sitting there weeping during the cele ceremony. And uh when I had an opportunity to talk with him, he talked about the impact that it had on him uh to be able to visit the Ocmoge National Mounds, uh to know that that was his ancestral lands prior to the Trail of Tears. And so for a solid hour he had been just weeping uh at the um uh the experience. Uh subsequent to that, the city of Macon uh now the Macon Bib uh consolidated government has um designated uh uh as as a sister uh city uh to uh the Muscogee Creek nation and it flies the Muscogee Creek flag uh over the city. uh and has welcomed uh and embraced the um the um the progenitors of the um of the Muscogee Creek Nation who have been consultants and who are actually uh are very very supportive of the expansion. Uh so can you talk about the the annual uh visits that we have there, the powwows that take place?

Yes, sir, uh the relationship with the Muscogee Creek Nation grows stronger each year. And just this past weekend we sent a delegation from Macon to their annual festival, which was their fiftieth. Um, and it's an opportunity for um leaders of our community to be able to engage with leaders and citizens of their nation. Uh, each year we host the Okmulgee Indigenous Celebration, uh, which brings in about two hundred fifty to three hundred citizens of the nation back to the homeland. Uh, one another project that we've done is our street signs downtown. Not only have the English version of the street, but also the creek translation,

Mm-hmm.

uh, which, as you mentioned, the flag flies over city hall. And I think the relationship only continues to grow, um, and strengthen because we have that Ocmulgee to Ocmulgee, Oklahoma relationship. And, uh, we're very proud of that and very proud to see where it goes as far as culturally, economically, and being able to be a part of their nation, as well as welcome them back to their ancestral homeland.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Wheat. Uh, you're back.

Thank you, Mr. Bishop. The chair now recognizes Mr. Stauber for five minutes of questioning.

Thank you, Chairwoman Malloy. Uh, Mister Burr, thank you for your testimony today, uh, in your written testimony, you referenced that when recreational access on federal lines is suddenly cut, It has a significant negative impact on the small businesses that are the lifeblood of the gateway communities near these lands. When these businesses have to close and lay off employees because of these sudden closures, are there typically other employment opportunities within that local community that individuals can turn to for work?

In many cases, there is not. I can assure you that in Randsburg, California, the only industry is tourism. i have spoken directly with members of the community of page arizona who used to have high paying jobs at the coal-fired power plant in the area that plant was closed and they transitioned into setting to running recreation focused businesses but then when the water levels in lake pal drop and those recreation amenities are inaccessible so that the public can't come recreate on that lake that hurts their business which was their backup plan from the other jobs that were lost and Something we're seeing happen throughout communities in the West is that recreation is the number one industry driving the economy of these small towns. And every single one of them need that infrastructure to be guaranteed. They need certainty around the regulatory processes that allow the public to come and enjoy these lands and waters. And we believe this, um, HR nine two forty eight would create that.

Good. Uh, you know, given these communities' proximity to the federal lands, is it safe to say other industries or businesses that may operate in or around these gateway communities are likely also tied to the same federal lands?

Yes, they absolutely are. I mean, we I mean, one of the what we would consider to be recreation infrastructure are our trail systems, which in most cases tends to be very primitive dirt roads that give broad access into our public land system. And I know our grazing permittees use the same infrastructure to go and access the range improvements. I know that the other the forest fire, wildfires will use the same access to go and protect our communities from devastating wildfires. And so this infrastructure does serve multiple use purposes, um, but it certainly also builds our recreation economies that make the these communities around our public lands a great place to live when it all works well.

Yeah, being from northern Minnesota, I get what you just said. Um, and it is safe to say that these industries and businesses are likely to face many of the same challenges from our broken permitting system given their operation on our federal lines.

Yes, they absolutely would, and many of those also have the same they're on the list of the fast forty-one industries that are allowed to go through this permitting process and we think that makes everything fair to allow recreation to also be on that list.

Absolutely. It's clear that entire communities and entire local community, economies rather, are at the mercy of our broken permitting system. And that is not right. When we can't permit projects, people lose their jobs and lose their livelihoods. And too often there isn't much else these individuals and gateway communities can turn to for work. That leads to rural communities drying up and turning into ghost towns. I think Fast Forty-One has been a tremendous success over the past decade. It has not cut corners. It has not waived environmental protections. Fast Forty-One has simply created efficiencies. federal permitting system, allowing important projects to get online faster. An expansion of FAST forty-one to include recreation projects will give these small gateway communities an important lifeline. And I'm proud to support H. R. ninety-two forty-eight, and want to thank Representative Hurd for his work on this bill. It has the potential to give small rural gateway communities a shot in the arm, including those in northern Minnesota. allowing them to grow their economies and ensure that they are not left behind. Miss Madam Chair, you're back.

Thank you, Mister Stauber. Chair now recognizes Mister Scott for five minutes of questioning.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And um, I wanna say a special thank you to uh Chief Hill and the Muscogee Creek Nation. They've been very good to work with. Uh, Tracy as well, who's done tremendous work on this legislation for many years and been uh very professional and a true asset in trying to get us across the finish line. Um, Mister Wheat, do you have any further comments? Um, I know we've talked extensively about the economic development and the value to the to the to the Muscogee Creek Nation. Um, if you if you have any further comments, it's the time. If not, well.

Thank you, Representative Scott. Obviously for us in in middle Georgia, this is a golden opportunity for this redesignation.

Mm.

It is something that the Muscogee Creek Nation supports. Uh, it will help our community develop, um, in a place that has been a section of our community that's been economically challenged, as well as add jobs and create a gateway community, uh, to a national park, which would be Georgia's first national park. Uh, which for me, I think that's a goal to not only become America's newest national park, but Georgia's first. We thank you for your support and Congressman uh Bishop's support of uh HR ninety-four sixteen in getting that across that finish line and that designation.

Well, thank you. And, Mister Burr, I want you to know that Congressman Bishop and I have both worked with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to make sure that recreational opportunities are gonna be uh available and expanded through that area and I appreciate the work you do. I'm very concerned about the lack of recreational opportunities that the American citizens have. And it seems to be going in the wrong direction, not the right direction, and it has a devastating impact on uh those businesses uh as well as just the opportunity for someone to take their their families out. And so um I'll I'll finish with this and before I yield back and this is not the purpose of me being here, but you know, I I was disappointed to see that the snapper season was eliminated for the recreational angler uh, off of the east coast. Are you aware of that?

I was not aware of that, but we will look into it.

Yes. Yeah. The, um, the red snapper season was, was eliminated. Uh, unfortunately, the courts up here in Washington DC sided with commercial anglers. Um, anyway, with that, uh, ag- again, I wanna thank Chief Hill and the Muskogee Creek and their committee for their work on, on this issue and certainly, uh, Would appreciate favorable consideration of it when the time comes. And uh with that, Madam Chair, I yield the remainder of my time.

Thank you, Mister Scott. I will now recognize myself for five minutes of questioning. And and I wanna start by asking unanimous consent to insert into the record a statement from the National Ski Areas Association and a letter from the Mountain Capital partners both in support of H R ninety-two forty eight the Recreation Permitting Improvement Act. on behalf of my colleague, Mister Hurd. Without objection. Uh, Mister Burr, I'm gonna start with you, that's probably not a surprise to you. Uh, for the rest of you, he and I actually live in the same part of the state. We, we live maybe twenty or thirty miles apart, and I don't know if it was deliberate that he used a lot of examples that hit really close to home for me. Uh, but when you mentioned, uh, that Brian Head is your ski resort, it's also mine. I used to be a season pass holder there. Um, but I appreciate what you said about how HR ninety two forty eight doesn't alter environmental laws or predetermine any permitting outcomes. It, it creates efficiencies and tries to give communities some certainty. Um, and you also talked in one of your answers about a pattern I know we're both really familiar with. There are these small towns around southern Utah where we live and other parts of the country, where they used to have resource dependent economies, whether it was mining or timber or grazing or a combination of all of that. And through federal land management, a lot of that resource economy has gone away. And our neighbors are resilient. They're from pioneer stock and they adjust. So they learned to be part of the recreation economy. And they, they learned to invite tourists to their towns and now because of federal land management, that tourism economy is being threatened. And there are only so many ways you can adapt in some of these places before they become ghost towns and and we are surrounded by ghost towns as well. We know this pattern well. Um, so if, in your opinion, how much time and money do you think could have been saved in the time that past forty-one has been around if recreation had been an eligible sector the entire time?

Yeah, I will say, I mean, the one example we can look at that actually has clear numbers to support this is like Powell. Maybe you can look at the National Park Service's economic data that they release by each park. And you can see that when there are low water years at Lake Powell, when that recreation infrastructure that is now inaccessible during low water years means the visitors can't come there, we see hundreds of millions of dollars get lost through that area around Page and Arizona, Kanab, Utah. But I'm also very close to the boat dealers and the folks that are selling the motorboats and the houseboats, the other uh the vehicles that make it possible to go recreate on that lake. And they're not counted in the National Park Service's figures, and they're selling boats in Arizona or Salt Lake City. And and so I think that just a reservoir like Lake Pal has an economy that's measured in the billions. And when that recreation infrastructure is not accessible, we're looking at costs in the hundreds of millions every year when that's not available. Um, we've seen similar things happen in Moab where conflict around its recreation access has led to decreased visitation by in its tourism sector, and that has undermined its county's operating budgets. And so we've been promised that the outdoor recreation economy can be a a viable replacement for all these other economies and economic sectors that you mentioned. And that's been a hard promise for those making that

And I really appreciated the real world examples you used of uh rural areas that have struggled. How do you think the outcomes in some of those places would have been different for the affected communities if they had just had transparency and predictability in outcomes?

I would love to see them thriving. I know a lot of people who wanna just have great big visions for building these towns up. They want to invest a lot of resources into these communities and turn them into great places to come visit. I know a few haven't come to southern Utah where uh, Representative Maloy and I live, we would love to showcase our state to you. There's it's an amazing experience and there are others who wanna make that more amazing. Um, but the permitting process prevents a lot of that. And so I know the communities want to invest and grow, and that's what we wanna see.

Thank you. I know that's true. And I was at Lake Powell just a few weeks ago, and one of their concerns is that in the recreation community, rumors spread quickly. So even the perception that access is being denied starts to impact the economies of these towns. So I I appreciate your testimony, and I'm sorry I didn't get to any of the rest of you. And I will now recognize Mister McClintock for five minutes of questioning.

Um, apologize for my absence uh Mister Erickson, I'll simply uh ask is there anything you'd like to add?

I'm sorry, did you ask me a question or?

Yes, I mean i- i- is there anything else that you'd like to tell the committee that uh hasn't already been covered

uh no i don't think so you you pretty well covered it all and it and other gentleman asked about um would grazing have stopped the the rimfire no i don't think so i don't the nothing could already stop it at that point because once it gets in the in the timber it can go for miles and doesn't take any time just like the ones in

well that's uh that's a question of timber management that the federal government has completely botched up

yes yeah that's it's not a

we started passing these environmental laws in the nineteen seventies, that has made active forest management all but impossible. But the grazing does keep a a brush growth down, does it not?

Yes, sir. It help it it helps, it doesn't won't eliminate the the possibility.

Well it it it helps in in forest land and it's it's everything in brush land. Uh, we used to do enormous grazing uh uh throughout uh the Santa Monica uh mountains in southern California. Uh, we stopped doing that. because of all the environmental restrictions and we ended up with the Palisades fire.

Yes, sir.

So grazing is an important part of land management and fire management and that's why I'm so uh pleased to carry this bill uh on on behalf of the uh ranchers here in your uh region. So with that I'll yield back.

I guess so.

Thank you, Mister McClendock, and I'd like to thank all of the witnesses for their valuable testimony, and the members for their questions today. Members of the subcommittee may have some additional questions for our witnesses today, and we'll ask that they respond to these in writing. Under committee rule three, members of the subcommittee must submit questions to the subcommittee clerk by five p m on Tuesday, July seventh, twenty twenty six. The hearing record will be held open for ten business days for these responses. If there's no further business without objection, the subcommittee on federal land stands adjourned.