Black Hills Cemetery Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Today I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 3874, the Black Hills Cemetery Act. This bill is of great importance to many communities in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The Black Hills in South Dakota is home to a number of historic communities and cemeteries. Many of these originated in old mining towns in the 1800s. They have unique significance to the surrounding communities. These include the Englewood Cemetery, the Galena Cemetery, Hayward Cemetery, Mountain Meadows Cemetery, Roubaix Cemetery, Nemo Cemetery, Rocker-ville Cemetery, Silver City Cemetery, and the Cold Springs Cemetery.

These cemeteries are currently being managed by local cemetery associations or community groups in the surrounding areas, but have been technically owned by the U.S. Forest Service since the 1900s. This causes unnecessary liability for the U.S. Forest Service because of responsibility for upkeep and dealing with possible vandalism or damage to the property.

The Black Hills Cemetery Act would simply transfer ownership of these cemeteries and up to 2 acres of adjacent land to the caretaking communities that have managed them for generations under special-use permits issued by the Forest Service at almost no cost to taxpayers. It also makes clear that these cemeteries will continue to be used for the same purpose as they have always been used in the past.

I sponsored this bill at the request of these communities and the current caretakers of the cemeteries and in consultation with the U.S. Forest Service. An article by the Rapid City Journal talked about Dennis McMillin, who is chief of the local volunteer fire department that takes care of the Hayward Cemetery. He mentioned that passing this bill would make it less complicated for both the caretakers and for the United States Forest Service. He also mentioned that this bill is important because it allows for some expansion for those families who are still interested in burial plots.

A lot of local residents have relatives buried in these cemeteries, so this coming Memorial Day, many will pay their respects to family members. Many of these communities will hold special services on the cemetery grounds in the coming weeks. After the House passes this bill, these families and communities are one step closer to having these cemeteries officially in their care and will continue to do an excellent job managing them.

I would like to thank the communities and the local residents for their help in working with my office and for advocating for this bill. I would also like to thank Chairmen Hastings and Bishop and their staffs for helping me push this bill forward.

It is important for those reasons that we pass this bill and that the Senate does the same. These communities have been asking for a solution to this situation for a number of years, and as their Representative, I'm glad we have the opportunity to pass this bill today off the House floor.

I urge my colleagues to support and pass this bill for the communities in South Dakota.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3874) to provide for the conveyance of eight cemeteries that are located on National Forest System land in Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota, as amended.

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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to Mrs. Noem of South Dakota, the sponsor of this bill, who has worked so hard and has done such a great job on it, to explain this commonsense bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

This commonsense piece of legislation moves nine parcels of land to the respective communities that currently manage and maintain these cemeteries. It frees the Forest Service from administering these cemeteries so they can focus on other jobs, like maybe tackling the growing mountain pine beetle epidemic in the Black Hills. It's a great bill, I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast the record votes for rollcalls 250, 251, 252, 255 and 256. Had I been present I would have voted as follows for these measures: H.R. 365, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, No. 250, ``yes''; H.R. 3874, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, No. 251, ``yes''; H.R. 205, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, No. 252, ``yes''; H.R. 656, on Agreeing to the Resolution, No. 255, ``no''; and H.R. 4119, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, No. 256, ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. HEINRICH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3874 conveys cemeteries currently on Forest Service lands to communities in South Dakota. These local communities already manage and maintain these cemeteries, and the legislation requires that these lands continue to be used for cemetery purposes.

We have no objections to this legislation, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained earlier today on personal business and therefore unable to be on the House Floor for rollcall votes 253, 254, 255, and 256. Had I been present I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall vote 253; ``yea'' on rollcall vote 254; ``yea'' on rollcall vote 255; and ``yea'' on rollcall vote 256.

Personal Explanation