To authorize a land exchange involving the acquisition of private land adjacent to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona for inclusion in the refuge in exchange for certain Bureau of Land Management lands in Riverside County, California, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, the management of our vast amount of Federal lands in our West is a complex challenge that requires the constant attention of our Federal agencies and Congress.

The legislation before the House today, H.R. 3006, would transfer 40 acres of privately-owned land to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona, and in exchange, the Federal Government would transfer 80 acres of isolated Bureau of Land Management land into private ownership. The 80

acres of land being transferred by the BLM was identified for disposal in the 2010 Resource Management Plan by the Yuma Field Office.

Both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the BLM, in addition to the private landowner, support the exchange as proposed by my legislation.

Both land transfers will be subject to valid existing rights, rights- of-way, utility lines, and any valid encumbrances on the land as of the date of the conveyance. As was mentioned, furthermore, the value of the lands to be exchanged will be equalized so the Federal Government will not incur any expenses resulting from this exchange. The legislation represents a net reduction of lands managed by the Federal Government.

The congressional coalition supporting this bill speaks for itself. Its sponsor and three original cosponsors include one Republican and one Democrat from California, as well as one Republican and one Democrat from Arizona.

I am pleased that the House will be taking action on this bill, H.R. 3006, today, and I would encourage all my colleagues to support this commonsense measure.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings and the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop for their continued leadership on public lands issues that are especially critical to those of us from the West.

I thank my friend from Arizona for leading his side on this bill and look forward to its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3006) to authorize a land exchange involving the acquisition of private land adjacent to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona for inclusion in the refuge in exchange for certain Bureau of Land Management lands in Riverside County, California, and for other purposes, 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.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3006, introduced by our colleague from California (Mr. Calvert), authorizes an equal value land exchange of private and Federal property. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to convey 80 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands in California to River Bottom Farms.

In exchange, River Bottom Farms would be required to donate a 40-acre parcel in Arizona to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.

Both land transfers will be subject to valid existing rights, rights- of-way, and other valid encumbrances on the land as of the date of the conveyance. The transaction will be executed as an equal value exchange with values determined by appraisals conducted in accordance with Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

In the event the exchange difference is a detriment to the United States, River Bottom Farms will be required to reimburse the Federal Government to ensure that there is no cost to the American taxpayers.

I urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the author of this legislation.

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

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3006 is commonsense legislation that directs a land exchange between the Federal Government and a private citizen. The land to be conveyed is 80 acres of BLM land in Riverside County, California, that has limited conservation value and is only suitable for farming.

In return, the exchange will add two parcels of land contiguous to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge that will improve the management efficiency of that refuge.

The refuge lies in the flood plain of the lower Colorado River and is surrounded by desert ridges and washes that serve as the lifeline for thousands of species of animals including the iconic bald eagle that call the refuge its home.

I am pleased to see this bill come to the floor under suspension. This is a bill I have worked on for many years when the refuge was in my district, and I applaud the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) for taking the lead and seeing it through. Although the refuge is no longer in my district, the area is still important to the people of Arizona and my constituents.

H.R. 3006 is supported by a bipartisan congressional coalition that does not always see eye to eye on many issues, but I am glad to see that we can all agree on this.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.