H.R. 1350 – To modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota, an…

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:22 PM UTC

This bill changes the legal description of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota by updating the map that defines its boundary. It also revises the rules for how the National Park Service can acquire land inside the park, including allowing the park to take over certain federal lands and to acquire state‑owned land only through donation or exchange, with a requirement to adjust the park’s boundary after such acquisitions.

Key Provisions

Updates the official map that defines the park’s boundary to the 2009 "Voyageurs National Park, Proposed Land Transfer & Boundary Adjustment" map.
Makes technical corrections to the statutory language that references the park’s boundary.
Allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire only portions of a tract that lie within the park, and to exchange or transfer those lands.
Transfers administrative jurisdiction to the National Park Service over any Bureau of Land Management land inside the new boundary and any additional public land the BLM identifies for transfer.
Permits acquisition of land owned by the State of Minnesota (or its subdivisions) only through donation or exchange, and requires the park’s boundary to be revised after such a acquisition.
Changes the wording for offers of land by individuals to align with the new acquisition rules.

Legislative Activity

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15 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 345.

March 14, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 2, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

March 2, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

March 15, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

December 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

December 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

December 13, 2017

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

December 13, 2017

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-470.

Natural Resources Committee

December 18, 2017

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 349.

December 18, 2017

HouseFloor

Mr. Curtis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

March 13, 2018 • 5:32 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1520-1521)

March 13, 2018 • 5:32 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1350.

March 13, 2018 • 5:32 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1520)

March 13, 2018 • 5:38 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1520)

March 13, 2018 • 5:38 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 13, 2018 • 5:38 PM

SenateCalendars

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 345.

March 14, 2018

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 1350 on the floor

1 Republican2 Democrats

Rep. Richard M. NolanD-MN-8 · Mar 13, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my dear friend and colleague from California (Mr. Lowenthal) for his distinguished service. I thank Mr. Curtis for his distinguished service as well. I also thank Mr.…

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my dear friend and colleague from California (Mr. Lowenthal) for his distinguished service. I thank Mr. Curtis for his distinguished service as well. I also thank Mr. Bishop, all the members of the committee, and the staff, of course, for the wonderful work they have done on this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise here to join in support of H.R. 1350.

Basically, as was explained by Mr. Curtis, the bill authorizes a land transfer between the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, a move that would greatly improve the overall land management and efficiency within the Voyageurs National Park in my district in northern Minnesota. I might add, we are very proud of that accomplishment.

Specifically, the bill permits the transfer of 49 acres of land within the park from the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service, as was originally intended by the original legislation for the park when it was signed into law; but, for a variety of reasons, these 49 acres, including 61 separate tracts of land, were not included in the original Federal legislation that established the park in 1975.

It may interest some of my colleagues to know that I was here in 1975 and was able to, of course, register my support for the establishment of that park.

Now, to be clear, the National Park Service administration already manages the 49 acres; but without a change in the law that permanently transfers the lands, a cumbersome and duplicative renewal process is required every 20 years. The procedure involves a notice, a publication in the Federal Register, and a review of comments, all of which are, essentially, a waste of taxpayers' money and everybody's time within the government who has to deal with it.

So make no mistake about it, as Mr. Curtis pointed out, this bill saves the taxpayers' money and the bureaucracy time.

In addition, the bill would also authorize the National Park Service to acquire and integrate new land into Voyageurs National Park through land exchanges with the State and local governments that own land within or adjacent to the park's boundaries.

In short, Mr. Speaker, this bill would eliminate any future concerns related to the Department of the Interior's ownership and jurisdiction, facilitating the ease of management for the National Park Service, the State, and the county; and it would do so at no cost, in addition, of course, to saving money for the Federal Government as determined by the Congressional Budget Office.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt the measure.

Rep. John R. CurtisR-UT-3 · Mar 13, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1350) to modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, I ask…

Rep. Alan S. LowenthalD-CA-47 · Mar 13, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan), the bill's sponsor. I thank him for his excellent work on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such…

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued March 14, 2018

II

Calendar No. 345

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 1350

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 14, 2018

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar

AN ACT

To modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes.

1.

Modification of Voyageurs National Park

(a)

Boundaries

(1)

In general

Section 102(a) of Public Law 91–661 (16 U.S.C. 160a–1(a)) is amended—

(A)

in the first sentence, by striking the drawing entitled and all that follows through February 1969 and inserting the map entitled Voyageurs National Park, Proposed Land Transfer & Boundary Adjustment, numbered 172/80,056, and dated June 2009 (22 sheets); and

(B)

in the second and third sentences, by striking drawing each place it appears and inserting map.

(2)

Technical corrections

Section 102(b)(2)(A) of Public Law 91–661 (16 U.S.C. 160a–1(b)(2)(A)) is amended—

(A)

by striking paragraph (1)(C) and (D) and inserting subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1); and

(B)

in the second proviso, by striking paragraph 1(E) and inserting paragraph (1)(E).

(b)

Land acquisitions

Section 201 of Public Law 91–661 (16 U.S.C. 160b) is amended—

(1)

by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through (a) The Secretary and inserting the following:

201.

Land acquisitions

(a)

Authorization

(1)

In general

The Secretary

;

(2)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in the second sentence, by striking When any tract of land is only partly within such boundaries and inserting the following:

(2)

Certain portions of tracts

(A)

In general

In any case in which only a portion of a tract of land is within the boundaries of the park

;

(B)

in the third sentence, by striking Land so acquired and inserting the following:

(B)

Exchange

(i)

In general

Any land acquired pursuant to subparagraph (A)

;

(C)

in the fourth sentence, by striking Any portion and inserting the following:

(ii)

Portions not exchanged

Any portion

;

(D)

in the fifth sentence, by striking Any Federal property and inserting the following:

(C)

Transfers of Federal property

Any Federal property

; and

(E)

by striking the last sentence and inserting the following:

(D)

Administrative jurisdiction

Effective beginning on the date of enactment of this subparagraph, there is transferred to the National Park Service administrative jurisdiction over—

(i)

any land managed by the Bureau of Land Management within the boundaries of the park, as depicted on the map described in section 102(a); and

(ii)

any additional public land identified by the Bureau of Land Management as appropriate for transfer within the boundaries of the park.

(E)

Land owned by State

(i)

Donations and exchanges

Any land located within or adjacent to the boundaries of the park that is owned by the State of Minnesota (or a political subdivision of the State) may be acquired by the Secretary only through donation or exchange.

(ii)

Revision

On completion of an acquisition from the State under clause (i), the Secretary shall revise the boundaries of the park to reflect the acquisition.

; and

(3)

in subsection (b), by striking (b) In exercising his and inserting the following:

(b)

Offers by individuals

In exercising the

.

Passed the House of Representatives March 13, 2018.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk

March 14, 2018

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar