Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2026

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1829) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1829, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Congressman Crane's bill, the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025. This legislation would transfer small parcels of Federal land to Apache and Navajo Counties to expand existing cemeteries.

Located in eastern Arizona, the communities in Pinedale and Alpine are surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Given the large Federal footprint, both communities have struggled to expand their respective cemeteries, which are currently located on U.S. Forest Service land and operated under a special use permit. If the cemeteries are not expanded, families will be forced to travel long distances to distant cemeteries to visit their deceased relatives.

To address this need, Pinedale and Alpine have worked with their respective counties to identify additional land to expand their cemeteries.

This bill provides a straightforward, commonsense solution by transferring U.S. Forest Service land adjacent to the cemeteries to the respective counties.

While this is a straightforward bill, I think many of us can attest to the invaluable role a burial place can play in the grieving process. Burial sites are sacred, eternal resting places that provide closure for the families of the deceased. Families should not be forced to travel long distances to lay their loved ones to rest due to the red tape of Federal land ownership.

As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I fought to elevate the voices of rural communities and highlight their unique challenges. This bill addresses one of those unique challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Crane for his work on this legislation. I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Crane), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1829 will ensure that two rural communities in eastern Arizona have the space to lay their beloved community members to rest. I thank Congressman Crane for spearheading this critical issue on behalf of his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my bill, the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025.

This legislation would transfer Federal land currently under the purview of the U.S. Forest Service to Navajo and Apache Counties.

For more than a decade, the communities of Pinedale and Alpine have struggled to find appropriate cemetery space to meet the needs of family members wishing to enter and pay respects to their loved ones.

My bill would expand the land adjacent to the Alpine Community Cemetery, preventing the need for members of the community to be laid to rest in a distant cemetery.

These communities have storied histories dating back to the pioneers, and they deserve to lay their loved ones to rest in a place that means so much to them.

My primary objective as a public official is to remain principled and effective for the district that I represent, ensuring that rural communities are not forgotten by the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Chairman Westerman, Navajo County Supervisor Seymore, and Apache County Supervisor Nelson, and also my colleagues on the other side for their support and their leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this sensible solution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1829, the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025, a commonsense bill that will help rural Arizona communities meet an essential public service need.

This legislation would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey small parcels of land within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to Apache County and Navajo County for the expansion of existing cemeteries.

These cemeteries are running out of space. Without this bill, local families face serious barriers in accessing burial services close to home.

This bill would ensure the land remains dedicated to cemetery use. It also protects Federal interests through a reversion clause and places the costs of surveys and environmental review on the counties.

This is a respectful, efficient solution that reflects both local priorities and responsible Federal land management.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.