Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

Madam Speaker, to the ranking member from California, it is 37 degrees below zero in Minnesota with the wind chill. Come on over.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 197, the Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025.

Lake Winnibigoshish, or Lake Winnie, as it is also known, is located within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest and is home to Bowen Lodge, a premier, family-owned fishing lodge. Bowen Lodge has been in operation and welcoming guests since 1925.

For the past four decades, Bill and Gail Heig and their family have operated Bowen Lodge, serving as great stewards of Lake Winnie and providing incredible fishing and vacation memories for Minnesotans and other out-of-towners over these many years.

Currently, Bowen Lodge has a 20-year agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to lease 17\1/2\ acres of shoreline along the lake, where they operate their marina. Under the Heigs' stewardship, Lake Winnie has remained accessible to citizens of Itasca County and the many people who visit.

Notably, the Heigs purchased extra acreage in 2021 after an out-of- State mega resort developer sought to purchase a parcel of land, which would have changed the face of Lake Winnie forever. Now Bowen Lodge is seeking to convey that extra acreage to the Chippewa National Forest.

It is in the best interest of the public that the Forest Service take stewardship of this land rather than out-of-State developers who may not prioritize public access for our local community. Additionally, this land will make it easier for the Forest Service to access and responsibly maintain their other acreage in the area.

The bill before us today would facilitate the land exchange between Bowen Lodge and the Forest Service: 17 acres of shoreline to Bowen Lodge, so they can continue to operate their marina in exchange for 37 acres of nearby land to the Forest Service, which would then be added to the Chippewa National Forest.

This exchange would better align boundaries, put the right acreage under the right management, and ensure Minnesotans have the ability to boat, fish, and enjoy beautiful Lake Winnie. Thanks to the Heigs' quick thinking and strong advocacy, our way of life will be preserved.

I am proud that this land exchange is supported by the local community in Itasca County, including the local county board of supervisors who testified in support of the bill before the Natural Resources Committee last Congress, as well as the Mississippi Headwaters Board and other local environmental organizations. It is also supported by the U.S. Forest Service and leadership of the Chippewa National Forest Service.

The House of Representatives passed this bill unanimously last September, but the Senate, unfortunately, never took it up. It is my hope that after this House passes the bill today, the Senate will quickly take it up and send this good piece of legislation to President Trump for his signature.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 197) to provide for a land exchange in the Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 197, the bill now under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 197, the Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025, led by Representative Stauber.

This commonsense legislation authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to enter into a land exchange with the Bowen Lodge, a family-operated resort on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish in northern Minnesota.

Exchanging parcels between the Chippewa National Forest and Bowen Lodge will create a win-win scenario. The lodge will gain permanent access to the lake, and the Forest Service will be able to reconfigure part of its unwieldy checkerboard pattern of land ownership. This change will provide excellent fishing and recreation opportunities for the local community and improve management efficiencies for the Federal Government.

Representative Stauber has done an excellent job of leading this bill that would help this small business improve its operation for years to come. This bill would improve outdoor recreation opportunities for its constituents and for all who have the pleasure of visiting and recreating in northern Minnesota. He has long been a strong advocate for responsible public land management and access to outdoor recreation, and this legislation is an excellent reflection of that commitment.

Last Congress, this bill passed the House unanimously by voice vote. I urge my colleagues to do the same today and support this important piece of legislation.

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

Madam Speaker, the gentleman from Minnesota has invited me to Minnesota to fish before. It is a lovely time of year to fish in Minnesota if you like fishing through a little hole in the ice, but I am sure it would be great on Lake Winnie.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), who is the lead sponsor of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time.

In closing, Madam Speaker, this is a straightforward bill that benefits the people of northern Minnesota and our public lands.

Once again, I applaud Representative Stauber for his work on the legislation, I urge its passage today. I hope the Senate will take up this legislation quickly, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I support this bill, which would authorize the Forest Service to exchange a parcel of the Chippewa National Forest for a parcel of land currently owned by the Big Winnie Land and Timber company in Minnesota.

We note that the Forest Service land in question is already used commercially through a permit at the site of Bowen Lodge, a fishing and hunting resort that operated a marina on the shores of Lake Winnie, a place where Mr. Stauber has never invited me to go fishing, I am sad to say, even though it sounds pretty wonderful and I might be able to catch the first musky in my life. I will continue to wait for that invitation.

In the meantime, the land exchange in this bill would help simplify the operation of the resort and marina for continued visitor and commercial activity. In turn, the Forest Service would gain a parcel of land directly adjacent to the Chippewa National Forest and the shoreline of Lake Winnie.

Integrating this parcel into the Forest Service will provide for better management of undisturbed sites, critical wetlands, and wildlife habitat that are currently adjacent to Federal lands. That makes good sense.

To quote my Republican colleague, this is a win-win near Lake Winnie, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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