Why it Matters
Four bills touching federal land use, tribal sovereignty, bird conservation, and military readiness are headed to a full committee vote at the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, June 10. The markup, chaired by Rep. Bruce Westerman, reflects Congress's ongoing effort to resolve competing claims on public land, ranging from a tribal land exchange in California's San Bernardino National Forest to an Army expansion in the Arizona desert. For local communities in New Mexico, California, and Arizona, these bills carry direct consequences for mineral development, tribal land consolidation, and military testing corridors.
Bird Habitats, Mineral Rights, and Military Lands
The bill on the docket with the broadest scope is H.R. 3276, the "Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025," sponsored by committee member Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The bill would direct the Interior Department to establish an Urban Bird Treaty Program, providing $1 million annually from 2026 through 2032 in grants to help cities and communities reduce hazards to birds, control invasive species, and restore native plant habitats. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation would administer the grants. The bill's findings cite birdwatching as generating $279 billion in economic activity annually and supporting 1.4 million jobs, and point to healthy bird populations as a factor in limiting the spread of avian flu. The bill cleared a subcommittee hearing in February, and the Interior Department announced more than $67 million in wetland conservation funding in May, providing a favorable backdrop for its advancement.
H.R. 3925, the "Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act," authorizes a swap between the federal government and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, a federally recognized tribe in San Bernardino County, California. Under the bill, the tribe would transfer approximately 1,460 acres of privately owned land to the U.S. Forest Service, while the federal government would convey roughly 1,475 acres of National Forest System land to the tribe. A condition of the exchange requires the tribe to enter an agreement with the Forest Service within 120 days to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site. The Department of the Interior has expressed support for the measure, describing it as one that "would respect tribal sovereignty, consolidate federal land holdings, and enhance stewardship of the San Bernardino National Forest." A companion bill, S. 2796, has been introduced in the Senate. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), is not a member of the Natural Resources Committee, making the committee's willingness to advance it a notable signal of bipartisan support.
Mineral Leasing and Military Expansion Round Out the Markup
H.R. 7882, introduced by committee member Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), would create a statutory exception to existing federal law that generally prohibits mineral leasing on land within incorporated cities and towns. Specifically, the bill would allow the Interior Department to lease mineral deposits located within the city limits of Carlsbad, New Mexico, provided the city provides written consent. The Carlsbad area sits within the Carlsbad Potash Mining District in Eddy County, which the Bureau of Land Management identifies as a major potash-producing region supplying roughly 85 percent of U.S. potash used in fertilizers. The bill passed through subcommittee in March, and its momentum coincides with a notable development on the ground, namely that International Minerals Carlsbad Inc. assumed operations of the Carlsbad Mine on April 30, adding urgency to clarifying the leasing framework within city boundaries.
The final bill on the markup agenda, H.R. 8686, was introduced just one month ago by committee member Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and has not yet had a subcommittee hearing. The bill would amend the Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013 to withdraw approximately 22,000 acres of federal public land near Yuma Proving Ground in western Arizona, reserving it for Army defense and readiness activities. The withdrawal covers two areas, roughly 21,783 acres near Highway 95 and approximately 249 acres in the Howard Cantonment area. A designated utility corridor for regional electrical infrastructure is exempted from Army approval requirements, though the Interior Department must consult with the Army to minimize impacts. The bill was introduced as bipartisan. The Bureau of Land Management had previously initiated a five-year interim withdrawal for the same area, with BLM Arizona state director Raymond Suazo describing it as "an important first step in helping the Army begin its environmental analysis of the proposed addition of public lands to the Yuma Proving Ground." H.R. 8686 would provide a permanent legislative solution.
Committee Leadership and Procedural Context
The June 10 markup will be held at 1324 Longworth House Office Building at 2:00 p.m. Westerman chairs the full committee, with Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) serving as vice chair. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) serves as ranking member, with Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) as vice ranking member. Elfreth is also a cosponsor of H.R. 3276, giving Democrats a stake in at least one of the bills advancing through the markup. All four bills are currently in committee consideration status, with three having cleared subcommittee hearings before reaching this stage.
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