Jay Obernolte

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3925, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act. For nearly a decade, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to complete a land exchange in San Bernardino County. The San Manuel Reservation is surrounded by Federal lands and the communities of San Bernardino and Highland, leaving the Nation with limited space to meet its housing, infrastructure, and cultural needs. H.R. 3925 would complete an exchange of approximately 1,500 acres of Forest Service land for an equivalent amount already owned by the Nation. Much of the land being provided by the Nation was acquired specifically to facilitate this exchange at the request of the Forest Service. Completing this exchange will create a more contiguous land base, reduce checkerboard ownership, and improve land management for both the Nation and the Forest Service. This legislation also protects the historic Arrowhead landmark, a site of significant cultural importance to the Yuhaaviatam people and a well-known symbol throughout the San Bernardino Valley. This exchange will also support better wildfire preparation and land management in an area that faces significant wildfire risk. The Nation has already made substantial investments in fire protection and emergency response at the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest. Mr. Speaker, after years of work and unfortunate delay, congressional action is needed to finally complete this process. This is a straightforward measure that respects Tribal sovereignty, protects important cultural resources, and improves land management in my district. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3925.