H.R.837 - An Act To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona. (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 837 mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona. The land, approximately 232.9 acres within the Tonto National Forest, is to be used for supporting veterans of the Armed Forces. The conveyance is subject to a written request from the County within 180 days of the Act's enactment and is made without consideration but requires the County to cover all associated costs.
Expected Effects
Gila County will gain ownership of the specified land parcel. The land will be restricted to uses that serve and support veterans, potentially providing resources and facilities for them.
Potential Benefits
- Provides land for veteran support services in Gila County.
- Transfers responsibility for the land to local control, potentially increasing responsiveness to community needs.
- Utilizes existing National Forest System land for a specific public benefit.
- No cost to the federal government for the land transfer itself.
- Could stimulate local economic activity related to veteran services.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduces the amount of National Forest System land available for other uses.
- Requires Gila County to bear the costs of the conveyance, including surveys and environmental analyses.
- Limits the County's future flexibility in land use due to the veteran-specific restriction.
- Potential for reversion of the land to the federal government if the veteran-use requirement is not met.
- Possible environmental impacts from development or use of the land, despite required analyses.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause (Preamble) by aiming to support veterans. Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 grants Congress the power to dispose of and regulate territory or other property belonging to the United States. The specific purpose of supporting veterans could be seen as promoting the general welfare, although the Constitution does not explicitly mention veterans.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).