Bill Summary
The "Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act" is legislation aimed at facilitating a land exchange between the United States and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, a federally recognized tribe. Under this act, approximately 1,475 acres of federal land in the San Bernardino National Forest will be exchanged for about 1,460 acres of non-federal land owned by the tribe.
Key provisions include:
1. **Definitions**: The act defines terms such as "Federal Land," "Non-Federal Land," and identifies the Secretary of Agriculture as the responsible official for overseeing the land exchange.
2. **Land Exchange Process**: If the tribe offers to transfer its non-federal land to the United States, the Secretary must accept this offer and subsequently transfer the federal land to the tribe, with certain exceptions for access roads.
3. **Surveys and Mapping**: The act mandates that surveys will determine the exact boundaries and acreage of the lands involved in the exchange, with costs for the surveys borne by the tribe. It also allows for minor adjustments to land boundaries by mutual agreement.
4. **Cultural Preservation**: A condition of the land exchange is that the tribe must enter into an agreement with the Secretary to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark, a significant site within the federal land.
5. **Management of Acquired Land**: The federal land acquired by the tribe will be incorporated into the San Bernardino National Forest and managed according to the applicable laws and regulations.
This legislation aims to enhance tribal land holdings while ensuring the preservation of culturally significant sites and facilitating cooperative management of natural resources.
Possible Impacts
The "Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act" could affect people in various ways, including:
1. **Cultural Preservation**: The legislation requires the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to enter into an agreement to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site. This preservation effort may enhance community pride and cultural continuity for the tribe and provide educational opportunities for both tribal members and the public.
2. **Land Ownership and Use**: The exchange of approximately 1,475 acres of Federal land for 1,460 acres of Non-Federal land means that the San Manuel Nation may gain access to land that is more significant to their heritage or development plans. This could lead to new economic opportunities, including potential development projects, tourism, or natural resource management, which may create jobs and improve living standards for tribe members.
3. **Environmental Impact**: By integrating new land into the San Bernardino National Forest, the management practices applied to the acquired Federal land could influence local ecosystems. This may affect local wildlife, recreational access for the public, and conservation efforts, thereby impacting residents, visitors, and environmental advocates in the surrounding area.
These examples illustrate how the legislation can have far-reaching consequences for cultural, economic, and environmental aspects of life for both the San Manuel Nation and the broader community in San Bernardino County.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2796 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2796
To provide for a land exchange in San Bernardino County, California,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 11, 2025
Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Schiff) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for a land exchange in San Bernardino County, California,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
Land Exchange Act''.
SEC. 2. EXCHANGE OF LAND.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal Land'' means the
approximately 1,475 acres of National Forest System land
(including any and all easements, subsurface rights,
hereditaments, improvements, and appurtenances thereon and
thereto) depicted as F-1 and F-2 on the Federal Land Maps.
(2) Federal land maps.--The term ``Federal Land Maps''
means the maps entitled--
(A) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange, San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County,
California, Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 1
of 2)'', created July 8, 2022, revised January 10,
2023; and
(B) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange, San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County,
California, Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 2
of 2)'', created July 8, 2022, revised January 10,
2023.
(3) Nation.--The term ``Nation'' means the Yuhaaviatam of
San Manuel Nation, a federally recognized tribe, also
recognized as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
(4) Non-federal land.--The term ``Non-Federal Land'' means
the approximately 1,460 acres of land (including any and all
easements, subsurface rights, hereditaments, improvements, and
appurtenances thereon and thereto) owned by the Nation and
depicted on the Non-Federal Land Maps as NF-1, NF-2, NF-3, NF-
4a, and NF-5.
(5) Non-federal land maps.--The term ``Non-Federal Land
Maps'' means the maps entitled--
(A) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County,
California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange
(map 1 of 4)'', created March 8, 2022, revised January
9, 2023;
(B) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County,
California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange
(map 2 of 4)'', created March 8, 2022, revised January
9, 2023;
(C) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County,
California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange
(map 3 of 4)'', created March 8, 2022, revised January
9, 2023; and
(D) ``San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County,
California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange
(map 4 of 4)'', created July 8, 2022, revised January
9, 2023.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Land Exchange.--Subject to the provisions of this section, if
the Nation offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and
interest of the Nation in and to the Non-Federal Land, the Secretary
shall, as soon as practicable within the 120-day period beginning on
the date on which the Secretary receives such offer--
(1) accept the offer; and
(2) convey to the Nation all right, title, and interest of
the United States in and to the Federal Land, excepting and
reserving an easement for access and use by the Forest Service
any portion of Forest Service roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25
located on the Federal Land.
(c) Survey.--
(1) Federal land.--The exact acreage and legal description
of the Federal Land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall
be determined by a survey reasonably satisfactory to the
Secretary and the Nation.
(2) Non-federal land.--
(A) In general.--The exact acreage and legal
description of the Non-Federal Land to be conveyed
under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey
reasonably satisfactory to the Secretary and the
Nation.
(B) Cost.--The cost of the survey in subparagraph
(A) shall be borne by the Nation.
(d) Maps, Estimates, and Descriptions.--
(1) Minor error.--The Secretary and the Nation may, by
mutual agreement--
(A) make minor boundary adjustments to the land to
be exchanged under subsection (b); and
(B) correct any minor errors in any map, acreage
estimate, or description of the land to be exchanged
under subsection (b).
(2) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map,
acreage estimate, or description of any land to be exchanged
under subsection (b), the map shall control unless the
Secretary and the Nation mutually agree otherwise.
(3) Availability of maps.--The Federal Land Map and the
Non-Federal Land Map shall be kept on file and available for
public inspection in the office of the Regional Forester,
Pacific Southwest Region, United States Forest Service, or any
other appropriate office of the Forest Service, as determined
by the Secretary.
(e) Arrowhead Landmark Preservation.--
(1) Agreement.--As a condition of the conveyance under
subsection (b), not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Nation shall enter into an agreement
with the Secretary under which the Nation agrees to preserve,
to an extent mutually agreed upon, the historical and cultural
integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site denoted on the Federal
Land Maps as ``Arrowhead Landmark GA''.
(2) Records.--The agreement entered into under paragraph
(1) shall be recorded in the official records of the County of
San Bernardino, California, and in an appropriate records
system of the Forest Service, as determined by the Secretary.
(f) Management of Land.--Land acquired by the Secretary under this
section shall become part of the San Bernardino National Forest and be
managed in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable
to such National Forest.
(g) Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.--The land
exchange under subsection (b) is not subject to section 206 of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716).
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