Today, H.R. 699, the “Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act,”  sponsored by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) passed on suspension by a vote of 415-1. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:  

“It’s ridiculous that we need to pass another piece of legislation to make sure the Forest Service exchanges parcels already dictated by law. I’m happy we passed this bill for communities around Mt. Hood, but there are countless others throughout the West waiting for relief. With a new Congress and a new administration, it’s time for a new approach to federal land management.”

H.R. 699 updates the details and process for the land exchange between Oregon and the Forest Service. The exchange was originally supposed to be completed within 16 months enactment of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 in the 111^th Congress, but the land exchange has not occurred almost seven years later.