SW Arkansas Times

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed seven bills from the House Committee on Natural Resources with notable bipartisan support. The committee's chairman, Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), commented on the achievement, stating: "The bills we passed this week show real bipartisan solutions are possible in Washington. They amplify the voices of tribes and Alaska Natives, support innovative wildfire fighting technology, find ways to support our veterans, honor 9/11 victims and more. As we continue to work tirelessly for the American people, I thank my colleagues for their thoughtful work on these bipartisan bills and look forward to working with them to usher the legislation through the legislative process."

The legislation includes H.R. 42, known as the Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska). This bill aims to exclude benefits from Alaska Native corporation settlement trusts when determining eligibility for means-tested federal benefits for aged, blind or disabled Alaska Natives.

Another bill is H.R. 43, the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025, also introduced by Rep. Begich. It proposes returning lands currently held in trust by the state of Alaska back to Alaska Native village corporations.

H.R. 226 is titled the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act of 2025 and was introduced by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.). This bill seeks to place approximately 96 acres of Tennessee Valley Authority land into trust along specific areas in Monroe County, Tenn., benefiting the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 835, known as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act. This legislation provides a one-time grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help cover security costs at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

The Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2025 is addressed in H.R. 836, put forward by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.). It mandates an evaluation by both the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior regarding container aerial firefighting systems for wildfire mitigation.

H.R. 837 was introduced by U.S. Rep Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and requires conveying a site in Gila County, Ariz., for developing a retreat center for veterans.

Lastly, H.R. 776 is called the Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act and was proposed by U.S Rep Josh Harder (D-Calif.). It reauthorizes efforts to eradicate nutria—a damaging invasive rodent species—in various affected regions including Chesapeake Bay and parts of California.