S.1942 - Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1942, the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, focuses on land management in Malheur County, Oregon. It aims to establish a grazing management program on federal land, designates wilderness areas, and conveys land to the Burns Paiute Tribe. The bill also establishes the Malheur C.E.O. Group to assist in carrying out the act's provisions, including proposing and implementing eligible projects related to ecological restoration and economic development.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to changes in land management practices in Malheur County, Oregon. This includes increased operational flexibility for grazing permittees, the creation of new wilderness areas, and the transfer of land to the Burns Paiute Tribe. The Malheur C.E.O. Group will play a significant role in project selection and implementation, potentially influencing the direction of land management and restoration efforts.
Potential Benefits 4/5
- Enhanced ecological health: The grazing management program aims to improve the long-term ecological health of federal land through increased operational flexibility for grazing permittees.
- Wilderness preservation: The designation of over 1 million acres of federal land as wilderness areas will protect these areas from development and ensure their preservation for future generations.
- Tribal empowerment: The land conveyances to the Burns Paiute Tribe will expand their reservation and provide them with greater control over their ancestral lands.
- Community involvement: The establishment of the Malheur C.E.O. Group will provide a forum for local stakeholders to participate in land management decisions.
- Economic development: Eligible projects under the Act include those related to economic development and recreation management, potentially boosting the local economy.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential conflicts over land use: The Act could lead to conflicts between different stakeholders, such as grazing permittees, environmental groups, and tribal interests, over land use and management decisions.
- Restrictions on land use: The designation of wilderness areas could restrict certain activities, such as motorized recreation and resource extraction, in those areas.
- Administrative burden: The implementation of the grazing management program and the Malheur C.E.O. Group could create an administrative burden for the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies.
- Uncertainty over funding: The authorization of appropriations for the Malheur C.E.O. Group is subject to the availability of funds, which could limit the group's ability to carry out its projects.
- Potential for litigation: The Act could be subject to legal challenges from various stakeholders, which could delay or prevent its implementation.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment 4/5
The Act appears to align with the US Constitution, particularly Article IV, Section 3, which grants Congress the power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States. The land conveyances to the Burns Paiute Tribe could also be seen as fulfilling the federal government's trust responsibility to Native American tribes. The Act does not appear to infringe on any individual liberties or rights protected by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to citizens. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).