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
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).