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A bill to provide for a land exchange between the Secretary of Agriculture and Eagle and Pitkin Counties in Colorado, and for other purposes.

Public Law 103-255 · S. 341 · 103rd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on May 19, 1994 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. Ben Campbell (D-CO)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Hank Brown

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Authorizes Eagle and Pitkin Counties in Colorado to offer for exchange with the United States specified lands of the White River National Forest. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the Counties all rights of the United States to specified lands of the Mt. Sopris Tree Nursery (MSTN).

Requires the Secretary, in the deed of conveyance to the Counties, to provide that all rights in and to lands and water rights conveyed shall revert to the United States in the event that such lands or water rights are sold or otherwise conveyed by the Counties or are used other than for public purposes.

Declares that the lands exchanged between the United States and the Counties are deemed to be of approximately equal value, without any need for cash equalization, as based upon a specified statement of value prepared by Forest Service appraisers.

Provides that: (1) the National Forest inholdings acquired by the United States pursuant to this Act shall become a part of the White River, Gunnison, and Arapaho National Forests, or a part of an appropriate existing wilderness area; and (2) the Quiet Title Act shall be the sole legal remedy of any party claiming any rights in or to any National Forest inholdings conveyed by the Counties to the United States pursuant to this Act.

Requires the Counties to reimburse the United States for National Forest inholdings that the United States acquires under this Act that are lost in a final title determination adverse to the United States.

Allocates and provides for the management of the existing water rights in the MSTN, including water well and irrigation ditch rights adjudicated under Colorado law, together with the right to administer, maintain, access, and further develop such rights.

Transfers the White River National Forest Headquarters and administrative offices in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, from the jurisdiction of the U.S. General Services Administration to that of the Secretary, who shall retain such facilities.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.

  1. May 19, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-255.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. May 12, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. May 10, 1994FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  7. Mar 11, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  8. Mar 2, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Nov 4, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Sep 30, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Aug 6, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Jul 2, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Risk Management and Specialty Crops Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  14. Jun 30, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Jun 29, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  17. Jun 22, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  18. May 19, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  19. Feb 25, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  20. Feb 5, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  21. Feb 4, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  22. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.