Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands conducted a legislative hearing on six bills addressing significant land issues in local communities. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) provided a statement regarding the session: "Local land managers are the best stewards of the land, and the Subcommittee on Federal Lands has worked tirelessly to ensure the perspectives of rural communities are included in both the decision-making process and the subsequent management of our federal lands. Today’s bills continue ensuring local communities are not sidelined by the federal government."

The following bills were discussed:

H.R. 390, the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), proposes expanding the boundaries of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (NHA) to include all of Saratoga and Washington counties.

H.R. 3971, the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), aims to add four parcels of Ouachita National Forest land to the Flatside Wilderness and redesignate it as the Flatside-Bethune Wilderness.

H.R. 6843, introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), seeks to expand the boundaries of the Atchafalaya NHA to include Lafourche Parish, La.

H.R. 8206, introduced by U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), intends to protect Big Cypress Preserve from designation as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System while ensuring outdoor recreation access and protecting Miccosukee and Seminole tribes' traditions alongside ongoing conservation goals.

H.R. 8219, the Lahaina National Heritage Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), directs a study on designating Lahaina as an NHA in consultation with state and local partners.

H.R. 6826, introduced by U.S. Rep Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), designates Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine's visitor and education center as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.