PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 497: Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 497: Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-12 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: By Senator Murkowski from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 115-320.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-12 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 329 (2017): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR497 (2017-06-27), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: By Senator Murkowski from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 115-320. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 2, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act (Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of the Interior: (1) to convey to the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District in California approximately 327 acres of identified federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and any portion of an identified federal parcel necessary to equalize the values of the lands exchanged; and (2) to accept in exchange approximately 310 acres of district land and any portion of an identified nonfederal parcel necessary to equalize the values of the lands exchanged. To the extent an equalization payment is necessary pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the amount of such payment shall first be made by way of an in-kind transfer as may be necessary to equalize the fair market values of the properties exchanged. If after such in-kind transfer: (1) the value of the federal lands exceeds the value of the nonfederal lands, the district may make a payment equal to the remaining amount to the United States (if the district opts not to make such payment, the exchange shall not proceed); or (2) the value of the nonfederal lands exceeds the value of the federal lands, Interior shall order the exchange to proceed without requiring any additional payment by the United States to the district. The values of the lands to be exchanged shall be determined by independent and qualified appraisers according to nationally recognized appraisal standards. The district shall pay any costs related to such conveyance. (Sec. 4) The land exchange shall be subject to continuing rights of the district to use, maintain, operate, construct, or relocate or expand groundwater recharge facilities on the nonfederal land exchanged to accommodate groundwater recharge of the Bunker Hill Basin to the extent that those activities are not in conflict with any Habitat Conservation Plan or Habitat Management Plan under which such nonfederal land may be held or managed. (Sec. 5) The bill terminates Secretarial Order 241, dated November 11, 1929 (relating to the withdrawal of a portion of the federal land for an unconstructed transmission line) and revokes the withdrawal effected by such order.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 497, Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act (2017-05-23); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 497, Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act (2018-06-05)

Cosponsors on this site

Pete Aguilar (D-CA)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Appraisal
An estimate of what property is worth. In Texas, county appraisal districts set the value that property taxes are based on.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr497 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115