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H.R. 2181: Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019

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H.R. 2181: Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-04-09 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-04-09 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 5 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 593 (2019): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2181 (2019-10-30), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 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

Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019

Plain summary

Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019 This bill withdraws any federal lands and interests that are within the boundaries of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area and any land or interest located in such area which is acquired by the United States after enactment of this bill from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. The Department of the Interior may convey the federal lands to, or exchange such lands with, an Indian tribe in accordance with an approved resource management plan. Certain oil and gas leases for federal lands on which drilling options have not started before the end of the primary term of the applicable lease and that are not producing oil or gas in paying quantities must terminate by operation of law pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act and federal regulations, and may not be extended by Interior. Any portion of federal land subject to such a lease that has been terminated, relinquished, or acquired by the United States shall also be withdrawn as described above.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), 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

Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2181, Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019 (2019-09-27)

Cosponsors on this site

Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Tom Cole (R-OK), Ted Lieu (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] reported raising $6.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
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).
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr2181 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116