# Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act

This bill gives Native American tribes the same opportunity as states and local governments to buy or lease federal land for recreation and public purposes. Right now, the federal government can sell or lease public lands to states, counties, and municipalities for things like parks, community centers, or other public facilities. This bill simply extends that same option to federally recognized Indian tribes, putting them on equal footing with other government entities.

The bill sets specific limits on how much land tribes can acquire. For recreational purposes like parks or recreation areas, a tribe could purchase or lease up to 6,400 acres. For other public purposes like community facilities or infrastructure projects, the limit would be 640 acres. These acreage caps are reasonable limits to prevent any single tribe from acquiring excessive amounts of federal land. The bill also removes a technical restriction that previously prevented certain types of land use, making the process more straightforward for tribes.

In practical terms, this means tribal governments could now work with the federal government to develop community resources on their own terms. A tribe might establish a regional park, build a cultural center, develop recreational facilities, or create space for essential services. Rather than having to navigate different rules or being excluded from programs available to other governments, tribes would have direct access to federal land programs. This recognizes that tribal governments have the same legitimate needs for land and resources as state and local governments, and should have equal access to federal programs designed to support community development.

Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act

LaMalfa, Doug

Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to sell or lease public lands to federally recognized Indian tribes for recreational or public purposes, subject to annual acreage limitations.