To provide for no net increase in the total acreage of Federal land in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, United States Virgin Islands.
Impact
If enacted, HB3025 will affect how land transactions are managed within the Virgin Islands National Park. The legislation requires that any increase in Federal land due to acquisitions must be offset by divesting of an equivalent amount of land, either through sale, donation, or other means. This measure aims to prevent the expansion of Federal holdings in the park and could serve as a model for similar mechanisms in other protected areas as stakeholders seek to balance land conservation efforts with development pressures.
Summary
House Bill 3025 aims to maintain the total acreage of Federal land within the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John by prohibiting any net increase in this land. The bill stipulates that if the Secretary of the Interior acquires non-Federal land that would increase the park's total acreage, an equal amount of Federal land must be conveyed out of park ownership. This framework seeks to ensure that the overall footprint of federally protected land in the National Park remains constant, responding to growing concerns about land management and preservation in the Virgin Islands.
Contention
Some potential points of contention surrounding HB3025 include debates over land rights and local governance. Proponents of the bill argue that it is a crucial step toward responsible environmental stewardship and the preservation of delicate ecosystems within the park. However, there may be pushback from local stakeholders concerned about how these regulations could limit local land use decisions. Critics might argue that the focus on preventing increases to Federal land could hinder local development or conservation initiatives that require more flexible land management practices.
Acre In, Acre Out Act This bill prescribes a new requirement for any acquisition of land by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture that would result in a net increase of total land acreage under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Forest Service. The department concerned must offer for sale an equal number of acres of federal land that is under the same jurisdictional status. The bill exempts from this requirement any easements acquired to facilitate management of federal lands. Land sold pursuant to this bill shall be offered for sale at fair market value (based on local comparable sales), with monthly price reductions if the land is not sold in six months. All net proceeds from the sale of federal lands pursuant to this bill shall be deposited directly into the Treasury for reduction of the public debt.
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to cover into the treasury of the Virgin Islands revenue from tax on fuel produced in the Virgin Islands and entered into the United States.
Recognizing the significance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States.
Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a visa waiver program for nationals of certain countries to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands.Specifically, the bill expands an existing program that authorizes nonimmigrant visa waivers for nationals of certain countries to enter Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands to also authorize waivers for entry to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under this program, DHS may provide a waiver admitting a nonimmigrant visitor for up to 45 days if the waiver does not represent a threat to the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories or commonwealths.