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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1639 (108th)

R.S. 2477 Rights-of-Way Act of 2003

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

3 April 2003

Last action

15 April 2003 · Referred

Status

Executive Comment Requested from Interior.

Sponsors

Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3], Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-23], Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8], Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Rep. Tauscher, Ellen O. [D-CA-10], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1], Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-15], Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4], Rep. Watson, Diane E. [D-CA-33], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4], Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Bell, Chris [D-TX-25], Rep. Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [D-IL-2], Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4], Rep. Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-46], Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-33], Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2], Rep. Inslee, Jay [D-WA-1], Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6], Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11], Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Rep. Miller, Brad [D-NC-13], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

18 August 2025

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Summary

R.S. 2477 Rights-of-Way Act of 2003 - Permits the filing of claims asserting the existence and validity of right-of-ways pursuant to a repealed section of the Revised Statutes (R.S. 2477) to build highways across public land not reserved for public uses. Declares that claimants shall have the burden to prove that the grant of a right-of-way was validly accepted and not abandoned. Presumes abandoned claims involving lands within a conservation system unit, an inventoried roadless area, or a wilderness study area or that are former Federal lands, unless use was open and notorious. Directs an authorized Federal officer to review the evidence put forth by a claimant that: (1) a R.S. 2477 right-of-way contains sufficient evidence to prove prior construction and use of a highway over unreserved public lands; and (2) if there is evidence of such a highway, that the right-of-way was not abandoned. Subjects the administrative record of a final decision of an authorized Federal officer to judicial review. Allows the United States to retain exclusive possession or control of the lands traversed by a valid right-of-way or any part thereof, upon payment to the claimant of an amount set by the relevant district court. Recognizes the prior adjudication of claimed right-of-ways by courts of competent jurisdiction. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter provisions of: (1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 regarding right-of-ways with respect to public lands and National Forest System lands; or (2) the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act pertaining to Alaska's transportation and utility network.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 3 April 2003

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 3 April 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E671-672)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 3 April 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 3 April 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 15 April 2003

    Committee

    Executive Comment Requested from Interior.

    Source: Committee

  6. 15 April 2003

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.

    Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 3 April 2003

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 3 April 2003

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 3 April 2003

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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