April 1, 2025
Mr. Soto introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Kissimmee River in the State of Florida as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Act
.
Sec. 2. Designation of wild and scenic river segment, Kissimmee River, Florida
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(233) Kissimmee River, Florida
(A) In general
The restored segment of the Kissimmee River, beginning approximately 16 miles downstream of Lake Kissimmee and ending approximately 15 miles upstream of Lake Okeechobee, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a recreational river.
(B) Withdrawal
Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land within the boundaries of the river segments designated by subparagraph (A) is withdrawn from all forms of—
(i)
entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
(ii)
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(iii)
disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.