Bills of Congress October 27, 2025 by U.S. Congress

To amend the Act of June 22, 1948.

Summary

The bill, S. 638, seeks to amend the Act of June 22, 1948, also known as the Thye-Blatnik Act. The amendment focuses on appraisals related to land or resources managed under the Act. It changes the appraisal criteria to include the "highest fair appraised value, including historical fair appraised values."

Expected Effects

The amendment will likely change how the Secretary of Agriculture determines the value of land or resources under the Thye-Blatnik Act. This could lead to higher valuations that consider historical data. The change could affect transactions, leases, or other agreements related to these resources.

Potential Benefits

Could ensure that historical value is considered in appraisals, potentially benefiting landowners or the government.
May lead to more accurate valuations of resources.
Could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the true value of the assets.
Might lead to increased revenue for the government if appraisals are higher.
Could incentivize better stewardship of resources by highlighting their long-term value.

Potential Disadvantages

Could lead to inflated appraisals, making transactions more expensive.
May create uncertainty or disputes over what constitutes "historical fair appraised values."
Could disproportionately affect certain landowners or industries.
Might increase administrative burden and costs for the Department of Agriculture.
The change in appraisal methodology could create legal challenges.

Constitutional Alignment

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The bill appears to align with Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution, which grants legislative powers to Congress. The amendment itself doesn't seem to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations. The Act falls under the scope of Congress's authority to manage federal lands and resources. The amendment process adheres to the bicameralism and presentment requirements.