Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025. The legislation, reintroduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), would transfer federal land currently under the purview of the U.S. Forest Service to Navajo and Apache Counties.

For more than a decade, the communities of Pinedale and Alpine have struggled to find appropriate cemetery space to meet the needs of family members wishing to inter and pay respects to their loved ones.

This bill would expand the land adjacent to Alpine Community Cemetery, preventing the need for members of the community to be laid to rest in a distant cemetery.

“The community of Pinedale has a long and rich pioneer history, and the residents are proud of that heritage. Pinedale is a community where generations of families live, grow, and raise their families. This bill will allow families to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that their family member loved so much. I’m grateful to Congressman Crane and his staff for their work on this bill and his support of the Pinedale community,” said Daryl Seymore, Navajo County Board of Supervisors, District IV.

“As a County Supervisor and Chairman of the Board of Apache County, I have seen firsthand the ‘very real needs’ of the communities that I represent. Recently, the effort put forth by you and your staff in securing the conveyance of USFC land immediately adjacent to the Alpine Community Cemetery is representative of meeting that ‘very real need,’” said Nelson Davis, Apache County Supervisor, District III, and Chairman of the Board.

“I’m pleased to report that my bill passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives and now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate. These communities have storied histories dating back to the pioneers, and they deserve to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that means so much to them,” said Rep. Eli Crane. “My primary objective as a public official is to remain principled and effective for the district I represent, ensuring that rural communities are not forgotten by the federal government. I appreciate Supervisors Seymore and Nelson for their leadership, and we will continue to do everything we can to advance this bill through the legislative process.”

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman said, “Oftentimes, the smallest solutions can have the most meaning. Congressman Crane’s legislation to convey important parcels of land to the Apache and Navajo counties will help communities properly lay to rest their loved ones. This is the type of thoughtful work that makes Rep. Crane such an important asset to his constituents.”