House Passes Problem Solvers Caucus-Endorsed Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts (AACE) Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts (AACE) Act (H.R.5443), legislation to streamline Department of the Interior (DOI) public land transactions by expanding access to qualified, cost-competitive appraisers. The bill received overwhelming support from both parties. 

The bipartisan, bicameral legislation was introduced by Representatives Susie Lee (NV-03) and David Joyce (OH-14) and has 12 additional cosponsors, 10 of whom are Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus. The Caucus officially endorsed the bill in March 2024.

DOI oversees hundreds of millions of acres of public lands nationwide, but before it can complete any land transactions, it must first guarantee that these transactions are done at fair market value. With growing demands, the agency has had to rely increasingly on private appraisers who can only work in the specific states where they are credentialed — unlike full-time federal appraisers, who have been able to work quickly and easily across state lines for decades. Resulting delays are hindering the progress of critical conservation, economic, housing, and infrastructure projects nationwide. The AACE Act will tackle federal appraisal bottlenecks by making more appraisers available to DOI while requiring the agency to continue to prioritize working with local appraisers.

“We can’t let red tape get in the way of key land transactions that will support conservation, build critical infrastructure, and help cut housing costs,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03). “The AACE Act cuts through red tape by giving the Department of the Interior a much-needed tool to more quickly get land deals done at no additional cost to the American taxpayer. I’m proud that my bipartisan bill is one step closer to being signed into law.” 

"As land-related activities continue to skyrocket nationwide, so does the need for accurate and timely appraisals," said Congressman David Joyce (OH-14). "The bipartisan AACE Act will help to alleviate the appraisal backlog by expanding the Department of the Interior's ability to work with credentialed private appraisers. I am proud to see this legislation pass the House so that we can help support preservation efforts and spur economic growth in Ohio and across the country."

“I’m proud to have joined my colleagues from the Problem Solvers Caucus in passing the bipartisan Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act. It will help cut down on bureaucratic and unnecessary red tape,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will make appraisals more efficient and flexible, allowing states like New Jersey to move forward on critically-needed infrastructure, conservation, and housing projects.”

"The current backlog of Department of Interior land appraisals is unacceptable," said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). "This legislation offers a common-sense solution to ease the appraisal backlog and accelerate crucial housing, infrastructure, and conservation projects in PA-01 and nationwide. Its strong bipartisan support in the House underscores its critical importance, and I call on my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in cutting through the red tape and expanding access to top-tier private appraisers." 

The full text of the bill can be found here.

 The Problem Solvers Caucus, which is Co-Chaired by Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), has sixty-two Members evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. 

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