Problem Solvers-Backed Legislation to Expedite Public Land Transactions Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Joe Biden signed the Problem Solvers Caucus-endorsed Accelerating Appraisals and and Conservation Efforts (AACE) Act into law. This legislation will streamline Department of the Interior (DOI) public land transactions by expanding access to qualified, cost-competitive appraisers. 

The bill, introduced by Representatives Susie Lee (NV-03) and David Joyce (OH-14), passed with unanimous support in both chambers of Congress. Representatives Lee and Joyce secured Problem Solvers Caucus endorsement of the legislation last March. 

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 enable DOI to contract with private appraisers who are appropriately credentialed in one state or territory to perform appraisal and valuation services on DOI's behalf in any state or territory. This will reduce bottlenecks that undermine housing, infrastructure, and conservation projects on public lands, without spending a single additional taxpayer dollar.

“After earning the support of Republicans and Democrats in Nevada and across the country, my AACE Act to help build more homes and cut housing costs has been signed into law by the President.” said Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03), Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. “The AACE Act cuts through red tape to more quickly unlock public lands for housing, conservation, and infrastructure projects at no additional cost to the American taxpayer.” 

“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 get signed into law so that we can help support preservation efforts and spur economic growth in Ohio and across the country.”

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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