IB 
Union Calendar No. 495 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3682 
[Report No. 116–602] 
To provide for greater consultation between the Federal Government and 
the governing bodies of land grant-mercedes and acequias in New Mexico 
and to provide for a process for recognition of the historic-traditional 
boundaries of land grant-mercedes, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2019 
Mr. LUJA´N introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
NOVEMBER 19, 2020 
Additional sponsor: Ms. HAALAND 
NOVEMBER 19, 2020 
Reported with amendments; committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July 10, 2019] 
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A BILL 
To provide for greater consultation between the Federal Gov-
ernment and the governing bodies of land grant-mercedes 
and acequias in New Mexico and to provide for a process 
for recognition of the historic-traditional boundaries of 
land grant-mercedes, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Land Grant-Mercedes 
Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ACEQUIA.—The term ‘‘acequia’’ has the 
meaning of the term ‘‘community ditch’’ as that term 
is construed under New Mexico Stat. 73–2–27. 
(2) COMMUNITY USER.—The term ‘‘community 
user’’ means an heir (as defined under the laws of the 
State) of a qualified land grant-merced. 
(3) GOVERNING
BODY.—The term ‘‘governing 
body’’ means the board of trustees authorized under 
State law with the control, care, and management of 
a qualified land grant-merced. 
(4) HISTORICAL-TRADITIONAL
USE.—The term 
‘‘historical-traditional use’’ means, for a qualified 
land grant-merced, for noncommercial benefit— 
(A) the use of water; 
(B) religious or cultural use and protection; 
(C) gathering herbs; 
(D) gathering wood products; 
(E) gathering flora or botanical products; 
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(F) grazing, to the extent that grazing has 
traditionally been carried out on the land, as de-
termined by the Secretary concerned in consulta-
tion with the governing body of the affected land 
grant-merced; 
(G) hunting or fishing; 
(H) soil or rock gathering; and 
(I) any other traditional activity for non-
commercial benefit that— 
(i) has a sustainable beneficial commu-
nity use, as determined by the Secretary 
concerned in consultation with the gov-
erning body of the affected land grant- 
merced; 
(ii) supports the long-term cultural 
and socioeconomic integrity of the commu-
nity, as determined by the Secretary con-
cerned in consultation with the governing 
body of the affected land grant-merced; and 
(iii) is agreed to in writing by the Sec-
retary concerned and the governing body of 
the qualified land grant-merced. 
(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the In-
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