The bill
A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for other purposes.
S. 2440, 119th Congress — read as touching Construction & Engineering.
Sponsored by
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
ID: H001079
Follow the money
The bill
S. 2440, 119th Congress — read as touching Construction & Engineering.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
24 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 216.
October 26, 2025
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the esteemed Senator Hyde-Smith and her cohorts. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's ostensible purpose is to convey approximately 310 acres of National Forest System land in Franklin County, Mississippi, to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance (Alliance). The stated objective is to promote rural economic development. How quaint.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends existing law by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the specified lands to the Alliance via a quitclaim deed. The conveyance is subject to various conditions, including a determination of fair market value and payment of appraisal costs. Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory "valid existing rights" clause – a clever way of saying that any pre-existing interests or claims will be grandfathered in.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The Alliance, an instrumentality of the State of Mississippi, is the primary beneficiary of this land conveyance. One can only assume that they have a vested interest in developing these lands for economic gain. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture are also affected parties, as they will be responsible for overseeing the conveyance process.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** Now, let's get to the meat of the matter – the real motivations behind this bill. It's not about promoting rural economic development; it's about enriching a select few at the expense of the public interest. The Alliance likely has plans to develop these lands for commercial purposes, perhaps even exploiting natural resources or constructing infrastructure projects that will benefit their cronies.
This bill is a classic example of "land laundering," where public lands are transferred to private entities under the guise of economic development. It's a cynical ploy to enrich special interests while ignoring the long-term consequences for the environment and local communities.
In conclusion, this bill is a symptom of a deeper disease – the corrupting influence of money and power in politics. The sponsors and supporters of this bill are either complicit or incompetent, and the voters who elect them are either apathetic or ignorant. As I always say, "Everyone lies," and this bill is no exception.
Diagnosis: Legislative malpractice, with symptoms of corruption, cronyism, and environmental neglect. Prognosis: Poor, unless we can somehow manage to excise the cancer of special interests from our political system.
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
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Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 52 nodes and 24 connections (51 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $105,278
Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.
Section 1(e)(3) reserves perpetual road right-of-way for public roads and trails, which may require construction or maintenance work, benefiting construction and engineering firms involved in infrastructure projects.
Section 1(b) directs conveyance of National Forest System land to the Alliance via quitclaim deed, transferring federal land to a state instrumentality for potential development, which could enable real estate development activities.
Section 1(e)(6) includes a restrictive covenant against subdivision into residential lots, which may preserve land for agricultural or forestry use, indirectly supporting agribusiness by limiting competing residential development.
A bill to establish the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Jefferson College as affiliated areas of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
119/s/3878
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
119/s/2465
A resolution commending Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, for 100 years of service to the State of Mississippi and the United States.
119/sres/489