Lawmakers back giving 502 acres to Henderson

WASHINGTON -- The city of Henderson would be given 502 acres of federal land near its municipal airport for economic development under a bill introduced Monday in Congress.

Once conveyed to the city, the land near Henderson Executive Airport could be resold or leased for commercial purposes, or kept for public use, according to the measure sponsored by Nevada's five members of Congress.

The land must be sold at auction, with profits deposited into the fund created by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act to pay for parklands, recreation and environmental protection.

"Because this land is so close to the Henderson Executive Airport, aircraft noise makes the property unsuitable for residential use, but that doesn't mean the land should sit empty," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said he will seek a hearing on the bill "as quickly as possible" before the House Natural Resources Committee, on which he sits.