[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3231 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3231

    To authorize the transfer to the Republic of Panama of certain 
   properties of the United States as set forth in the Panama Canal 
                               Treaties.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 4, 1999

  Mr. Crane introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To authorize the transfer to the Republic of Panama of certain 
   properties of the United States as set forth in the Panama Canal 
                               Treaties.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Panama Canal Treaties Property 
Transfer Authorization Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution provides (in 
        part) the following: ``The Congress shall have the Power to 
        dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations 
        respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the 
        United States;''.
            (2) It is clear that the Constitution authorizes Congress 
        to approve any alienation, transfer, or disposal of any 
        property held as United States territory. Such alienation or 
        disposal should be exercised by statute.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) reassert, reiterate, and reestablish that the Congress 
        retains its prerogative under the Constitution to authorize by 
        law the alienation of any United States property before it is 
        to be transferred to any other entity;
            (2) encourage future Executive cooperation and compliance 
        with the property clause of the Constitution in regard to the 
        alienation and transfer of United States territory;
            (3) resolve the concern expressed by many citizens that the 
        Congress should have a direct vote to authorize the alienation 
        and transfer to the Republic of Panama of such United States 
        territories and properties as set forth in the Treaty on the 
        Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, the 
        Panama Canal Treaty, and in the Panama Canal Act of 1979; and
            (4) finally bring to an end any remaining concerns and 
        controversies regarding the legitimacy of the Panama Canal 
        Treaties.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF PROPERTY TRANSFERS TO REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.

    (a) Congress, noting that certain transfers to the Republic of 
Panama of United States-held properties in the Republic of Panama have 
been and are being carried out pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaties, 
hereby confirms and authorizes those transfers, as of December 31, 
1999.
    (b) For purposes of subsection (a), the term ``Panama Canal 
Treaties'' means--
            (1) the Treaty on the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of 
        the Panama Canal; and
            (2) the Panama Canal Treaty.
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