[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3744 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3744

  To require conveyance of Governors Island, New York, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 29, 2000

 Mr. Nadler (for himself and Mrs. Maloney of New York) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to 
      be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require conveyance of Governors Island, New York, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Governors Island Development and 
Preservation Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Governors Island, located in New York Harbor, has great 
        aesthetic, educational, and historic value for the people of 
        the State of New York and the City of New York, New York.
            (2) Governors Island was acquired by the State of New York 
        in the 1700's and became part of the City of New York in 1730.
            (3) On February 15, 1800, the State of New York transferred 
        control of Governors Island to the Federal Government at no 
        cost, so that the island could be used for the nation's 
        defense.
            (4) In 1958, the State of New York formally transferred 
        title to Governors Island to the Federal Government for the sum 
        of one dollar.
            (5) Having served as an American military installation 
        until 1966, Governors Island has played an important role in 
        numerous armed conflicts, including the War of 1812, the Civil 
        War, World War I, and World War II.
            (6) In 1966, the Coast Guard assumed control of Governors 
        Island, which proved an integral component of the Coast Guard's 
        Atlantic coast efforts for the next 30 years.
            (7) The departure of the Coast Guard from Governors Island 
        in 1997 left its 225 buildings virtually uninhabited.
            (8) The State of New York and the City of New York will 
        agree on a plan that ensures that the historic structures of 
        Governors Island will be protected and provides substantial 
        educational and recreational facilities for the public.
            (9) The plan, to be administered by the Empire State 
        Development Corporation of the State of New York, shall provide 
        public access to Governors Island, open park space with views 
        of New York Harbor, and educational and cultural institutions 
        that will display the rich contributions of the island to 
        United States history.
            (10) Consistent with precedent, Governors Island should be 
        transferred to the State of New York and the City of New York 
        to be preserved and developed by the Empire State Development 
        Corporation of the State of New York under the terms of the 
        plan referred to in the paragraph (9).

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF GOVERNORS ISLAND.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law and not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
General Services shall convey all right, title, and interest of the 
United States in and to Governors Island, New York, except the portions 
of Governors Island referred to in section 4, jointly to the Empire 
State Development Corporation of the State of New York (or a subsidiary 
thereof) and the City of New York, New York, without consideration.

SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER CASTLE WILLIAMS 
              AND FORT JAY.

    (a) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, administrative 
jurisdiction over Castle Williams and Fort Jay and grounds adjacent to 
these sites (depicted on the map entitled ____ and dated ____) is 
transferred to the Secretary of the Interior.
    (b) Administration.--The Secretary of the Interior shall administer 
the properties referred to in subsection (a) through the Director of 
the National Park Service.
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