[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                             {time}   1240
 
        TIJUANA SLOUGH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4647) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to 
the city of Imperial Beach, CA, approximately 1 acre of land in the 
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4647

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF LAND IN TIJUANA SLOUGH NATIONAL 
                   WILDLIFE REFUGE.

       (a) Requirement.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     expeditiously convey to the City of Imperial Beach, 
     California, without compensation, all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to approximately 1 acre 
     of land in the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, as 
     depicted on a United States Fish and Wildlife Service map 
     entitled ``T-ball Field, Tijuana Slough National Wildlife 
     Refuge'', dated June 1994, for use as a public recreational 
     area.
       (b) Reversionary Interest in the United States.--Upon any 
     date on which any of the land in which right, title, and 
     interest is conveyed under subsection (a) ceases to be used 
     by the City of Imperial Beach, California, for public 
     recreational purposes--
       (1) all such right, title, and interest shall revert to the 
     Government of the United States; and
       (2) such land shall be reincorporated into the Tijuana 
     Slough National Wildlife Refuge.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fields of Louisiana). Pursuant to the 
rule, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] will be recognized 
for 20 minutes, and the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] will be 
recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds].
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4647, introduced by our colleague from California 
[Ms. Schenk] transfers almost an acre of land from the Tijuana Slough 
National Wildlife Refuge to the city of Imperial Beach, CA, land which 
was used as a Little League and T-ball field prior to the establishment 
of the refuge. The bill clears the base paths for an expedited transfer 
between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the city and ensures that the 
children of Imperial Beach will continue to be able to play ball.
  Mr. Speaker, the children of Imperial Beach are fortunate to have 
Lynn Schenk as their designated hitter in Congress. This legislation is 
supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and I urge Members' 
support.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4647, a 
bill that conveys to the city of Imperial Beach, CA, approximately 1 
acre of land in the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
  The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located in one of the 
finest remaining saltwater marshes on the California coastline. Since 
the refuge was established, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has 
allowed the city of Imperial Beach to use this area as a baseball field 
under an annual special use permit. The area presently contains two T-
ball fields with dugouts and it is separated from the rest of the 
refuge by a chain-link fence.
  The bill also includes a clause that returns the property to the 
Federal Government for reinclusion in the Tijuana National Wildlife 
Refuge if the city no longer uses this area for public recreational 
purposes.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4647 is noncontroversial and I support its 
adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the remainder of our innings to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from California [Ms. Schenk].
  (Ms. SCHENK asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. SCHENK. Mr. Speaker, let me first express my deep appreciation to 
Chairman Studds for his help in moving this legislation so 
expeditiously. I also want to thank my friends [Mr. Fields] the ranking 
member on our committee, and Duke Cunningham for their assistance and 
support.
  H.R. 4647 will transfer a little less than one acre of land from the 
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge to the city of Imperial Beach. 
This field served as a recreational area prior to the delineation of 
the Tijuana Slough Refuge in 1980, and it has been used for little 
league or T-ball leagues continuously since then.
  [In its present configuration, it supports two T-ball fields with 
dugouts and backstops made of chain-link fence and is fenced off from 
the rest of the refuge.]
  The City Council of Imperial Beach has passed a resolution requesting 
this transfer.
  I was contacted about this situation only about 6 weeks ago. However, 
moving this legislation quickly is required to avoid some unintended 
consequences of the settlement of a suit brought by the National 
Audubon Society against the Fish and Wildlife Service. In accordance 
with that settlement agreement, the Fish and Wildlife Service in region 
IX is reviewing all of the property under its control to determine if 
its present use is compatible with the Service's mission.
  The Service has determined that its best option in regard to the T-
ball field is to transfer it to the city of Imperial Beach rather than 
incur an extraordinary expense to restore the area. The present 
legislation is required to accomplish that transfer. The Department of 
the Interior fully supports this legislation.
  Let me conclude by again thanking Chairman Studds and Mr. Fields of 
Texas for their help. I urge the passage of the bill.
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4647. 
This bill recently introduced by Congresswoman Schenk, conveys to the 
city of Imperial Beach, CA, approximately 1 acre of land in the Tijuana 
Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
  The National Wildlife Refuge System is comprised of 499 wildlife 
refuges designated for the conservation of fish and wildlife. Additions 
to the System are either through acts of Congress, Executive orders of 
through transfers between Federal agencies. Congress, though, must act 
for any transfers or deletions from the Refuge System.
  What Congresswoman Schenk has proposed is basically to remove 1 acre 
of land from this refuge and to give it to the city of Imperial Beach.
  The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is one of the finest 
remaining saltwater marshes on the California coastline and it is home 
to three species of endangered birds. The Fish and Wildlife Service has 
allowed the city of Imperial Beach to use this area as a baseball field 
for its youth under an annual special use permit. The area presently 
contains two T-ball fields with dugouts and it is separated from the 
rest of the refuge by a chain-link fence.
  H.R. 4647 is noncontroversial and will facilitate recreational 
opportunities for dozens of young men and women. I would like to point 
out that the bill does include a reversionary clause that returns the 
property to the Federal Government for reinclusion in the Tijuana 
National Wildlife Refuge if the city no longer uses this area for 
public recreational purposes.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4647.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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