[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]

 
        CORNING NATIONAL FISH HATCH- ERY CONVEYANCE ACT OF 1994

  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4253) to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey the 
Corning National Fish Hatchery to the State of Arkansas, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4253

       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 ``Corning National Fish 
     Hatchery Conveyance Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CORNING NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY TO STATE 
                   OF ARKANSAS.

       (a) Conveyance Requirement.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     shall convey to the State of Arkansas, without reimbursement 
     and by no later than December 31, 1994, all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the property 
     described in subsection (b), for use by the Arkansas Game and 
     Fish Commission as part of the State of Arkansas fish culture 
     program.
       (b) Property Described.--The property referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the property known as the Corning National 
     Fish Hatchery (popularly known as the William H. Donham State 
     Fish Hatchery), located one mile west of Corning, Arkansas, 
     on Arkansas State Highway 67 in Clay County, Arkansas, 
     consisting of 137.34 acres (more or less), and all 
     improvements and related personal property under the control 
     of the Secretary that is located on that property, including 
     buildings, structures, and equipment.
       (c) Reversionary Interest of United States.--All right, 
     title, and interest in property described in subsection (b) 
     shall revert to the United States if the property ceases to 
     be used as part of the State of Arkansas fish culture 
     program. The State of Arkansas shall ensure that the property 
     reverting to the United States is in substantially the same 
     or better condition as at the time of transfer.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 4253, introduced by our colleague from Arkansas 
[Ms. Lambert], directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer 
ownership of the Corning National Fish Hatchery in Corning, AR to the 
State of Arkansas.
  The hatchery was operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service until 
1983 when it was closed as a result of budget cuts. Since that time, 
the hatchery has been run by the State under a cooperative agreement 
with the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the State's fish culture 
program. Now, the State would like to make necessary capital 
improvement and long-term plans for the hatchery but cannot do so 
without assuming ownership.
  This legislation would transfer ownership to the State, but would 
protect the interests of the Federal Government by ensuring that the 
property would revert to the Fish and Wildlife Service in the event 
that the State no longer used the facility as a fish hatchery.
  The bill is supported by the State, 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 have no objections to the passage 
of this bill. Transfers of land or facilities between the Federal 
Government and the States occur frequently.
  The bill provides that, if the State of Arkansas stops using the 
facility as a fish hatchery, the ownership of the property returns to 
the Federal Government.
  Mr. Speaker, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has shown its 
desire and commitment to repair and use the facility as a fish 
hatchery. This commitment should lead us to vote for the passage of 
this bill.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Arkansas [Ms. Lambert].
  (Ms. LAMBERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. LAMBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4253, the 
Corning National Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act of 1994, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``aye'' on this noncontroversial bill.
  First, of all, I want to extend my deepest appreciation and thanks to 
the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Massachusetts 
[Mr. Studds] and the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from 
New York [Mr. Manton], for taking action on this bill in such a prompt 
manner. I appreciate their time and effort and that of their staff.
  I introduced this bill to transfer property rights in the Corning 
National Fish Hatchery from the Federal Government to the State of 
Arkansas. Due to Federal budget cuts, the fish hatchery was closed in 
early 1983. However, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission resumed 
hatchery fish production in May 1983 after entering into an agreement 
with the Fish and Wildlife Service. The fish hatchery has been 
operating since 1983 as William H. Donham State Fish Hatchery.

  This fish hatchery has become an important part of the Arkansas 
Fisheries Division fish culture program and I believe that this 
transfer will greatly benefit the sports men and women of Arkansas. The 
hatchery's warm-water hatchery is very active and successful, producing 
up to 1 million fish annually. About 95 percent of these hatchery-
reared fish are stocked in new or renovated public lakes. The remaining 
fish are allocated to private applicants for stocking new or renovated 
lakes and ponds. The principal fish produced at the hatchery are 
largemouth bass, bluegills, redear sunfish, white and black crappie and 
channel catfish.
  Currently, absolutely no Federal funds are used to operate or 
maintain the Corning National Fish Hatchery. It is financed solely by 
funds derived from resident and nonresident fishing license sales. This 
is one of the very few bills that will not cost the Federal taxpayers 
one red cent. The transfer of ownership has the support from both the 
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
  It is appropriate to transfer the property to the State of Arkansas 
since the funds used to finance the hatchery's programs are raised 
within the borders of Arkansas. In addition, without this transfer, 
Arkansas would be unable to make long-term commitments as to the 
direction the hatchery will take in its operations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this worthwhile legislation.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Manton], chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Fisheries Management.
  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4253. 
Chairman Studds has ably described this noncontroversial bill to 
transfer a fish hatchery in Arkansas from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service to the State of Arkansas. Federal budget cuts in 1983 forced 
the State to assume full responsibility for the operation of this 
hatchery. H.R. 4253 will promote healthy fish stocks at no cost to the 
Federal Government.
  To my knowledge, there is no opposition to this measure and I 
strongly urge my colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation. H.R. 
4253 would transfer title of the Corning National Fish Hatchery to the 
State of Arkansas for use by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 
This legislation conveys all right, title, and interest of the United 
States to the State of Arkansas. This hatchery facility includes 
approximately 137 acres, buildings, structures, and related equipment.
  It is my understanding that the State of Arkansas has operated and 
maintained this hatchery facility since 1983 under an agreement with 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  Finally, this legislation also contains language providing that the 
property and facilities would revert back to the Federal Government if 
the State of Arkansas no longer wishes to use the facility as a part of 
its fish culture program. It is also stipulated that the property would 
revert back in substantially the same or better condition than it was 
in at the time it was transferred to the State.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service supports this transfer.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  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. 4253, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended, and the bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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