[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 115 (Tuesday, August 16, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
CONCURRING IN SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 4812, TRANSFER OF OLD U.S. MINT 
                            IN SAN FRANCISCO

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 4812) to direct the 
Administrator of General Services to acquire by transfer the Old U.S. 
Mint in San Francisco, CA, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Page 2, after line 8, insert:

     SEC. 2. REPAIRS OF OLD U.S. MINT, SAN FRANCISCO.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed to force the General 
     Services Administration to repair the Old U.S. Mint building 
     prior to repairs to other Federal buildings in greater need 
     of repair.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. Traficant] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant].
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta], chairman of 
the Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to, first of all, thank the very fine 
friend and distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Grounds, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], for 
moving this bill expeditiously.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is basically the same bill that the House 
passed under suspension on August 8.
  As I stated at that time, I would also like to commend the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Pelosi], my colleague, for joining me 
in cosponsoring this very important piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4812 would transfer title to the Old U.S. Mint 
located in San Francisco to the General Services Administration at no 
cost. It will enable GSA, through the Federal buildings fund, to repair 
and renovate this historic landmark building.
  Mr. Speaker, the Old Mint Building was constructed between 1869 and 
1974. It is one of the first stone buildings constructed in San 
Francisco and now remains as the city's oldest stone structure. It is 
on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a 
national landmark building. Today it houses the Old Mint Museum where 
thousands of tourists and schoolchildren visit each year, as well as 
various administrative operations for the San Francisco Mint.
  Last year, Mr. Speaker, the mint was closed because of damage caused 
by the Loma Prieta earthquake. Now, as it approaches its 120th birthday 
in November, the Old Mint needs our help.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us is a simple transfer of title 
from Treasury to the General Services Administration to accomplish the 
goal of rehabilitating the Old Mint to preserve one of your Nation's 
most endangered landmarks. The Senate amendment, which is not 
controversial, simply provides that nothing shall be construed to force 
GSA to repair the Old Mint prior to repairs to other Federal buildings 
in greater need of repair.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation and worthy of 
this body's prompt attention. I urge its passage, and I thank the 
gentleman for yielding the time.

                              {time}  1350

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4812, a bill which directs the 
Administrator of General Services to transfer, without monetary 
consideration, the Old U.S. Mint in San Francisco, CA, from the 
Department of Treasury to the General Services Administration.
  The Old U.S. Mint possesses significant historical value. This 
building was constructed between 1869 and 1874 of granite, which has 
helped the structure withstand earthquakes and fires throughout the 
past century.
  It ceased operation as a mint in 1937 and was transferred to the 
Department of Treasury in 1972. The building served as a museum until 
1993 when damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was discovered.
  The structure requires extensive repair and a transfer of the 
building and property to the General Services Administration offers the 
best opportunity for these renovations to be achieved.
  GSA will submit a detailed prospectus to Congress on the needed 
repairs. The committee will at that time have an opportunity to review 
the request and evaluate future possible uses for the Old U.S. Mint.
  On August 11 of this year, the other body amended this bill to 
require that other Federal buildings in greater need of repair take 
precedence over this renovation project.
  I support this no-cost transfer and urge the enactment of this 
legislation as it has been amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the distinguished gentlewoman from California, Ms. Pelosi, who, along 
with Chairman Mineta, played a leadership role in this legislation.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Mineta] in commending this gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Traficant] for his leadership in bringing this legislation 
expeditiously to the floor. I want to give my thanks to the gentleman 
from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri], 
the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan], the ranking member of the 
committee, and all the members of the subcommittee for their 
recognition and appreciation of the worth of the ``Granite Lady,'' the 
Old Mint Building in San Francisco.
  Mr. Speaker, in joining the gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta], I 
want to thank him for being the author of this legislation and for his 
leadership and his cooperation with Senator Boxer, who has taken the 
lead on this issue in our community and in the Congress.
  I do want to inform our colleagues that my colleague representing San 
Francisco in the Congress, the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] 
has been very involved in this issue as well. As many of us know, he 
has been under the weather these last few days. The message from him is 
that he is resting well and he is well enough to send his strong 
support for this legislation. So I wanted the record to show that only 
because Mr. Lantos is not well could he not join us today in support of 
this legislation.
  The gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta] has done a remarkable job 
in shaping this legislation which is creative, innovative, and 
sensible. As the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] has noted and as 
others in the Senate have noted, we have passed this legislation 
before. The legislation was passed in the Senate, and the conference 
agreement contains an amendment which would simply assure that the mint 
would be prioritized by the GAO on the merits of its condition and not 
as a result of any special legislation. The Senate amendment offers a 
clarification that is acceptable to us, as it was to Senator Boxer. It 
is reasonable and acceptable, and I urge my colleagues likewise to 
accept the amendment and the legislation.
  Chairman Mineta in his remarks presented a case for the Old Mint. The 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] referenced that it was damaged in 
the Loma Prieta earthquake. It did survive the earthquake of 1906.
  Our community, Mr. Speaker, has closed ranks to preserve this 
endangered historic landmark, the Granite Lady, as it is called. We 
want it to be open to the public. In partnership with these efforts, 
H.R. 4812 would ensure that it would be repaired by the Federal 
Government.
  The Granite Lady, as has been said, is a national landmark. It cannot 
be torn down. It is a safety hazard, and we must take action to prevent 
its becoming a hazard to the community. Once again, our community has 
closed ranks behind the Granite Lady. This Congress has once before 
showed its support for the Old Mint Building, and hopefully today we 
will do so once again.
  Mr. Speaker, I again commend the committee for expeditiously bringing 
the legislation to the floor. I commend the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Traficant], the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan], the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. 
Petri], and especially the chairman of the committee, the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Mineta].
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. 
Duncan] for his help in this matter, and I commend also the staff on 
both sides for this legislation.
  For identification purposes, the Senate amendment is a clarifying 
amendment which addresses the prioritization of 
GSA projects.
  H.R. 4812 was introduced for the primary purpose of transferring the 
title of this very special building in San Francisco, CA, the Old U.S. 
Mint, from the Treasury Department to the General Service 
Administration, at no cost. This legislation will enable GSA, through 
the Federal Building Fund, to repair and renovate this historic 
landmark.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, and I urge its approval.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Brown of California). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] that the 
House suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, 
H.R. 4812.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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