[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E59]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE LORTON CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX CLOSURE ACT

                                 ______


                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 9, 1995

  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Lorton 
Correctional Complex Closure Act.'' This legislation addresses the 
severe public safety and financial problems associated with the 
District of Columbia's operation of the prison facility at Lorton, VA.
  The legislation I cosponsor today with Congressman Frank Wolf and 
Congressman James Moran, will, upon enactment, immediately halt the 
flow of prisoners to Lorton. The Lorton Closure Act will further 
require that all remaining prisoners be transferred from the Lorton 
facility to the control of the Federal Bureau of Prisons within 5 years 
of enactment.
  The Lorton Closure Act establishes an 11 member Closure Commission 
which is required to recommend and identify options for the future use 
of the approximately 3,000 acres of land that comprise the Lorton 
complex. The Closure Commission will consist of the Federal 
Administrator of the General Services Administration and 10 people 
appointed by local governments. Five Commission members will be 
appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, three Commission 
members will be appointed by the Prince William County Board of 
Supervisors, and two Commission members will be appointed by the mayor 
of the District of Columbia, with the advice and consent of the 
District of Columbia City Council.
  The Closure Commission will hold public hearings regarding the future 
use of the Lorton land, and this legislation requires the Commission to 
operate in a manner that maximizes local community involvement, input, 
and participation. In addition, the Lorton property will be subject to 
all applicable Fairfax County zoning regulations as soon as the Federal 
Government's ownership interest terminates.
  The Lorton Closure Act requires the Commission to submit a final 
implementation plan to the General Services Administrator within 17 
months of enactment of this legislation. The Administrator will then 
forward the implementation plan to Congress within 1 month, and the 
plan will take effect 60 days later. In short, the entire process of 
formulating a plan for future use of the Lorton land will be completed 
within 20 months of enactment of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the Lorton Closure Act will remedy a dangerous situation 
that jeopardizes the safety of hundreds of thousands of Americans 
living in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC region. The Lorton 
complex is inhabited by 7,300 inmates and is approximately 44 percent 
overcapacity. The physical plant is outdated and in a condition of 
dangerous disrepair. The District of Columbia Department of Corrections 
has not received a budget increase in 11 years while 3,000 more felons 
have been placed in that department's custody.
  Overcrowding and underfunding have transformed Lorton prison from a 
rehabilitative facility into a training ground for career criminals who 
quickly return to the streets to resume their criminal activity. Drug 
dealing and violent crime is so prevalent within the walls of Lorton 
that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service 
must take numerous agents off the streets and permanently assign them 
to the Lorton facility. Further, the District of Columbia government 
appears unable to maintain even the current annual funding level of 
approximately $100 million. The shortage of funds has resulted in 
proposals to adopt an aggressive early release program whereby 
criminals are set free before serving even the minimum sentence 
required by the courts.
  The Lorton Closure Act will transfer Lorton prisoners into the 
Federal Prison System where they will receive solid rehabilitation and 
where their sentences will not be reduced as a result of the District 
of Columbia's budget problems. This legislation will result in 
increased public safety and will guarantee a land use decisionmaking 
process that is controlled by local residents in a manner that 
maximizes community involvement, input, and participation. I look 
forward to working with Congressmen Wolf and Moran, as well as with 
Senators Warner and Robb, to achieve quick consideration and passage of 
this important legislation.

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