[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 8 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   LEGISLATION CONVERTING THE CORNING FISH HATCHERY TO THE STATE OF 
                                ARKANSAS

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                      HON. BLANCHE LAMBERT LINCOLN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 13, 1995
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
would transfer property rights in the Corning 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 fisheries 
division fish culture program and I believe that this transfer will 
greatly benefit the sportsmen and women of Arkansas. This warm water 
hatchery is very active and successful, producing 250,000 to 1,000,000 
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, no Federal funds are used to operate or maintain the 
William H. Donham State Fish Hatchery. It is financed solely by funds 
derived from resident and non-resident fishing licenses sales. This 
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 introduced similar legislation last year, H.R. 4253, which passed 
both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Unfortunately, this 
bill died in the last hours of the 103d Congress. Nevertheless, this is 
a noncontroversial bill and I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.

                                 H.R.--

       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''.

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

       (a) Conveyance Requirement.--Within 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall convey to the State of Arkansas without reimbursement 
     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.
     

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