[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 80 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4926-H4927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 614, THE NEW LONDON NATIONAL FISH 
                        HATCHERY CONVEYANCE ACT

  Mrs. WALDHOLTZ. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, 
I call up House Resolution 146 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 146

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 614) to direct the Secretary of the Interior 
     to convey to the State of Minnesota the New London National 
     Fish Hatchery production facility. [[Page H4927]] The first 
     reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. General debate 
     shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour 
     equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
     minority member of the Committee on Resources. After general 
     debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 
     five-minute rule. The bill and the amendment recommended by 
     the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill shall be 
     considered as read. At the conclusion of consideration of the 
     bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the 
     bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered 
     on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without 
     intervening motion except one motion to recommit.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Utah [Mrs. Waldholtz] 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mrs. WALDHOLTZ. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Beilenson], pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the 
purpose of debate only.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 146 is the rule for the consideration 
of H.R. 614, a bill to convey the New London National Fish Hatchery to 
the State of Minnesota.
  This is an open rule. It provides for 1 hour of general debate, to be 
divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Resources Committee. After general debate, the bill will be considered 
for amendment under the 5-minute rule. The bill and the amendment 
recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill shall 
be considered as read. Finally, the rule provides for a motion to 
recommit.
  This underlying bill will convey the New London Fish Hatchery to the 
State of Minnesota, which has been operating the hatchery since 1983 
when the Federal Government decided to discontinue operations. 
Minnesota assumed operations to ensure that the State's fish stocking 
program would continue into the future. The hatchery plays an important 
role in the walleye and muskie stocking program.
  To date, Minnesota has spent nearly $800,000 on operations, 
maintenance, and improvement of the facility and has a strong interest 
in making certain capital improvements on the facility, but without 
ownership, they are, understandably, reluctant to do so. This bill 
would transfer all right, title, and interest in the hatchery so that 
the State may make those improvements. Should the State discontinue 
operations, ownership returns to the United States with the 
understanding that the facility be returned to the Federal Government 
in equal or better condition than it was at the time of transfer.
  This rule provides for fair, open debate and is brought up under an 
open rule at the request of the chairman. Some Members may wonder why 
this bill is coming up under an open rule rather than coming up on the 
suspension calendar.
  During consideration of the bill by the Subcommittee on Fisheries, 
Wildlife and Oceans, two amendments were offered by members of that 
subcommittee. While the first amendment was adopted, the second 
amendment was rejected by voice vote. This rule will allow that 
amendment to be brought up on the floor for consideration by the full 
House.
  The amendment, offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], 
would require the State of Minnesota to pay the Federal Government the 
fair market value for the fish hatchery facility at the time of 
transfer. Since amendments can not be offered under suspension of the 
rules, Congressman Miller would have been prohibited from offering his 
amendment on the floor. This open rule will protect the right of 
Members to bring important issues to the floor by allowing that 
amendment, and any others, to be offered on the floor for consideration 
by the full House.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this rule. It provides for 
fair consideration of a bill that is very important to the people of 
Minnesota, and at the same time it protects the rights of Members to 
offer amendments for consideration by the full House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule, which the Committee on Rules 
reported for a noncontroversial bill. We support the rule, and we urge 
our colleagues to approve it today.
  The Committee on Rules heard testimony last week about the 
noncontroversial nature of H.R. 614, which transfers ownership, without 
reimbursement, of the New London Fish Hatchery to the State of 
Minnesota. We were told that the State of Minnesota wants to preserve 
this property and is willing to make improvements and implement long-
term plans if it can assume ownership.
  This is just one of several fish hatcheries, formerly operated by the 
Federal Government, that the Fish and Wildlife Service plans to 
transfer to States, all without reimbursement to the United States for 
the land, equipment, and buildings at the hatchery sites.
  The gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] may offer an amendment to 
the bill that would require the State of Minnesota to pay the Federal 
Government the fair market value of the property.
  Under this rule, the amendment is in order, as is any other germane 
amendment. Our colleagues will be able to hear Mr. Miller's arguments 
for requiring an appraisal of this and the other fish hatcheries being 
transferred to States that are evidently using them, very successfully, 
for State recreational purposes. His amendment will also require the 
State to pay the Federal Government the fair market value of the 
property.
  Mr. Speaker, again, we support this open rule and urge our colleagues 
to approve it today.
  Mrs. WALDHOLTZ. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, I 
yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on 
the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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