[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 99 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE A LAND TRANSFER BY THE CLINT AND FABENS 
                      INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD D. COLEMAN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 1995

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to announce that I am introducing 
legislation to remove from existing Federal law an obstacle which 
prevents two school districts from making important decisions regarding 
land which they were granted by the Federal Government 38 years ago. 
Through minor changes in existing legislation, this Congress can give 
the Fabens and Clint independent school districts the power to 
determine how to make the most effective use of land they have been 
capably utilizing for almost four decades.
  Since 1957, Clint and Fabens independent school districts in Texas 
have used federally bestowed land to enhance their agricultural and 
vocational curriculum. Placing an educational farm on land which the 
Federal Government had previously ignored for 23 years, the Clint 
school district has been able to add another dimension to their 
educational programming, and teach valuable skills to their students.
  Over the years, however, getting students to the educational farm has 
grown increasingly problematic. Located 2 miles beyond the outermost 
boundaries of the Clint independent school district, school officials 
and teachers must daily confront the difficulties and dangers of 
getting students safely from Clint schools to a farm which now lies in 
another district. Students and teachers must hope that a considerable 
trip through busy streets will not tragically alter the progress these 
students are making. It would make sense, some argue, for Clint to sell 
the land and use the proceeds to enhance its other vocational and 
technological programs. Unfortunately, such a sensible course of action 
is not allowed by current law.

  As existing law is written, the ability of the school districts to 
make decisions in regard to that land have been bracketed by a 
reversionary clause in the law. This clause states that any attempt to 
dispose of the land would result in making the land property of the 
Federal Government once again. Clinton and Fabens are, therefore, 
confined by a 38-year-old straitjacket. They can either keep the land 
no matter how greatly local circumstances change, or they can surrender 
it to the Government and leave their students with even fewer 
vocational resources than they currently possess.
  At a time when we are all appreciating the complexities and virtues 
of a Federal system that gives localities important decisionmaking 
powers, I am confident that most of my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle understand the importance of letting school districts decide how 
to best utilize property that has been under their supervision for 
close to 40 years.
  Therefore, today I am introducing legislation which would waive the 
reversionary right stipulated in Public Law 85-42, and untie the hands 
of Fabens and Clint. Passage of this legislation would signal that this 
Congress is capable of recognizing instances when we can help our 
schools and students by intelligently scaling back the reach of the 
Federal Government.
  Before the 85th Congress granted these districts the right to use 
this land, the Federal Government said for 23 years that it would soon 
build something on the land. After those two decades of inactivity, 
Clint, Fabens, and the Congress finally realized that the people of the 
community could make better use of the land than the Federal Government 
had. I urge my colleagues not to return to those years of inactivity 
and require the land to disappear into the labrynthian maze of Federal 
bureaucracy.
  Waiving the reversionary right is a simple and straightforward way to 
help the young people in my district in Texas. The language in the 
proposed legislation is narrowly tailored to ensure that any proceeds 
which come from any sale of land go to improving the education of 
students in two school districts. Moreover, by passing this bill, 
Congress can demonstrate that empowering localities is not a blind leap 
of faith, but a definite process which requires the Members of this 
body to be sensitive to local realities and local solutions. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.

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