[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 126 (Tuesday, August 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H8137-H8138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE ILLINOIS LAND CONSERVATION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Weller] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House passed H.R. 714, the 
Illinois Land Conservation Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support. 
While a similar bill passed the House last session, time was short and 
the Senate did not have time to act on the bill. I am pleased we were 
able to move the bill through the House and I am working with my 
Senators to ensure that the legislation moves quickly through the other 
body with bipartisan support.
  I would like to take a minute to speak briefly about the importance 
of this legislation. This bipartisan measure is supported by virtually 
the entire Illinois delegation, the Governor of Illinois Jim Edgar, a 
large number of veterans, environment and conservation organizations, 
business and labor, private citizens and a broad coalition of groups
 interested in making this project a reality. H.R. 714 serves as a 
model for communities looking at future use for closed and surplus 
military facilities.

  In April 1993, the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant was declared excess 
Federal property. Congressman George Sangmeister appointed a citizens 
planning commission that developed a re-use plan, which is encompassed 
in my legislation. This innovative land use plan could very well be 
seen as a model for converting base closures into peacetime uses. It 
will create the largest national tallgrass prairie east of the 
Mississippi, and will have enormous environmental, economic, and 
educational benefits to offer for many years to come. In our 
increasingly urbanized society, it is important to take note of the 
opportunity we have to preserve such a large tract of land for wildlife 
habitat and prairieland preservation, and also to incorporate a 
national cemetery to honor those veterans who have served their 
country, and to improve the economy and create jobs.
  The largest portion of the arsenal property, 19,000 acres, will be 
transferred to the National Forest Service for creation of the Midewin 
National Tallgrass Prairie. This is very crucial to a State that once 
had more than 43,000 square miles of prairieland, most of which has now 
been developed into towns and cities. Over 6 million people live within 
45 miles of the land. Trails, camping, wildlife watching and other 
recreational activities are planned. The proposed prairieland is home 
to many species of birds and animals that are on both Federal and State 
endangered and threatened lists. Among these are the Upland Sandpiper, 
the Marsh Yellow Crest, and numerous species of fish, insects and plant 
life.
  The plan also includes a veterans cemetery which will occupy close to 
1,000 acres on the arsenal property. This cemetery, which will be one 
of the largest in the United States, will serve more than a million 
veterans and their families within a 75-mile radius. The site of the 
cemetery, known as Hoff Woods, is a beautiful and tranquil setting of 
forests and rolling hills; a perfect location for a nation for a 
national cemetery.
  The plan also includes two sites, a total of 3,000 acres, to be used 
for economic development. These two sites are seen as ideal for job 
creation, and many manufacturing companies would find sites like these 
well suited to their needs. Not only is the land equipped for economic 
development, but there are a series of water wells and pumping stations 
with the capacity to pump up to 77 million gallons of water each day. 
This portion of the redevelopment plan is very important to the 
surrounding communities. This use of the land will put many local men 
and women to work and stimulate the economy. The Illinois General 
Assembly has already created the Joliet Arsenal Economic Development 
Authority to effectively implement this plan.
  This bill will also benefit the American taxpayer. Upon receiving the 
land, the USDA plans to sell surplus assets such as railway equipment 
and steel from the arsenal property. The Congressional Budget Office 
estimates a result of asset sale receipts totaling $3.5 million over 
fiscal years 1996 and 1997. Agricultural leases on the property 
currently bring in about $1.1 million in receipts annually. Also, USDA 
expects to collect annual user fees of about $3 million from
 visitors to the new Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. In sum, CBO 
estimates that enacting H.R. 714 would decrease outlays by about $1 
million in 1996, $1 million in 1997, and $2 million in 1998 for a total 
savings of $4 million over the next 3 years.

  The hard work and commitment of many people went into the success of 
this bill. Of course, I would like to thank former Congressman George 
Sangmeister, who initiated this process. I would also like to thank the 
Governor of Illinois Jim Edgar, and my fellow Illinois colleagues who 
have supported this concept plan. Special thanks go out to Fran Harty 
and Brent Manning of the Illinois Department of Conservation, Jerry 
Adelman and the Openlands Project, John Turner of the Conservation 
Fund, Ruth Fitzgerald of the Will County Center for Economic 
Development, Don Walden the head of my veterans advisory committee, and 
Lt. Col. Alan Kruse former Commander of the Joliet Arsenal. Of course, 
I also extend my gratitude to Chairmen Pat Roberts, Bud Shuster, Tom 
Bliley, and Floyd Spence; and to the majority whip Tom DeLay, and 
majority leader Dick Armey for their assistance in moving this bill 
through the House in a timely fashion.
  I am very pleased with the success of everyone's bipartisan efforts. 
The hard work and commitment by all involved demonstrates what can 
happen when people work together to make a difference.
  The plan approved by the House yesterday is a win-win-win for 
taxpayers, veterans, conservation, and working families.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a Chicago Tribune article 
regarding the legislation to convert the former Joliet Arsenal.

               [From the Chicago Tribune, July 16, 1995]

                  A Critical Moment For Joliet Arsenal

       Legislation to convert the former Joliet Arsenal to 
     peacetime uses is a congressman's dream: It offers so much 
     good in so many ways--for generations to come--that it is 
     almost impossible to oppose.
       That's why it has enjoyed such broad-based and remarkably 
     bipartisan support so far, from citizens, business people, 
     preservation groups and local officials to the Illinois 
     General Assembly, Gov. Jim Edgar, the Clinton administration 
     and U.S. representatives and senators on both sides of the 
     aisle.
       It has been moving efficiently through Congress, but now it 
     faces another critical hurdle with the House Agriculture 
     Committee--which holds lead jurisdiction on the legislation--
     about to take it up for recommendation to the full House. If 
     the committee approves--and it is strongly urged to do so--
     the plan could have final approval by the August break.
       The legislation almost made it through the last Congress, 
     until last-minute technical mischief by U.S. Sen. John Glenn 
     (D-Ohio) stalled it. It was a blow to retired U.S. Rep. 
     George Sangmeister (D-Ill.), who spearheaded the arsenal-
     conversion movement. His successor, U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller 
     (R-Ill.), resurrected it with the pledge to make it his top 
     legislative priority.
       That he has done, and the new version of the legislation 
     may be even better than the old, clearing potential stumbling 
     blocks, providing a more detailed transfer procedure and 
     adding some additional benefits--including tapping the 
     arsenal's vast water supply for development and for nearby 
     communities.
       A less comprehensive Senate version would have to be 
     reconciled, but U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) is leading 
     cooperation toward that end.
       The genius of the concept is its provision for mixed use, a 
     model for this type of conversion.
       Of the 23,500 acres, almost 1,000 would be set aside for a 
     new veterans' cemetery, the largest in the system and one 
     desperately needed in the Midwest.
       Will County would get more than 400 acres for a landfill, 
     with provision to give the Army space for non-hazardous waste 
     from its arsenal cleanup.
       Some 3,000 acres would be set aside for industrial 
     development under a state authority, generating both jobs and 
     new tax revenue for local communities.
       And the centerpiece, of course, would be the transfer of 
     19,000 acres to the U.S. Forest Service to create the Midewin 
     National Tallgrass Prairie, the largest of its kind east of 
     the Mississippi--an oasis for human recreation and wildlife 
     prosperity in reach of some 8 million people in a 60-mile 
     radius.
       For all this, the Congressional Budget Office also 
     estimates that transfer of the arsenal could save the federal 
     government $4 million over 3 years.

[[Page H8138]]

       Too good to be true? Certainly too good to delay.

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. WELLER. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. HUNTER. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I wanted to say I was 
walking by the floor when I saw the gentleman making his presentation, 
and those of us on the Committee on National Security were very 
impressed with your plan for the Joliet Arsenal. We have waived 
jurisdiction so it can go on down an expedited process to come to 
fruition.
  When the people of your congressional district have this great asset, 
and this program is completed, they will have one person to thank for 
it, and that is Jerry Weller. We appreciate your work on this, and 
anything that we can do in the Committee on National Security to 
expedite it, we are there, and I thank the gentleman.

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