[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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