[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 165 (Tuesday, October 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RENEWAL OF HEIRS OF CERTAIN HISTORIC CABIN PERMITS IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL 
                                  PARK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from California [Mr. Radanovich] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation in 
defense of the property rights of cabin permittees at the Mineral King 
Area of Sequoia National Park. Many permittees in Mineral King are 
apprehensive about evictions from property that their families have 
used for decades, because the National Park Service no longer believes 
it has discretion to renew the permits of those permittees who die. 
This issue has the attributes of a Federal land seizure. What a 
discouraging sight it would be if these properties are boarded up and 
the families who have responsibly occupied these historic cabins are 
evicted. I believe that as a matter of public policy they should be 
allowed to continue using these cabins. It is in this spirit that I 
introduce this bill.

                                H.R. --

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. RENEWAL TO HEIRS OF CERTAIN HISTORIC CABIN PERMITS 
                   IN THE MINERAL KING ADDITION OF THE SEQUOIA 
                   NATIONAL PARK.

       Section 314(d)(2) of the National Parks and Recreation Act 
     of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 45f(d)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) by striking ``be reviewed by the Secretary, and may'' 
     in the first sentence; and
       (B) by inserting before the period at the end of the first 
     sentence the following: ``under the same terms and conditions 
     as those contained in such lease or permit'';
       (C) by striking ``shall be reviewed'' in the second 
     sentence;
       (D) by striking ``and may'' in the second sentence and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``shall''; and
       (E) by striking ``the date of enactment of this Act'' in 
     the third sentence and all that follows and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``November 10, 1978, or their heirs, and any such 
     lease or permit shall provide that the Secretary may 
     terminate the lease or permit only for a breach of the 
     specific conditions detailed in the lease or permit.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) In the case of any lease or permit which--
       ``(i) was continued under subparagraph (A);
       ``(ii) was held by a person who died after November 10, 
     1978; and
       ``(iii) expired on or before the date of the enactment of 
     this subparagraph without being renewed or extended under 
     subparagraph (B),

     the Secretary shall grant a renewal or extension of such 
     lease or permit to the heirs of the person in the same manner 
     as leases and permits are renewed or extended under 
     subparagraph (B) and under the same terms and conditions as 
     those applicable to such leases or permits.''.

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