[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 169 (Monday, October 30, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H11390-H11392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONVEYANCE OF NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE LABORATORY AT 
                             GLOUCESTER, MA

  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1358) to require the Secretary 

[[Page H 11391]]
of Commerce to convey to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the National 
Marine Fisheries Service laboratory located on Emerson Avenue in 
Gloucester, MA, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1358

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE 
                   LABORATORY AT GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall convey to 
     the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the property 
     comprising the National Marine Fisheries Service laboratory 
     located on Emerson Avenue in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
       (2) Terms.--A conveyance of property under paragraph (1) 
     shall be made--
       (A) without payment of consideration; and
       (B) subject to the terms and conditions specified under 
     subsections (b) and (c).
       (b) Conditions for Transfer.--
       (1) In general.--As a condition of any conveyance of 
     property under this section, the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts shall assume full responsibility for 
     maintenance of the property for as long as the Commonwealth 
     retains the rights and title to that property.
       (2) Continued use of property by nmfs.--The Secretary may 
     enter into a memorandum of understanding with the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts under which the National Marine 
     Fisheries Service is authorized to occupy existing laboratory 
     space on the property conveyed under this section, if--
       (A) the term of the memorandum of understanding is for a 
     period of not longer than 5 years beginning on the date of 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (B) the square footage of the space to be occupied by the 
     National Marine Fisheries Service does not conflict with the 
     needs of, and is agreeable to, the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts.
       (c) Reversionary Interest.--All right, title, and interest 
     in and to all property and interests conveyed under this 
     section shall revert to the United States on the date on 
     which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts uses any of the 
     property for any purpose other than the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries resource 
     management program.
       (d) Restriction.--Amounts provided by the South Essex 
     Sewage District may not be used by the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts to transfer existing activities to, or conduct 
     activities at, property conveyed under this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts [Mr. Torkildsen] will be recognized for 5 minutes, and 
the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair, recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
Torkildsen].
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1358 is noncontroversial legislation to transfer 
the National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory in Gloucester, MA, to 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This legislation has been worked out 
on both sides of the aisle, and has the support of Governor Weld and 
the administration.
  The National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory in Gloucester has 
been an important component of the fishing community in New England, 
since its construction in 1968. Due to the National Marine Fisheries 
Service restructuring, many of the duties performed at the lab have 
been transferred to other labs along the coast. It was believed the 
Gloucester lab would shut its doors forever. However, I worked closely 
with State officials to ensure the lab would remain open. The 
Commonwealth was looking for space for their new State fisheries lab 
and the Gloucester lab was a good match.
  The Commonwealth has formed an academic consortium with the 
University of Massachusetts and Salem State College to investigate the 
many challenges the fishing community faces. Specifically, the 
consortium will focus on the manufacturing of value-added seafood 
products from underutilized species such as Atlantic mackerel, herring, 
whiting, and dogfish.
  Currently, Georges Bank is closed to fishing for valuable groundfish 
such as haddock, cod, and flounder. Fishing families are facing the 
extra burden of trying to make ends meet in a time when they cannot 
fish. However, all is not lost. There is an abundance of underutilized 
species which do not currently have a market. The consortium will 
maximize the resources at the lab to investigate new products made from 
these underutilized species. These value-added products will enable New 
England fishing families to work while the haddock, cod, and flounder 
stocks have time to recover. The new lab will continue to be an 
important component of the New England fishing community.
  This legislation requires the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to 
conduct fisheries research; otherwise, the laboratory will revert back 
to the control of the Federal taxpayers.
  As I previously stated, this legislation has been worked out on both 
sides of the aisle, and the administration supports this transfer.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I look forward 
to its passage today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. STUDDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, believe it or not, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts [Mr. Torkildsen] has said all there is to be said on this 
subject. This is a bill which the House passed in essentially this form 
in the last Congress. We should continue to pass it, and hope that the 
other body recognizes the wisdom of it. I commend the gentleman for 
doing it.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill.
  Is has been almost 3 years since the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
first approached me about the possibility of taking over the operations 
of the Gloucester lab. The Division of Marine Fisheries' lab was to be 
closed and the Commonwealth was in search of a new facility. The 
Gloucester lab, which had been slated for closure by NMFS for several 
years seemed a perfect fit. Legislation was introduced and passed by 
the House to transfer the title of the property, but it never became 
law, forcing the bill to be reintroduced this year.
  This legislation is modeled after the multitude of hatchery transfer 
bills that have been considered by the House in the past. The 
Commonwealth will assume title to the property and responsibility for 
all improvements and modifications to the facility. The interests of 
the Federal Government are protected by a reversionary clause that 
requires the property to revert to Federal ownership should it no 
longer be used for a fishery lab. The Division of Marine Fisheries has 
also agreed to provide office and lab space to NMFS scientists as 
needed. This is a win-win situation for Massachusetts and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, and I urge Members to support it today.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1358, 
introduced by our distinguished colleague from Massachusetts, 
Congressman Peter Torkildsen.
  This legislation will convey all right, title, and interest to the 
National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory in Gloucester to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  The Federal Government acquired this land from the city of Gloucester 
over 60 years ago for $1. It has now been classified as surplus Federal 
property, and the National Marine Fisheries Service will soon transfer 
its few remaining scientists from that facility.
  Instead of closing this laboratory, however, the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts has indicated its desire to move its Division of Marine 
Fisheries to Gloucester and to undertake shellfish and water quality 
testing, striped bass and northern shrimp management, sea sampling, and 
field biological studies. In fact, the Commonwealth has testified that 
the Gloucester laboratory is ideally suited for its marine fishery 
programs.
  This bill is an important partnership with the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, and its marine fisheries program will benefit many 
Americans. Furthermore, the property will revert back to the Federal 
Government if the Commonwealth attempts to use the facilities for any 
other purpose.
  It is my understanding that both the Clinton administration and the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts strongly support H.R. 1358. I urge an 
``aye'' vote on the bill, and I compliment Peter Torkildsen for his 
outstanding leadership in this matter.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Torkildsen] that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1358, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. 


[[Page H 11392]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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