[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H11798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LAND EXCHANGE AT FIRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1163) to authorize the exchange of National Park Service 
land in the Fire Island National Seashore in the State of New York for 
land in the village of Patchogue, Suffolk County, NY, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1163

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF EXCHANGE.

       The Secretary of the Interior may exchange all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to certain 
     National Park Service lands in the Fire Island National 
     Seashore in the State of New York, described in section 2, 
     for all right, title, and interest of the Village of 
     Patchogue, Suffolk County, New York, in and to certain lands 
     in the Village of Patchogue, described in section 2, without 
     further consideration.

     SEC. 2. DESCRIPTION OF LANDS TO BE EXCHANGED.

       (a) National Park Lands.--The National Park Service lands 
     in the Fire Island National Seashore, in the State of New 
     York, referred to in section 1 are the lands generally 
     depicted on the map entitled ``Fire Island National Seashore 
     Land Exchange--Proposed'', dated October 1994.
       (b) Village of Patchogue Lands.--The lands in the Village 
     of Patchogue, Suffolk County, New York, referred to in 
     section 1 are the lands generally depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Village of Patchogue Land Exchange--Proposed'', 
     dated October 1994.
       (c) Maps.--The maps referred to in subsections (a) and (b) 
     shall be on file and available for inspection in the Office 
     of the Director of the National Park Service.

     SEC. 3. LANDS ACQUIRED BY SECRETARY.

       The lands in the Village of Patchogue that are acquired by 
     the Secretary of the Interior under section 1 shall be added 
     to and administered as part of the Fire Island National 
     Seashore.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon [Mr. Cooley] and the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Richardson] 
each will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Cooley].
  (Mr. COOLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1163, sponsored by Mr. Forbes, 
which would authorize the exchange of National Park Service land in the 
Fire Island National Seashore in the State of New York for land in the 
village of Patchogue, Suffolk County, NY.
  H.R. 1163, introduced by Mr. Forbes authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to exchange approximately 8 acres of riverfront property 
currently within the Fire Island National Seashore for approximately 2 
acres owned by the village of Patchogue, NY.
  The village of Patchogue intends that the riverfront area be lightly 
developed with retail shops and restaurants. Currently, the Patchogue 
land consists of a large paved area and a few buildings. Fire Island 
needs the property for overflow parking, vehicle maintenance, and 
perhaps some office space.
  I urge the Members of the House to support this measure that was 
favorably reported by the House Resources Committee by unanimous voice 
vote and commend its sponsor for his hard work.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, this bill would authorize the exchange 
of land located in Fire Island National Seashore for land owned by the 
village of Patchogue, NY. This is a good bill. It is a good exchange 
between the local and Federal governments with respect to the area.
  It is a good tradeoff for both sides. It is expected that Fire Island 
National Seashore would use the acquired land to address the needs for 
overflow parking, vehicle maintenance, and office space, while the 
village of Patchogue would use its acquired land for commercial 
development, including retail shops and restaurants. As I said, this 
bill will satisfy the needs of both the local and the Federal 
governments with respect to the area, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Forbes].
  (Mr. FORBES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on the 
Committee on Resources for their expeditious handling of this vital 
piece of legislation.
  H.R. 1163 would authorize an exchange of two small parcels in the 
district I am privileged to represent on eastern Long Island. It would 
be basically an even exchange involving no money.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fire Island National Seashore, which is one of the 
pristine parks on Long Island, and the village of Patchogue have worked 
hand in hand to bring about this exchange of land. The first parcel is 
about 1\1/2\ acres. It is undeveloped property along the Patchogue 
River with literally about 20 percent of the parcel under water. And it 
currently is part of the Fire Island National Seashore.
  The second parcel is 1.1 acres and it is a paved area currently owned 
by the village of Patchogue and being used as a parking lot. The Fire 
Island National Seashore is in need of a facility, a paved facility, 
where they can administer their vehicles and have a storage area and 
for other activity such as overflow parking, storage, et cetera, and a 
parcel of land, that they do not want to be dependent upon a waterfront 
location.
  Likewise, the village of Patchogue would like riverfront parcels for 
the purposes of providing for economic development. Patchogue has 
fallen on difficult times in recent years, and working hand in hand 
with the mayor of Patchogue, Franklyn S. ``Whitey'' Lewendowsky, and 
the village board, they are working tirelessly to look for ways for 
economic development in the village of Patchogue. The village of 
Patchogue, being affectionately referred to as the downtown area of 
Brookhaven town.
  Patchogue is hoping that this responsible economic redevelopment with 
the use of capital and job creation will help put a shot in the arm for 
Patchogue and help to revitalize this critical area in my district.
  The exchange is supported by all sides. This is certainly a wonderful 
example of where local and Federal Government can work hand in hand for 
the benefit of all the people. The Park Service has several compliance 
measures that they need to deal with before the actual exchange can 
take place, but if we authorize it today, everything will be in order 
when the Park Service completes those vital steps.
  I ask for unanimous consent to pass this important piece of 
legislation.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for their assistance in making possible 
the passage of this measure.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill.
  I would like this body to note the outstanding bipartisanship, 
especially exhibited by the minority, in the passage of all of these 
majority Republican bills that are going through and the equanimity and 
the collegiality in making these bills a reality.
  Mr. Speaker, I Yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New 
Mexico for his benevolence. I do appreciate that very much. I also want 
to thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Forbes] for this legislation.
  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 Oregon [Mr. Cooley] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1163, 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.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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