[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17667-S17668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Lott, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Cohen, 
        Mr. Exon, Mr. Pressler, and Mr. Warner):
  S. 1429. A bill to provide clarification in the reimbursement to 
States for federally funded employees carrying out Federal programs 
during the lapse in appropriations between November 14, 1995, through 
November 19, 1995, to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.


Reimbursement for Furloughed Federal Employees During Recent Government 
                          Shutdown Legislation

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I introduce legislation relating 
to the recently enacted continuing appropriations resolution and 
concerns that have been raised regarding the payment of furloughed 
employees during the 6-day Government closure. I am joined in offering 
this legislation by my distinguished colleagues, Senators Lott and 
Senator Warner.
  Mr. President, the furlough pay language that the Congress adopted as 
part of House Joint Resolution 122, the continuing resolution, is 
language that previous Congresses have adopted to provide compensation 
to Federal employees during periods of Government closure.
  This language was enacted to provide compensation to Federal 
employees affected by Government closure in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1990. 
This language was provided to Congress by the administration to meet 
our stated intent that Federal workers should not suffer a loss of pay 
as a result of the 6-day closure of the Federal Government.
  It has now been brought to our attention that the language included 
in the continuing resolution may inadvertently not cover all employees 
who were subject to the furlough. The administration has indicated that 
there are State employees paid with 100 percent Federal funds who make 
disability determinations and administer unemployment insurance 
benefits, for example, that may not be covered by the language in the 
continuing resolution regarding the payment of compensation during the 
recent 6-day shutdown of the Federal Government.
  I am therefore introducing legislation to clarify our intent that all 
furloughed Federal workers, including federally funded workers, 
affected by the shutdown of the Federal Government receive their pay as 
Congress intended. The legislation ensures that 100 percent federally-
funded State employees affected by the furlough receive their pay, and 
that States using their own funds to make up for the lack of Federal 
funds for these employees are reimbursed to carry out 100 percent 
federally-supported functions.
  Mr. President, it was and is clearly the intent of the Congress to 
pay Federal workers for the 6-day period of the Government shutdown. 
The language enacted in the continuing resolution has been used in 
previous years to successfully address this situation. I hope the 
language does so this year. If not, I urge my colleagues to adopt the 
bill I am introducing to clarify our intent on this matter.
                                  _____

                                 
[[Page S 17668]]

      By Mr. PRESSLER (for himself, and Mr. Daschle):
  S. 1430. A bill to authorize a land conveyance at the radar bomb-
scoring site, Belle Fourche, SD; to the Committee on Armed Services.


                      LAND CONVEYANCE LEGISLATION

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that would transfer Air Force radar bomb-scoring facilities near Belle 
Fourche, SD, to the local Belle Fourche School District. The Air Force 
has declared facilities located at Detachment 21 of the 554th Range 
Squadron as excess Federal property. The Air Force is expected to 
dispose of the excess bomb-scoring facilities in July 1996.
  Mr. President, the transfer of excess Air Force facilities to the 
Belle Fourche School District would relieve overcrowded local public 
educational facilities in a school district with increasing 
enrollments. Currently, the Belle Fourche School District is one of the 
poorest school districts in South Dakota. A small tax base coupled with 
a proposed additional tax burden for the renovation of the old 
Roosevelt school building prompted local taxpayers to reject two bond 
issues that would have relieved the growing classroom crowding problem. 
The transfer of excess Air Force facilities to the Belle Fourche School 
District is a responsible, cost-effective approach to addressing an 
increasingly serious local problem. It is an example of two levels of 
government cooperating for a common good. The transfer of excess Air 
Force facilities would help provide a quality educational environment 
for many schoolchildren living in Belle Fourche.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that resolutions of support 
for my legislation from State, county, city and local governments be 
included in the Record. I further ask unanimous consent the full text 
of the bill be printed in the Record. I urge my colleagues to adopt 
this important legislation.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1430

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

     SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, RADAR BOMB SCORING SITE, BELLE 
                   FOURCHE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of the Air Force 
     may convey, without consideration, to the Belle Fourche 
     School District, Belle Fourche, South Dakota (in this section 
     referred to as the ``District''), all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real 
     property, together with any improvements thereon, consisting 
     of approximately 37 acres located in Belle Fourche, South 
     Dakota, which has served as the location of a support complex 
     and housing facilities for Detachment 21 of the 554th Range 
     Squadron, an Air Force Radar Bomb Scoring Site located in 
     Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The conveyance may not include 
     any portion of the radar bomb scoring site located in the 
     State of Wyoming.
       (b) Condition of Conveyance.--The conveyance authorized 
     under subsection (a) shall be subject to the condition that 
     the District--
       (1) use the property and facilities conveyed under that 
     subsection for education, economic development, and housing 
     purposes; or
       (2) enter into an agreement with an appropriate public or 
     private entity to sell or lease the property and facilities 
     to such entity for such purposes.
       (c) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the property conveyed under this section shall 
     be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. The 
     cost of the survey shall be borne by the District.
       (d) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under this section as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.
                                                                    ____



                                        State of South Dakota,

                                                November 15, 1995.
     Mr. Wade Pehl,
     Belle Fourche School District 9-1,
     Belle Fourche, SD.
       Dear Mr. Pehl: I am certainly pleased to lend my support to 
     the proposed acquisition of the Air Force Detachment 21 site 
     in Belle Fourche by the Belle Fourche School District. The 
     potential for public good is remarkable. Not only will it 
     address certain critical facility needs of the school 
     district, it will provide badly needed moderate income 
     housing for the Belle Fourche community. I am especially 
     pleased with the cooperative spirit that has been evident in 
     this project between the various local governments; it is 
     this type of cooperation that will provide innovative 
     solutions to many community challenges.
       You and the entire board are to be commended for your 
     creativity in this matter. Please be assured that you have my 
     wholehearted support in this undertaking. If I may be of 
     further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my 
     office.
           Sincerely,
                                               William J. Janklow,
     Governor.
                                                                    ____


       Board of Butte County Commissioners Resolution of Support

       It Is Hereby Resolved by the Butte County Board of 
     Commissioners that a majority of the Board supports a 
     proposed U.S. Senate Bill to authorize a land conveyance at 
     the Detachment 21 of the 554th Range Squadron, an Air Force 
     Radar Bomb Scoring Site in Belle Fourche, South Dakota to the 
     Belle Fourche School District, Belle Fourche, South Dakota.
       Dated this 21st day of November 1995.
                                                                    ____


                               Resolution

       Whereas, it has come to the attention of the Common Council 
     of the City of Belle Fourche, Butte County, South Dakota, of 
     the proposed termination of the support complex and housing 
     facilities for Detachment 21 of the 554th range Squadron, an 
     Air Force Radar Bomb Scoring Site located in Belle Fourche; 
     and
       Whereas, the Belle Fourche School District No. 9-1, is in 
     need of an additional site so as to provide adequate public 
     education facilities for its citizens and patrons; and
       Whereas, the Common council of the City recognizes the need 
     to provide adequate facilities for education within the 
     community and feels that the complex has great potential to 
     enhance the program for learning within the City;
       Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Common Council of 
     the City of Belle Fourche does hereby support the transfer of 
     ownership of the support complex and housing facilities for 
     U. S. Air Force Detachment 21 located in Belle Fourche, South 
     Dakota to the Belle Fourche School District No. 9-1.
       Dated at Belle Fourche, this 20th day of November 1995.
                                                                    ____


 Belle Fourche School District Board of Education Resolution of Support

       It Is Hereby Resolved by the Belle Fourche School District 
     9-1 Board of Education that the Board fully supports the 
     transfer of the United States Air Force property in Belle 
     Fourche, South Dakota, to the Belle Fourche School District 
     9-1 as a ``public benefit transfer.'' Transfer of the support 
     complex and housing facilities for Detachment 21 of the 554th 
     Range Squadron for use by the Belle Fourche School District 
     9-1 would benefit Belle Fourche School District 9-1 and such 
     a transfer has the full and unqualified support of the Belle 
     Fourche School District 9-1 Board of Education.
       Dated this 13th day of November 1995, at Belle Fourche, 
     South Dakota.
                                 ______