[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H761-H763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN-ARIZONA SETTLEMENT ACT OF 1995

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1341) to provide for the transfer of certain lands to 
the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the city of 
Scottsdale, Arizona, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1341

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Saddleback Mountain-Arizona 
     Settlement Act of 1995''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the 
     city of Scottsdale, Arizona, have a longstanding interest in 
     a 701-acre tract of land known as the ``Saddleback 
     Property'', that lies within the boundaries of the City and 
     abuts the north boundary of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
     Indian Reservation;
       (2) the Saddleback Property includes Saddleback Mountain 
     and scenic hilly terrain along the Shea Boulevard corridor in 
     Scottsdale, Arizona, that--
       (A) has significant conservation value; and
       (B) is of historic and cultural significance to the 
     community;
       (3) in 1989, the Resolution Trust Corporation acquired the 
     Saddleback Property as a receiver for the Sun City Savings 
     and Loan Association;
       (4) after the Saddleback Property was noticed for sale by 
     the Resolution Trust Corporation, a dispute between the 
     Community and the City arose concerning the future ownership, 
     use, and development of the Saddleback Property;
       (5) the Community and the City each filed litigation with 
     respect to that dispute, but in lieu of pursuing that 
     litigation, the Community and the City negotiated a 
     Settlement Agreement that--
       (A) addresses the concerns of each of those parties with 
     respect to the future use and development of the Saddleback 
     Property; and
       (B) provides for the dismissal of the litigation;
       (6) under the Settlement Agreement, subject to detailed use 
     and development agreements--
       (A) the Community will purchase a portion of the Saddleback 
     Property; and
       (B) the City will purchase the remaining portion of that 
     property; and
       (7) the Community and the City agree that the enactment of 
     legislation by Congress to ratify the Settlement Agreement is 
     necessary in order for--
       (A) the Settlement Agreement to become effective; and
       (B) the United States to take into trust the property 
     referred to in paragraph (6)(A) and make that property a part 
     of the Reservation.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to approve and confirm the Settlement, Release, and 
     Property Conveyance Agreement executed by the Community, the 
     City, and the Resolution Trust Corporation;
       (2) to ensure that the Settlement Agreement (including the 
     Development Agreement, the Use Agreement, and all other 
     associated ancillary agreements and exhibits)--
       (A) is carried out; and
       (B) is fully enforceable in accordance with its terms, 
     including judicial remedies and binding arbitration 
     provisions; and
       (3) to provide for the taking into trust by the United 
     States of the portion of the Saddleback Property purchased by 
     the Community in order to make that portion a part of the 
     Reservation.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
     shall apply:
       (1) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of Scottsdale, 
     Arizona, which is a municipal corporation in the State of 
     Arizona.
       (2) Community.--The term ``Community'' means the Salt River 
     Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which is a federally 
     recognized Indian tribe.
       (3) Dedication property.--The term ``Dedication Property'' 
     means a portion of the Saddleback Property, consisting of 
     approximately 27 acres of such property, that the City will 
     acquire in accordance with the Settlement Agreement.
       (4) Development agreement.--The term ``Development 
     Agreement'' means the agreement between the City and the 
     Community, executed on September 11, 1995, that sets forth 
     conditions and restrictions that--
       (A) are supplemental to the Settlement, Release and 
     Property Conveyance Agreement referred to in paragraph 
     (11)(A); and
       (B) apply to the future use and development of the 
     Development Property.
       (5) Development property.--The term ``Development 
     Property'' means a portion of the Saddleback Property, 
     consisting of approximately 211 acres, that the Community 
     will acquire in accordance with the Settlement Agreement.
       (6) Mountain property.--The term ``Mountain Property'' 
     means a portion of the Saddleback Property, consisting of 
     approximately 365 acres, that the Community will acquire in 
     accordance with the Settlement Agreement.
       (7) Preservation property.--The term ``Preservation 
     Property'' means a portion of the Saddleback Property, 
     consisting of approximately 98 acres, that the City will 
     acquire in accordance with the Settlement Agreement.
       (8) Reservation.--The term ``Reservation'' means the Salt 
     River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.
       (9) Saddleback property.--The term ``Saddleback Property'' 
     means a tract of land that--
       (A) consists of approximately 701 acres within the city of 
     Scottsdale, Arizona; and
       (B) includes the Dedication Property, the Development 
     Property, the Mountain Property, and the Preservation 
     Property.
       (10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (11) Settlement agreement.--The term ``Settlement 
     Agreement''--
       (A) means the Settlement, Release and Property Conveyance 
     Agreement executed on September 11, 1995, by the Community, 
     the City, and the Resolution Trust Corporation (in its 
     capacity as the Receiver for the Sun State Savings and Loan 
     Association, F.S.A.); and
       (B) includes the Development Agreement, the Use Agreement, 
     and all other associated ancillary agreements and exhibits.
       (12) Use agreement.--The term ``Use Agreement'' means the 
     agreement between the City and the Community, executed on 
     September 11, 1995, that sets forth conditions and 
     restrictions that--
       (A) are supplemental to the Settlement, Release and 
     Property Conveyance Agreement referred to in paragraph 
     (11)(A); and
       (B) apply to the future use and development of the Mountain 
     Property.

     SEC. 4. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT.

       The Settlement Agreement is hereby approved and ratified 
     and shall be fully enforceable in accordance with its terms 
     and the provisions of this Act.

     SEC. 5. TRANSFER OF PROPERTIES.

       (a) In General.--Upon satisfaction of all conditions to 
     closing set forth in the Settlement Agreement, the Resolution 
     Trust Corporation shall transfer, pursuant to the terms of 
     the Settlement Agreement--
       (1) to the Secretary, the Mountain Property and the 
     Development Property purchased by the Community from the 
     Resolution Trust Corporation; and
       (2) to the City, the Preservation Property and the 
     Dedication Property purchased by the City from the Resolution 
     Trust Corporation.
       (b) Trust Status.--The Mountain Property and the 
     Development Property transferred pursuant to subsection 
     (a)(1) shall, subject to sections 6 and 7--
       (1) be held in trust by the United States for the 
     Community; and
       (2) become part of the Reservation.
       (c) Limitation on Liability.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the United States shall not incur any 
     liability for conditions, existing prior to the transfer, on 
     the parcels of land referred to in subsection (b) to be 
     transferred to the United States in trust for the Salt River 
     Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
       (d) Records.--Upon the satisfaction of all of the 
     conditions of closing set forth in the Settlement Agreement, 
     the Secretary shall file a plat of survey depicting the 
     Saddleback Property (that includes a depiction of the 
     Dedication Property, the Development Property, the Mountain 
     Property, and the Preservation Property) with--
       (1) the office of the Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona; 
     and
       (2) the Titles and Records Center of the Bureau of Indian 
     Affairs, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

     SEC. 6. LIMITATIONS ON USE AND DEVELOPMENT.

       Upon the satisfaction of all of the conditions of closing 
     set forth in the Settlement Agreement, the properties 
     transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
     5(a) shall be subject to the following limitations and 
     conditions on use and development:
       (1) Preservation property.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the Preservation Property shall be forever preserved in its 
     natural state for use only as a public park or recreation 
     area that shall--
       (i) be utilized and maintained for the purposes set forth 
     in section 4(C) of the Settlement Agreement; and
       (ii) be subject to the restrictions set forth in section 
     4(C) of the Settlement Agreement.
       (B) Shea boulevard.--At the sole discretion of the City, a 
     portion of the Preservation Property may be used to widen, 
     reconfigure, repair, or reengineer Shea Boulevard in 
     accordance with section 4(D) of the Settlement Agreement.
       (2) Dedication property.--The Dedication Property shall be 
     used to widen, reconfigure, repair, or reengineer Shea 
     Boulevard and 136th Street, in accordance with sections 4(D) 
     and 7 of the Settlement Agreement.
       (3) Mountain property.--Except for the areas in the 
     Mountain Property referred to 

[[Page H762]]
     as Special Cultural Land in section 5(C) of the Settlement Agreement, 
     the Mountain Property shall be forever preserved in its 
     natural state for use only as a public park or recreation 
     area that shall--
       (A) be utilized and maintained for the purposes set forth 
     in section 5(C) of the Settlement Agreement; and
       (B) be subject to the restrictions set forth in section 
     5(C) of the Settlement Agreement.
       (4) Development property.--The Development Property shall 
     be used and developed for the economic benefit of the 
     Community in accordance with the provisions of the Settlement 
     Agreement and the Development Agreement.

     SEC. 7. AMENDMENTS TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

       No amendment made to the Settlement Agreement (including 
     any deviation from an approved plan described in section 9(B) 
     of the Settlement Agreement) shall become effective, unless 
     the amendment--
       (1) is made in accordance with the applicable requirements 
     relating to the form and approval of the amendment under 
     sections 9(B) and 34 of the Settlement Agreement; and
       (2) is consistent with the provisions of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Gallegly] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] will be recognized for 
20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Gallegly].
  (Mr. GALLEGLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1341, the proposed Saddleback Mountain-Arizona 
Settlement Act of 1995, ratifies a land settlement agreement between 
the Resolution Trust Corporation, the city of Scottsdale, and the Salt 
River Pima-Maricopa Indian community.
  Seven hundred and one acres of land, currently held by the Resolution 
Trust Corporation, would be disposed of, pursuant to S. 1341, as 
follows: one 27-acre tract and one 98-acre tract would be purchased by 
the city of Scottsdale; and one 211-acre tract and one 365-acre tract 
would be purchased by the Salt River Tribe.
  Pending litigation between the parties would be dismissed.
  Each of the four tracts would be administered according to a detailed 
ownership, development, and use agreement.
  Finally, S. 1341 provides that the land purchased by the tribe will 
be taken into trust and become part of the Salt River Reservation.
  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, over time, ``there 
would be no significant net budgetary impact'' if S. 1341 is enacted 
into law.
  The administration has testified that it ``strongly support[s] the 
enactment of S. 1341''.
  I would also like to commend Congressman J.D. Hayworth for his 
leadership and tenacity in moving this ahead in an expeditious manner.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I recommend a favorable vote on S. 1341.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, this bill would approve an agreement 
among the Resolution Trust Corporation, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
Indian Community of Arizona, and the city of Scottsdale to divide 701 
acres of land known as the Saddleback Mountain property. In 1989, the 
RTC, in its capacity as receiver for the Sun State Savings and Loan 
Association, acquired the Saddleback Mountain property and noticed the 
land for sale. The Pima Tribe submitted the highest cash bid for the 
property offering $6.5 million. In response to this bid, the city of 
Scottsdale filed suit against the RTC to acquire the property through 
eminent domain. Reacting to the suit, the RTC rejected all bids on the 
land and prepared to transfer the land to the city of Scottsdale at 
which point the tribe sued the city and the RTC for damages.
  Finally, all sides agreed to negotiate a settlement. The agreement 
will allow the tribe to receive the bulk of the land, the city of 
Scottsdale to obtain land for preservation purposes and to address 
traffic flow problems, and the RTC will receive the full amount 
originally bid. All parties support this agreement and both lawsuits 
will be dismissed upon its enactment.
  I support enactment of this bill and ask my colleagues to support 
this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona [Mr. Hayworth].
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, at this juncture, I would also like to 
publicly thank the gentleman from California, chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Native American and Insular Affairs, along with the 
ranking member. It is great to have a chairman like the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Gallegly] and a ranking member like the gentleman from 
American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega], my dear friend, who have worked so 
hard to try and address and redress some areas that are in need of 
common sense and a consensus. So, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
from American Samoa very much for all of his efforts as well.
  Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned by my colleague, this legislation 
is to approve an agreement for the settlement of litigation over the 
Saddleback Mountain property in Arizona. The agreement provides for the 
sale by the RTC of part of the Saddleback Mountain property to the Salt 
River Pima Indian community, to be held in trust by the United States 
as part of the property to the city of Scottsdale.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is the result of months of negotiation 
between the city of Scottsdale and the Salt River Pima Tribe, and lacks 
solely to authorize and confirm the agreement and to provide that the 
property purchased by the tribe will be taken into trust reservation 
status.
  Mr. Speaker, again, as we take a look across our country, and as we 
take a look here in the Nation's Capital, so many contentious issues 
where at times we agree to disagree, I think it is especially 
noteworthy that here we have an example for, indeed, not only this 
august Chamber, but for the rest of the country, of local empowerment; 
of officials from the city of Scottsdale working with officials from 
the Salt River Pima Indian community to work out the problems to their 
mutual satisfaction, and then inviting the Federal Government to work 
to approve this. I think it typifies the notion of a new partnership 
and local empowerment.
  Again, I think it is important, as both the chairman of the 
subcommittee and the ranking member pointed out, S. 1341 does not 
authorize any expenditure of funds by the United States. So, this is a 
cost-free, or relatively cost-free item that again empowers local 
communities given the special trust relationship with the United States 
Government and the special things we needed to work out in this place 
of legislation.
  Undoubtedly, I would urge this august body to joint with our friends 
in the other body to adopt this and move forward. Once again, in 
conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I pause and thank my good friends, the 
chairman of the subcommittee and the distinguished ranking member, for 
all their efforts and call on my colleagues to overwhelmingly pass this 
common sense, practical approach to local empowerment and good 
government.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as has been stated earlier by my good friend, the 
gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Hayworth], I want to again express the true 
spirit of bipartisanship as we work towards agreement on some of the 
areas that were brought to the attention of both sides of the aisle. I 
commend my good friend from California, the chairman of the 
subcommittee, for his tremendous work in bringing this legislation to 
the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, just in conclusion, I would like to reiterate my 
appreciation for the help of the gentleman from American Samoa, Mr. 
Faleomavaega, the ranking member of the committee, and for the 
leadership that we had from our good friend from Arizona, Mr. Hayworth.

[[Page H763]]

  Mr. Speaker, having no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of my time.

                              {time}  1545

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. White). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Gallegly] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1341.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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