[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2069-H2070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HISTORIC CHATTAHOOCHEE COMPACT

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2064) to grant the consent of Congress to an amendment of the 
historic Chattahoochee compact between the States of Alabama and 
Georgia.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2064

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

     SECTION 1. CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO THE HISTORIC CHATTAHOOCHEE 
                   COMPACT BETWEEN THE STATES OF ALABAMA AND 
                   GEORGIA.

       The consent of Congress is given to the amendment of 
     articles I, II, and III of the Historic Chattahoochee Compact 
     between the States of Alabama and Georgia, which articles, as 
     amended, read as follows:


                              ``ARTICLE I

       ``The purpose of this compact is to promote the cooperative 
     development of the Chattahoochee valley's full potential for 
     historic preservation and tourism and to establish a joint 
     interstate authority to assist in these efforts.


                              ``ARTICLE II

       ``This compact shall become effective immediately as to the 
     States ratifying it whenever the States of Alabama and 
     Georgia have ratified it and Congress has given consent 
     thereto.


                             ``ARTICLE III

       ``The States which are parties to this compact (hereinafter 
     referred to as `party States') do hereby establish and create 
     a joint agency which shall be known as the Historic 
     Chattahoochee Commission (hereinafter referred to as the 
     `Commission'). The Commission shall consist of 28 members who 
     shall be bona fide residents and qualified voters of the 
     party States and counties served by the Commission. Election 
     for vacant seats shall be by majority vote of the voting 
     members of the Commission board at a regularly scheduled 
     meeting. In Alabama, two shall be residents of Barbour 
     County, two shall be residents of Russell County, two 
     shall be residents of Henry County, two shall be residents 
     of Chambers County, two shall be residents of Lee County, 
     two shall be residents of Houston County, and two shall be 
     residents of Dale County. In Georgia, one shall be a 
     resident of Troup County, one shall be a resident of 
     Harris County, one shall be a resident of Muscogee County, 
     one shall be a resident of Chattahoochee County, one shall 
     be a resident of Stewart County, one shall be a resident 
     of Randolph County, one shall be a resident of Clay 
     County, one shall be a resident of Quitman County, one 
     shall be a resident of Early County, one shall be a 
     resident of Seminole County, and one shall be a resident 
     of Decatur County. In addition, there shall be three at-
     large members who shall be selected from any three of the 
     Georgia member counties listed above. The Commission at 
     its discretion may appoint as many advisory members as it 
     deems necessary from any Georgia or Alabama County, which 
     is located in the Chattahoochee Valley area. The 
     contribution of each party State shall be in equal 
     amounts. If the party States fail to appropriate equal 
     amounts to the Commission during any given fiscal year, 
     voting membership on the Commission board shall be 
     determined as follows: The State making the larger 
     appropriation shall be entitled to full voting membership. 
     The total number of members from the other State shall be 
     divided into the amount of the larger appropriation and 
     the resulting quotient

[[Page H2070]]

     shall be divided into the amount of the smaller 
     appropriation. The then resulting quotient, rounded to the 
     next lowest whole number, shall be the number of voting 
     members from the State making the smaller contribution. 
     The members of the Commission from the State making the 
     larger contribution shall decide which of the members from 
     the other State shall serve as voting members, based upon 
     the level of tourism, preservation, promotional activity, 
     and general support of the Commission's activities by and 
     in the county of residence of each of the members of the 
     State making the smaller appropriation. Such determination 
     shall be made at the next meeting of the Commission 
     following September 30 of each year. Members of the 
     Commission shall serve for terms of office as follows: Of 
     the 14 Alabama members, one from each of said counties 
     shall serve for two years and the remaining member of each 
     county shall serve for four years. Upon the expiration of 
     the original terms of office of Alabama members, all 
     successor Alabama members shall be appointed for four-year 
     terms of office, with seven vacancies in the Alabama 
     membership occurring every two years. Of the 14 Georgia 
     members, seven shall serve four-year terms and seven two-
     year terms for the initial term of this compact. The terms 
     of the individual Georgia voting members shall be 
     determined by their place in the alphabet by alternating 
     the four- and two-year terms beginning with Chattahoochee 
     County, four years, Clay County, two years, Decatur 
     County, four years, etc. Upon the expiration of the 
     original terms of office of Georgia members, all successor 
     Georgia members shall be appointed for four-year terms of 
     office, with seven vacancies in the Georgia membership 
     occurring every two years. Of the three Georgia at-large 
     board members, one shall serve a four-year term and two 
     shall serve two-year terms.
       ``All board members shall serve until their successors are 
     appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled by the 
     voting members of the Commission. The first chairman of the 
     commission created by this compact shall be elected by the 
     board of directors from among its voting membership. Annually 
     thereafter, each succeeding chairman shall be selected by the 
     members of the Commission. The chairmanship shall rotate each 
     year among the party States in order of their acceptance of 
     this compact. Members of the Commission shall serve without 
     compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for 
     actual expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of 
     the Commission.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] and the gentleman from Rhode Island [Mr. Reed] 
will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas].
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the question recurs on the need for congressional action 
on a compact that has heretofore been entered into between two States. 
In this particular case, the instant legislation is one where a 
contract or compact had been entered into between Alabama and Georgia 
as required by our Constitution.
  The problem was that in 1978 when they created this Historic 
Chattahoochee Commission, a Bi-State Heritage and Tourism Agency which 
serves 11 Georgia and 7 Alabama counties along the Lower Chattahoochee 
River, the States recently found that they wanted to change the 
nomination process for the commission's board, so in 1993 they each 
enacted an amendment, Georgia on the one hand, Alabama on the other 
hand. Their legislatures acted, and now they come to us to seek 
approval through the constitutional process.
  We in the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law heard 
testimony on this legislation and reported it to the full Committee on 
the Judiciary on October 19. The Committee on the Judiciary reported 
favorably on the bill by voice vote, and we are here.
  Neither I nor anyone that I know of has any objection to the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, again I rise in support of this legislation. I know of 
no objections to this legislation. As the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
has explained, H.R. 2064 amends the Chattahoochee compact between the 
States of Alabama and Georgia to change the method for filling 
vacancies on the Historic Chattahoochee Commission. The bill was 
introduced by the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Everett], along with the 
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Bevill], the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. 
Bishop], the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Browder], the gentleman from 
Alabama [Mr. Cramer], and the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Hilliard].
  Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage and I am glad that I can participate 
in this historic event.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Everett], who was instrumental in bringing 
this matter to the attention of the House of Representatives.
  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, the Historic Chattahoochee Commission is 
involved in activities to promote tourism in the lower Chattahoochee 
River area, that encompasses 7 counties in Alabama and 11 counties in 
Georgia. The commission has been very successful in these endeavors, 
which prompted the National Trust for Historic Preservation to identify 
this commission as a model heritage tourism organization.
  The legislation before the House, H.R. 2064, grants congressional 
consent to approve the changes made by the Alabama and Georgia 
Legislatures in 1993 to an interstate compact. The changes made to the 
compact simplify the way the Historic Chattahoochee Commission appoints 
its board members. Currently, the 28 board members, 14 from each State, 
are appointed by a cumbersome process involving an historical 
commission or similar body of each county to make the appointment.
  The problem is that some counties do not have an historical 
organization, while other counties have several historical 
organizations, which has led to confusing and time consuming 
proceedings.
  This legislation amends the process by making the election of 
commissioners to vacant seats by majority vote of the voting members of 
the commission. Some members are nonvoting.
  Since Congress originally approved this compact back in 1978, both 
the Alabama and Georgia attorneys general have determined that the 
Historic Chattahoochee Commission cannot use the amended appointment 
process without the approval of Congress. This legislation is obviously 
supported by the States of Alabama and Georgia, and I am aware of no 
opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, these changes will certainly enable the commission to 
place more of their efforts on promoting tourism in this area of 
Alabama and Georgia, and I urge the swift adoption of this legislation.
  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I note an overwhelming absence of other 
speakers and, therefore, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2064.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GEKAS. 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.


                             general leave

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the bill just considered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.

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