[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H9454-H9455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRANSFERRING JURISDICTION OF FEDERAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate
consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 2636) to transfer
jurisdiction over certain parcels of Federal real property located in
the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object,
and I shall not object, I yield to the gentleman from Utah [Mr.
Hansen].
(Mr. HANSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this piece of
legislation.
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to
object, I just want to mention that this legislation was introduced by
our colleague the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar]. I want to
thank the gentleman from Utah for his cooperation.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2636, introduced by our colleague, Mr. Oberstar,
authorizes a three-way transfer of jurisdiction over several parcels of
land among the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Interior,
and the District of Columbia. In addition to facilitating management of
these parcels, this transfer is being done for the purpose of setting
aside a parcel of land adjacent to the Capitol Grounds for the proposed
Japanese-American Patriotism Memorial. The memorial will honor the
patriotic efforts of Japanese-Americans in World War II.
It is our understanding that the parties involved support this
transfer and we have no objection to the passage of the bill.
Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for this
important legislation and my great pleasure that it is before us this
evening. H.R. 2636 is needed to facilitate the construction of a
Memorial honoring the patriotism of Japanese Americans during World War
II here in our nation's Capital.
In 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-502, authorizing the
construction of this Memorial on federal property. Under the terms of
the legislation, the Memorial will involve virtually no Federal costs.
All construction and major maintenance costs will be paid by private
funds. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, formerly the
Go For Broke National Veterans Association, has already begun this
fundraising effort.
Land currently owned by the Architect of the Capitol has been
selected as a site for the Memorial. However, in order for the
construction of the Memorial to proceed, the land must be transferred
to the National Park Service. H.R. 2636 would direct such a transfer to
occur. In exchange, the Architect of the Capitol would obtain a parcel
of land adjacent to the Hart Senate Office Building that is more
integral to the Capitol grounds.
It is critically important for the land exchange to occur this year.
The 1992 authorizing legislation and other applicable law require that
construction on the Memorial begin by 1999. Until the land is
transferred, the approval process for the Memorial's design can not
begin. Because of the many agencies involved, this approval process
will almost definitely consume the next three years.
33,000 Americans of Japanese Ancestry served in the military during
World War II. The all Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd
Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated unit in military history
for its size and length of service--700 members of the unit gave their
lives. When completed, this Memorial will pay tribute to the
immeasurable sacrifice made by these individuals as well as the many
other contributions that Japanese-Americans made to the war effort.
This effort would not have reached this stage without the hard work
and assistance of several individuals. The leadership of my friend and
former colleague Norm Mineta in achieving the passage of the original
1992 legislation as well as his important role in developing this
legislation was absolutely essential. In addition, I am extremely
grateful to the sponsor of H.R. 2636, Jim Oberstar and also to Chairman
of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Bud Shuster. I also
deeply appreciate the assistance of the Resources Committee,
particularly Chairman Don Young and the Ranking Minority Member George
Miller, as well as Jim Hansen and Bill Richardson, chairman and ranking
minority member of the National Parks, Forests and Lands Subcommittee
respectively.
The Board and staff of the National Japanese American Memorial
Foundation has also been critical to this effort. I would note
particularly the Foundation's Chairman Emeritus William Marutani, its
Chairman Mo Marumoto, Honorary Co-Chair Etsu Mineta Masaoka and
Executive Director George Wakiji.
I look forward to working with my colleagues in this body and in the
Senate to achieve final passage of this important bill.
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of
objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 2636
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act--
(1) to assist in the effort to timely establish within the
District of Columbia a national memorial to Japanese American
patriotism in World War II; and
(2) to improve management of certain parcels of Federal
real property located within the District of Columbia, by
transferring jurisdiction over such parcels to the Architect
of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Interior, and the
Government of the District of Columbia.
SAC. 2. TRANSFERS OF JURISDICTION.
(a) In General.--Effective on the date of the enactment of
this Act and notwithstanding any other provision of law,
jurisdiction over the parcels of Federal real property
described in subsection (b) is transferred without additional
consideration as provided by subsection (b).
(b) Specific Transfers.--
(1) Transfers to secretary of the interior.--
(A) In general.--Jurisdication over the following parcels
is transferred to the Secretary of the Interior:
(i) That triangle of Federal land, including any contiguous
sidewalks and tree space, that is part of the United States
Capitol Grounds under the jurisdiction of the Architect of
the Capitol bound by D Street, N.W., New Jersey Avenue, N.W.,
and Louisiana Avenue, N.W., in Square W632 in the District of
Columbia, as shown on the Map Showing Properties Under
Jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, dated November
8, 1994.
(ii) That triangle of Federal land, including any
contiguous sidewalks and tree space, that is part of the
United States Capitol Grounds under the jurisdiction of the
Architect of the Capitol bound by C Street, N.W., First
Street, N.W., and Louisiana Avenue, N.W., in the District of
Columbia, as shown on the Map Showing Properties Under
Jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, dated November
8, 1994.
(B) Limitation.--The parcels transferred by subparagraph
(A) shall not include those contiguous sidewalks abutting
Louisiana Avenue, N.W., which shall remain part of the United
States Capitol Grounds under the jurisdiction of the
Architect of the Capitol.
(C) Consideration as memorial site.--The parcels
transferred by clause (i) of subparagraph (A) may be
considered as a site for a S6201 national memorial to
Japanese American patriotism in World War II.
(2) Transfers to architect of the capitol.--Jurisdiction
over the following parcels is transferred to the Architect of
the Capitol:
(A) That portion of the triangle of Federal land in
Reservation No. 204 in the District of Columbia under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, including any
contiguous sidewalks, bound by Constitution Avenue, N.E., on
the north, the branch of Maryland Avenue, N.E. running in a
northeast direction on the west, the major portion of
Maryland avenue, N.E., on the south, and 2nd Street, N.E., on
the east, including the contiguous sidewalks.
(B) That irregular area of Federal land in Reservation No.
204 in the District of Columbia under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior, including any contiguous
sidewalks, northeast of the real property described in
subparagraph (A) bound by Constitution Avenue, N.E., on the
north, the branch of Maryland Avenue, N.E., running to the
northeast on the south, and the private property on the west
known as lot 7 in square 726.
(C) The two irregularly shaped medians lying north and east
of the property described in subparagraph (A), located
between
[[Page H9455]]
the north and south curbs of Constitution Avenue, N.E., west
of its intersection with Second Street, N.E., all as shown in
Land Record No. 268, dated November 22, 1957, in the Office
of the Surveyor, District of Columbia, in Book 138, Page 58.
(D) All sidewalks under the jurisdiction of the District of
Columbia abutting on and contiguous to the land described in
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
(3) Transfers to district of columbia.--Jurisdiction over
the following parcels is transferred to the Government of the
District of Columbia:
(A) That portion of New Jersey Avenue, N.W., between the
northernmost point of the intersection of New Jersey Avenue,
N.W., and D Street, N.W., and the northernmost point of the
intersection of New Jersey Avenue, N.W., and Louisiana
Avenue, N.W., between squares 631 and W632, which remains
Federal property.
(B) That portion of D Street, N.W., between its
intersection with New Jersey Avenue, N.W., and its
intersection with Louisiana Avenue, N.W., between Squares 630
and W632, which remains Federal property.
SEC. 3. MISCELLANEOUS.
(A) Compliance With Other Laws.--Compliance with this Act
shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of all laws
otherwise applicable to transfers of jurisdiction over
parcels of Federal real property.
(b) Law Enforcement Responsibility.--Law enforcement
responsibility for the parcels of Federal real property for
which jurisdiction is transferred by section 2 shall be
assumed by the person acquiring such jurisdiction.
(c) United States Capitol Grounds.--
(1) Definition.--The first section of the Act entitled ``An
Act to define the United States Capitol Grounds, to regulate
the use thereof, and for other purposes'', approved July 31,
1946 (40 U.S.C. 193a), is amended to include within the
definition of the United States Capitol Grounds the parcels
of Federal real property described in section 2(b)(2).
(2) Jurisdiction of capitol police.--The United States
Capitol Police shall have jurisdiction over the parcels of
Federal real property described in section 2(b)(2) in
accordance with section 9 of such Act of July 31, 1946 (40
U.S.C. 212a).
(e) Effect of Transfers.--A person relinquishing
jurisdiction over a parcel of Federal real property
transferred by section 2 shall not retain any interest in the
parcel except as specifically provided by this Act.
committee amendment
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the committee
amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Committee amendment: Page 4, line 12, strike ``S6201''.
The committee amendment was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.
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