[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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