[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1580-H1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        DOS PALOS LAND TRANSFER

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 111) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
convey a parcel of unused agricultural land in Dos Palos, CA, to the 
Dos Palos Ag Boosters for use as a farm school, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 111

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

     SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, UNUSED AGRICULTURAL LAND, DOS 
                   PALOS, CALIFORNIA

       (a) Conveyance.--In accordance with the provisions of this 
     section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall convey to the Dos 
     Palos Ag Boosters of Dos Palos, California, all right, title, 
     and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real 
     property (including improvements thereon) held by the 
     Secretary that consists of approximately 22 acres and is 
     located at 18296 Elign Avenue, Dos Palos, California, to be 
     used as a farm school for the education and training of 
     students and beginning farmers regarding farming. The 
     conveyance shall be final with no future liability accruing 
     to the Secretary of Agriculture.
       (b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance 
     under subsection (a), the transferee shall pay to the 
     Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the 
     parcel conveyed under subsection (a).
       (c) Alternative Transferee.--At the request of the Dos 
     Palos Ag Boosters, the Secretary may make the conveyance 
     under subsection (a) to the Dos Palos School District.
       (d) Determination of Fair Market Value and Property 
     Description.--The Secretary shall determine the fair market 
     value of the parcel to be conveyed under subsection (a). The 
     exact acreage and legal description of the parcel shall be 
     determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. The 
     cost of any such survey shall be borne by the transferee.
       (e) 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon [Mr. Smith] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith].
  (Mr. SMITH of Oregon asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H1581]]

  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 111 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell 
22 acres of land in Dos Palos, CA, to a nonprofit group, the Dos Palos 
Ag Boosters, to establish a farm school to teach middle and high school 
students how to farm. The transfer will be a sale based upon fair 
market value of a parcel of land to be determined by the USDA's farm 
service agency.
  I think that identifies the legislation, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 111, as amended, which 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to convey for fair market value 
a parcel of unused agricultural land in Dos Palos, CA, to the Dos Palos 
Ag Boosters for use as a farm school for local high school and middle 
school students. Passage of this bill will achieve a couple of worthy 
goals:
  First, it will ensure that this land remains in agricultural use; 
second, it will educate and train students and beginning farmers by 
giving them the hands-on experience necessary to succeed. The students 
and beginning farmers will learn firsthand about irrigation and 
conservation methods, integrated pest management, agricultural 
marketing and administration. This bill will help these students learn 
to appreciate the hard work that goes into producing our Nation's food 
supply and may get a few of them off to a good start as farmers.
  I would note that this bill is virtually identical to legislation 
that passed the House last Congress. The minor and technical changes 
that we incorporate in the bill today are changes requested by the 
administration. The administration in a prior statement of 
administrative policy indicated that they supported the objectives of 
H.R. 111 but would seek perfecting amendments in the Senate. In the 
interests of expediting consideration of H.R. 111 in the other body in 
order to get it to the President's desk as soon as possible, we have 
included in the administration's minor technical changes in the version 
of H.R. 111 we are considering today. With these changes the 
administration strongly supports H.R. 111.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Condit], who is a chief 
sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I will take just a moment. I simply want to 
thank the Committee on Agriculture, the chairman of the committee, the 
ranking member, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm], for expediting 
this bill and making sure we got it through here. We had a minor 
problem, and they worked very hard to work it out, and I appreciate it 
very much, and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm] has explained 
the bill. It is a straightforward bill, and I hope that all Members 
will join me in supporting H.R. 111 when it comes to a vote.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I, too, 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 111, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to provide 
for the conveyance of a parcel of unused agricultural land in Dos 
Palos, California, to the Dos Palos Ag Boosters for use as a farm 
school.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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