[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 893. A bill to provide for the conveyance of a parcel of unused 
agricultural land in Dos Palos, CA, to the Dos Palos Ag Boosters for 
use as a farm school; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


           DOS PALOS MIDDLE SCHOOL LAND EXCHANGE LEGISLATION

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce legislation that 
would provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] the authority 
to sell much needed land to a local school district in my State of 
California.
  This legislation will grant the USDA the authority to sell 22 acres 
of land in Dos Palos, CA to either a non-profit group or the Dos Palos 
School District. The transfer would be based upon an established fair 
market value of the land, determined by the USDA.
  The local community will reap many benefits from this legislation. 
The school district plans to use the land to establish a farm school to 
educate and train students and beginning farmers. Under the district's 
farm school proposal, high school and middle school students will 
actually farm the land in order to learn all aspects of modern 
agriculture practices--including irrigation and conservation methods, 
integrated pest management, agricultural marketing and administration. 
In addition, the proceeds from the farm school will enable the students 
to purchase their own equipment and supplies for use at the site. 
Implementation of this proposal ensures that the land remain in 
agricultural use for years to come.
  This legislation enjoys bi-partisan support, and companion 
legislation has been introduced by Congressman Gary A. Condit in the 
House. The local school district, the community of Dos Palos, CA, and 
the USDA have also expressed their support. During the 104th Congress 
the legislation received expedited review by the House Agriculture 
Committee, and passed the House by voice vote. Unfortunately, the 
Senate failed to pass this legislation before adjournment even though 
there was no known opposition from the leadership or the Senate 
Agriculture Committee.
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