[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10998-S10999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE SALE OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN BAKERSFIELD, CA

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, during Senate consideration of the 
Fiscal Year 1998 Treasury Postal Appropriations bill, I submitted for 
the Record a list of projects which I found to be low-priority, 
unnecessary or wasteful spending, that circumvented the normal, merit-
based prioritization process. On October 15, 1997, I forwarded this 
list to President Clinton and recommended he use his line-item veto 
authority to eliminate these projects. Included in this list was 
language contained in the Conference Report which directed that the 
Bakersfield Federal Building in California be sold.

[[Page S10999]]

  It has been brought to my attention that this Federal building went 
through the proper screening process by GSA in order to ascertain if it 
was needed for any further Federal use. No Federal Government agency 
expressed an interest in utilizing this property.
  Furthermore, I am informed that the sale of this property, through a 
process of competitive bidding, will result in a profit to the American 
taxpayer. The Conference Committee directed the sale of this building 
only after the GSA screening was completed and it was determined that 
this was in fact surplus Federal property.
  Therefore, Mr. President, I applaud the actions of the Committee and 
Rep. Bill Thomas of California, and withdraw my objection to the sale 
of this property as well as my recommendation that the President veto 
this provision.

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