[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 STANISLAUS COUNTY, CA, LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 112) to provide for the conveyance of certain property 
from the United States to Stanislaus County, California.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 112

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.

       As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration (in this Act referred to as ``NASA'') 
     shall convey to Stanislaus County, California, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     property described in section 2.

     SEC. 2. PROPERTY DESCRIBED.

       The property to be conveyed pursuant to section 1 is--
       (1) the approximately 1528 acres of land in Stanislaus 
     County, California, known as the NASA Ames Research Center, 
     Crows Landing Facility (formerly known as the Naval Auxiliary 
     Landing Field, Crows Landing);
       (2) all improvements on the land described in paragraph 
     (1); and
       (3) any other Federal property that is--
       (A) under the jurisdiction of NASA;
       (B) located on the land described in paragraph (1); and
       (C) designated by NASA to be transferred to Stanislaus 
     County, California.

     SEC. 3. TERMS.

       (a) Consideration.--The conveyance required by section 1 
     shall be without consideration other than that required by 
     this section.
       (b) Environmental Remediation.--(1) Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, the conveyance required by section 1 
     shall not relieve any Federal agency of any responsibility 
     under law for any environmental remediation of soil, 
     groundwater, or surface water.
       (2) Any remediation of contamination, other than that 
     described in paragraph (1), within or related to structures 
     or fixtures on the property described in section 2 shall be 
     subject to negotiation to the extent permitted by law.
       (c) Retained Right of Use.--NASA shall retain the right to 
     use for aviation activities, without consideration and on 
     other terms and conditions mutually acceptable to NASA and 
     Stanislaus County, California, the property described in 
     section 2.
       (d) Relinquishment of Legislative Jurisdiction.--NASA shall 
     relinquish, to the State of California, legislative 
     jurisdiction over the property conveyed pursuant to section 
     1--
       (1) by filing a notice of relinquishment with the Governor 
     of California, which shall take effect upon acceptance 
     thereof; or
       (2) in any other manner prescribed by the laws of 
     California.
       (e) Additional Terms.--The Administrator of NASA may 
     negotiate additional terms to protect the interests of the 
     United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner] and the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. 
Cramer] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. 
Sensenbrenner].


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H.R. 112.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the same version of this bill passed this House last 
year under suspension of the rules. H.R. 112 requires the Administrator 
of NASA to convey to Stanislaus County, California, the property known 
as the NASA Ames Research Center, Crows Landing Facility. Under this 
bill NASA shall retain the right to use this property for aviation 
activities.
  In March of this year, NASA conducted a review of its field 
activities to identify potential closures which would reduce 
operational costs. As a result of this effort, NASA decided to cease 
operations at the NASA Crows Landing Facility in order to lower 
overhead burdens and eliminate operations costs.
  This excess Federal property is ideal for use by Stanislaus County 
for economic development. It is a win-win arrangement for the Federal 
Government and the local government of California, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also would like to rise in support of H.R. 112. I 
thank the chairman of the committee for making sure that this important 
piece of legislation made it to the floor here at the concluding hours.
  This is a noncontroversial measure, as the chairman has indicated. It 
simply allows the Administrator of NASA to transfer this land to the 
Stanislaus County, California, government there. The land had been 
previously owned by the Navy and then transferred to NASA. NASA 
indicates that it has no further use for this particular parcel, except 
that it would like to reserve the right to use it for aviation 
purposes. H.R. 112 does allow the NASA Administrator to preserve that 
right, and as well, to review to see that there are any other interests 
that would be in the best interests of the government.
  So I agree with the chairman, this is a win-win situation for the 
Federal Government, for the county government there in California, and 
I urge Members to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 112.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 112.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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