[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10558-H10559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CITY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, LAND TRANSFER

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1347) to permit the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to convey 
certain lands that the United States conveyed to the city.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1347

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

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this section, the term ``fair market 
     value'' shall have the meaning provided that term by the 
     Secretary of Transportation, by regulation.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO GRANT WAIVERS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     and subject to section 47153 of title 49, United States Code, 
     and section 3, the Secretary of Transportation may waive any 
     of the terms contained in the deed of conveyance described in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Deed of Conveyance.--The deed of conveyance described 
     in this subsection is the deed of conveyance issued by the 
     United States and dated January 10, 1967, for the conveyance 
     of lands to the city of Cleveland, Ohio, for use by the city 
     for airport purposes.

     SEC. 3. CONDITIONS.

       (a) Fair Market Value or Equivalent Benefit.--As a 
     condition to receiving a waiver under this section, the city 
     of Cleveland, Ohio, may convey an interest in the

[[Page H10559]]

     lands described in section 2(b) only if the city receives, in 
     exchange for the interest--
       (1) an amount equal to the fair market value of the 
     interest; or
       (2) an equivalent benefit.
       (b) Use of Amounts or Equivalent Benefits.--Any amount or 
     equivalent benefit that is received by the city of Cleveland 
     shall be used by the city for--
       (1) the development, improvement, operation or maintenance 
     of a public airport; or
       (2) lands (including any improvements to those lands) that 
     produce revenues that are used for airport development 
     purposes.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] and the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Lipinski] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan].
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. S. 1347 
simply expedites the conveyance of land from Cleveland Hopkins 
International Airport to the city of Brook Park, OH. The Cleveland 
Airport has a major capacity expansion program that includes the 
construction of a new runway and the extension of an existing runway. 
It is my understanding that this important project is the result of 
many years of negotiations between the cities of Cleveland and Brook 
Park. This project cannot go forward unless the current deed 
restrictions are waived.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation will ensure that the city of Cleveland 
shall receive fair market value for this parcel, and the city will be 
required to use any and all of the funds for the development, 
improvement of operations or maintenance of the Cleveland Airport.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. LaTourette] for his 
leadership and strong support for this legislation and his willingness 
to answer the call of his constituents on this very important matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 1347.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1347, a bill which would remove 
a deed restriction and permit land to be transferred from Cleveland 
Hopkins International Airport to the city of Brook Park, OH.
  For several years the cities of Brook Park and Cleveland have been 
trying to reach agreement on an airport project which necessities the 
transfer of land between the two cities. An agreement has now been 
reached. Eighty-five acres of land currently belonging to the airport 
will be transferred to Brook Park in exchange for approximately 300 
acres which are needed for the runway project.
  This legislation is not controversial. It is supported by both local 
Congressmen, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. LaTourette] and the gentleman 
from Ohio [Mr. Kucinich]. The administration does not object. It has 
already passed the Senate. Economic development in the Cleveland area 
will benefit from the passage of this legislation. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in passing S. 1347.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
[Mr. LaTourette].
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee 
[Mr. Duncan] for not only his leadership, but for making sure that this 
bill expeditiously gets to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this legislation is to provide authority 
to the Secretary of Transportation to waive a deed restriction on the 
parcel of land currently under the ownership of the city of Cleveland 
for aviation purposes. Since 1970, Congress has granted this authority 
to the Secretary; however, the parcel in question was deeded by the 
Federal Government to the city of Cleveland in 1967 and is currently 
restrained by a reverter clause.
  This noncontroversial conveyance of the land from the city of 
Cleveland to the city of Brook Park is critical to the expansion plans 
for Cleveland Hopkins Airport. It is supported by the Federal Aviation 
Administration given its importance for public aviation purposes.
  I have been honored to have the assistance of my colleague from 
Cleveland, OH [Mr. Kucinich]. He represents this portion of the city of 
Cleveland, and I represent the city of Brook Park, and he cosponsored 
the House companion language to S. 1347. We also are thankful to our 
senior Senator from the State of the Ohio for moving this bill through 
the Senate. The bill enjoys bipartisan support from the leadership of 
the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress has a history of enacting specific provisions 
that allow the Secretary to waive reverters and other deed restrictions 
for deeds preceding 1970. I would appreciate the support of the House 
to support this technical correction for public aviation purposes.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Cleveland, OH [Mr. Kucinich].
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I first want to begin by thanking the 
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] for his leadership and for his 
help in moving this along. Certainly that could not have been done 
without his help and with the help of my good friend the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. LaTourette] with whom we share this project.
  The gentleman from Ohio [Mr. LaTourette] has made sure that all the 
things that needed to be done to get this through the legislative 
process have been accomplished and really deserves a lot of credit for 
his assistance.
  I also want to thank my good friend the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Lipinski] for his efforts and for his willingness to be here to help us 
move this legislation. I appreciate his help in this, and it is 
gratefully appreciated, the guidance that he has given us as to how we 
could achieve this moment.
  The gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Lipinski] and the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. LaTourette] both know the help that we got from Senator Glenn 
on this as well.
  This particular bill will assist and improve airport transportation 
not only in the city of Cleveland, but throughout this country. It has 
the strong support of Cleveland's business community, which has worked 
for years to try to achieve this agreement between Brook Park and 
Cleveland, which can now be consummated through the approval of this 
legislation.
  I appreciate the support, the bipartisan support, which brought us to 
this moment. I appreciate the support of the Congress on this bill.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I, too, yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1347.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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