[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10663-H10665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     GRANTING CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO THE CHICKASAW TRAIL ECONOMIC 
                          DEVELOPMENT COMPACT

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 95) granting the consent of Congress to the 
Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Compact.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 95

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, The Congress 
     consents to the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Compact 
     entered into by the State of Tennessee and the State of 
     Mississippi. The compact is substantially as follows:

              CHICKASAW TRAIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPACT

       Article I. The purpose of this compact is to promote the 
     development of an undeveloped rural area of Marshall County, 
     Mississippi, and Fayette County, Tennessee (hereinafter 
     referred to as ``Chickasaw Trail Economic Development 
     Area''), and to create a development authority which 
     incorporates public and private partnerships to facilitate 
     the economic growth of such areas by providing developed 
     sites for the location and construction of manufacturing 
     plants, distribution facilities, research facilities, 
     regional and national offices with supportive services, and 
     facilities, and to establish a joint interstate authority to 
     assist in these efforts.
       Article II. This compact shall become effective immediately 
     whenever the states of Tennessee and Mississippi have 
     ratified it and Congress has given consent thereto.
       Article III. The states which are parties to this compact 
     (hereinafter referred to as ``party states'') do hereby 
     establish and create a joint agency which shall be known as 
     the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Authority 
     (hereinafter referred to as the ``Authority''). The 
     membership of the Authority shall consist of an appointee of 
     the Governor of each party state, each state's chief economic 
     development official or his/her representative, appointee of 
     each of the member counties board of supervisors/county 
     legislative body, selected from nominees from the county's 
     industrial development board, and an appointee of the 
     property owners' group. The appointive members of the 
     authority shall serve for terms of four (4) years. Vacancies 
     on the Authority shall be filled by appointment by the 
     Governor or the appropriate appointing authority for the 
     unexpired part of the term. The members of the Authority 
     shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of 
     expenses. The

[[Page H10664]]

     members of the Authority shall hold regular quarterly 
     meetings and such special meetings as its business may 
     require. They shall choose annually a chairman and vice-
     chairman from among their members, and the chairmanship shall 
     rotate each year between the party states. The secretary of 
     the Authority (hereinafter provided for) shall notify each 
     member in writing of all meetings of the Authority in such a 
     manner and under such rules and regulations as the Authority 
     may prescribe. The Authority shall adopt rules and 
     regulations for the transaction of its business; and the 
     secretary shall keep a record of all its business, and shall 
     furnish a copy thereof to each member of the Authority, It 
     shall be the duty of the Authority in general, to promote, 
     encourage and coordinate the efforts of the party states 
     to secure the development of the Chickasaw Trail Economic 
     Development Authority. Toward this end, the authority 
     shall have power to hold hearings; to conduct studies and 
     surveys of all problems, benefits and other matters 
     associated with the development of the Chickasaw Trail 
     Economic Development area and to make reports thereon; to 
     acquire, by gift or otherwise, and hold and dispose of 
     such money and property as may be provided for the proper 
     performance of their functions; to cooperate with other 
     public or private groups, whether local, state, regional 
     or national, having an interest in economic development; 
     to formulate and execute plans and policies for 
     emphasizing the purpose of this compact before the 
     Congress of the United States and other appropriate 
     officers and agencies of the United States and the 
     respective states; and the exercise of such other powers 
     as may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish its 
     functions and duties in connection with the development of 
     the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Area and to carry 
     out the purposes of this compact.
       Article IV. The Authority shall appoint a secretary, who 
     shall be a person familiar with the nature, procedures and 
     significance of economic development and the informational, 
     educational and publicity methods of stimulating general 
     interest in such developments, and who shall be the compact 
     administrator. His/her term of office shall be at the 
     pleasure of the Authority. He/she shall maintain custody of 
     the Authority's books, records and papers, which he/she shall 
     keep at the office of the Authority, and he/she shall perform 
     all functions and duties, and exercise all powers and 
     authorities, that may be delegated to him/her by the 
     Authority.
       Article V. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to 
     conflict with any existing statute, or to limit the powers of 
     any party or state or to repeal or prevent legislation, or to 
     authorize or permit curtailment or diminution of any other 
     economic development project, or to affect existing or future 
     cooperative arrangements or relationships between any federal 
     agency and a party state.
       Article VI. This compact shall continue in force and remain 
     binding upon each party state until the Legislature or 
     Governor of each or either state takes action to withdraw 
     therefrom; provided that such withdrawal shall not become 
     effective until six (6) months after the date of the action 
     taken. Notice of such action shall be given by the Secretary 
     of State of the party state which takes such action.
       In witness whereof, I, Kirk Fordice, have subscribed my 
     signature and caused the Great Seal of the State of 
     Mississippi to be affixed this 9th day of May, 1997.
       In witness whereof, I, Don Sundquist, have subscribed my 
     signature and caused the Great Seal of the State of Tennessee 
     to be affixed this 9th day of April, 1997.

     SEC. 2. INCONSISTENCY OF LANGUAGE.

       The validity of the compact consented to by this Act shall 
     not be affected by any insubstantial difference in its form 
     or language as adopted by the States.

     SEC. 3. RIGHT TO ALTER, AMEND, OR REPEAL.

       The right to alter, amend, or repeal this joint resolution 
     is hereby expressly reserved.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas].


                             General Leave

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the joint resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in approving this 
resolution, House Joint Resolution 95, giving the consent of Congress 
to the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Compact entered into 
between the State of Tennessee and the State of Mississippi.
  As everyone knows by now, the United States Constitution provides 
that no two States or no number of States may enter into any agreements 
among themselves without the consent of Congress. That is a 
constitutional mandate that we have observed faithfully throughout the 
years. Thus, the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law of 
the Committee on the Judiciary, which I chair, has jurisdiction and is 
happy to announce that this particular proposed compact has its full 
approval.
  Mr. Speaker, the facts are that in 1992 the Marshall County, 
Mississippi, Industrial Development Authority recognized the need to 
develop a large regional industrial park in the northern part of the 
county. The idea of a two-State industrial park materialized when a 
large tract of relatively uninhabited land owned by only a few 
individuals was identified on both sides of the Mississippi-Tennessee 
border. Located adjacent to the Memphis metropolitan area, this region 
is traversed by three major thoroughfares.
  Verbal agreement of the landowners to participate in a public-private 
partnership and the support of local and State officials for the 
concept helped to promote the project, which was endorsed in 1995 by 
our former colleague, now Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist, and 
Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice.
  In 1996, the Tennessee and Mississippi State legislatures passed 
enabling legislation creating the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development 
Compact, subject to congressional approval, and they set up a board of 
directors for its development.
  The industrial park envisioned by the compact is located adjacent to 
the metropolitan Memphis area, which is in need of available land for 
future industrial growth. The rural nature of the tract plus its 
current and planned accessibility make it advantageous for a planned 
park providing jobs for residents of both States.
  Once again, I urge my colleagues to consent to this compact by 
suspending the rules and passing House Joint Resolution 95.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. NADLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, this bill gives the consent of Congress to 
the compact between the States of Mississippi and Tennessee to 
establish the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Agency.
  The compact establishes an economic development authority to 
determine the feasibility of establishing an industrial park in Fayette 
County, Tennessee, and Marshall County, Mississippi, and to assist in 
public-private partnerships to promote economic development in that bi-
State area.
  The legislation simply restates the compact, provides that the 
validity of the compact will not be affected by any insubstantial 
differences in its formal language as adopted by the two States, and 
reserves to Congress the right to alter, amend, or appeal the joint 
resolution giving consent to the compact.
  Mr. Speaker, the congressional delegations of the two States support 
this bill, as do the two legislatures and both Governors. The 
subcommittee and committee unanimously reported the bill. I urge its 
adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee [Mr. Bryant].
  Mr. BRYANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of our 
subcommittee, the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Gekas], and also the distinguished ranking member of our subcommittee, 
the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler], whom I also want to commend 
for his correct pronunciation of all of these words. Very good.
  Mr. Speaker, at the request, as has been said, of our former 
colleague and the very distinguished Governor of Tennessee, Don 
Sundquist, and also the very distinguished Governor of the State of 
Mississippi, Kirk Fordice, I, along with the gentleman from 
Mississippi, Mr. Roger Wicker, introduced House Joint Resolution 95, 
which would give congressional consent to an interstate compact 
establishing the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Authority.
  Under this compact, the Chickasaw Authority would conduct a study to 
determine the feasibility of establishing an industrial park which 
would lie both in Fayette County, Tennessee, and

[[Page H10665]]

Marshall County, Mississippi. Should the authority issue a favorable 
report, the States would then negotiate a new compact implementing the 
details needed to establish a 4,000 to 5,000-acre industrial park. 
These large tracts of land would come complete with utilities and 
infrastructure needed to attract and support the more sophisticated 
high-technology industry for which the two States already compete.
  There are many potential benefits to this effort. It is hoped that by 
disposing of the incentive wars between the States, both Tennessee and 
Mississippi can capitalize on the advantages of the region that lie on 
both sides of their border and attract new employment and investment 
opportunities.
  The proposed project will help develop the educational and economic 
opportunities needed to improve the quality of life of the people 
living in this area, while at the same time fulfilling the industrial 
growth needs of the city of Memphis and Shelby County.
  Mr. Speaker, this project is noncontroversial and represents an 
innovative approach to the mutual benefit of the two counties and the 
two States. It has been cosponsored by the entire Tennessee and 
Mississippi delegations and has passed out of the Committee on the 
Judiciary by voice vote. Again, I would encourage my colleagues in the 
House to support its passage.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Mississippi [Mr. Wicker].
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution to prove the 
Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Compact. I want to thank the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] and the gentleman from New York 
[Mr. Nadler], the ranking member, for acting on this resolution and for 
allowing it to come before the House so quickly. I also want to thank 
my good friend, the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Bryant], and the 
majority leader for their help.
  Mr. Speaker, this may seem like a simple and straightforward bill, 
and it is, but the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Compact is a 
very important local initiative between Marshall County, Mississippi, 
and Fayette County, Tennessee.
  According to statistics, Marshall County, Mississippi, is 
economically disadvantaged, without the resources and infrastructure 
necessary to compete and to attract business and industry. But the 
people of Marshall County have viewed their present circumstances as a 
challenge and an opportunity. They put their heads together and came up 
with a long-term economic development plan to attract jobs and ensure a 
bright future for the next generation. Included in this vision for the 
future has been the development of a large industrial park in northern 
Marshall County, adjacent to the Tennessee line.
  At the same time, Mr. Speaker, in an effort to improve the regional 
economy in Tennessee, the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce organized 
the Mid South Common Market, which includes the States of Tennessee and 
Mississippi and numerous counties around the city of Memphis.

                              {time}  2200

  As a result of cooperation and consultation between economic 
development leaders in these two States, the idea of a regional 
industrial park was born. The innovative project would be a 4,000- to 
5,000-acre industrial park located in both Marshall County, 
Mississippi, and Fayette County, Tennessee.
  Mr. Speaker, I am excited about this project because it will enhance 
the economy of our region and improve the lives of my constituents who 
live in Marshall County and the surrounding area. I urge its adoption. 
I think it is an example of the American can-do attitude.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, in that case, I have no further speakers. I 
urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the joint resolution, House Joint Resolution 95.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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