[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 9 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S580-S583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FEDERAL SURPLUS PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Federal 
Surplus Property Improvement Act of 1998'' and ask my colleagues for 
their support of this legislation.
  Congressional oversight of our country's surplus personal property 
donation program may not be a topic of debate in the Senate, but it is 
of great importance to my constituents and the 70,000 recipients of 
surplus federal personal property in all of our states.
  Members of Congress and state and local officials all have an 
obligation to see that the government distributes this property fairly 
and equitably, ensuring accountability to the taxpayers.
  Too often, federal agencies forget that the owners of this property 
are the American people--the federal government is merely its public 
custodian.
  As my colleagues may know, once a piece of federal personal property 
such as a typewriter, chair or vehicle is declared ``excess'' by a 
federal agency, it is offered to other federal agencies for their use. 
If no other agency can utilize the property, it is donated to the 
states or other public agencies.
  The current system of disposal is based on reforms signed into law by 
President Ford over twenty years ago.
  The reforms to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act 
of 1949 enacted in 1976 were based on concerns that as surplus property 
distribution programs multiplied, confusion and inefficiency on the 
part of the federal government grew as well.
  Congress realized that the various state agencies and the General 
Services Administration should work together to ensure a fair and 
equitable allocation of surplus federal property to eligible 
recipients.
  Under this new partnership, states would have a greater role over 
distribution, while GSA would guide the overall system on the federal 
side.
  Mr. President, the 1976 reforms also broadened the pool of eligible 
recipients to include parks and recreation, conservation, public health 
and public safety.
  Since then, each state agency for surplus property has worked with 
neighboring state agencies and GSA to provide the equipment, supplies 
and material used to educate our children, maintain roads and streets, 
keep utility rates reasonable, train the workers of tomorrow, protect 
families from crime, and during natural disasters, treat the health of 
our nation's sick and needy.
  Through the efforts of the state agencies for surplus property, 
eligible recipients have acquired impressive pieces of equipment such 
as trailers, forklifts, fire trucks, aircraft, boats and generators.
  The original acquisition value of property distributed through the 
U.S. state agencies for surplus property totaled over $537 million in 
fiscal year 1997. Over the last few weeks, I have heard from many 
recipients of surplus federal property and ask unanimous consent that 
their letters be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                      Department of Public Safety,


                                        State Patrol Division,

                                   St. Paul, MN, January 13, 1998.
     Senator Rod Grams,
     Dirksen Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Grams: For the past several years the flight 
     of the Minnesota State Patrol has called upon the services of 
     the state surplus property program, a division of the 
     Department of Administration, for various pieces of equipment 
     needed to accomplish our mission. In more recent years my 
     contact person at surplus property has been Mr. Gene Glaeser 
     who now heads up that program. Any time I have needed 
     something,

[[Page S581]]

     whether it be a helicopter, airplane, or an office desk, I 
     have never had to wait an unusually long period of time to 
     have my request filled by Glaeser's office.
       In August 1992, the flight section had need of an aircraft 
     tug to move our helicopter that is stationed in the Cloquet 
     area in an out of our hangar. I simply called Gene Glaeser, 
     told him what I needed and in a matter of about a week, I was 
     notified by Glaeser that he had the tug I had requested. That 
     tug was put into service almost immediately.
       Again in September of 1996 our organization had a need to 
     upgrade one of our helicopters from a two place piston 
     powered helicopter to a turbine powered ship. Shortly after 
     notifying surplus property of our need, I was told that a 
     helicopter meeting our specifications had been located right 
     here at the St. Paul Airport. This helicopter had been part 
     of the fleet of OH58 helicopters operated by the Army Reserve 
     Unit here in St. Paul, and this unit was being disbanded. 
     Within the first year, that helicopter was refurbished and 
     placed in service as part of our fleet of aircraft.
       Once again, in February 1997 our unit had need for a twin 
     engine airplane. One week after I made the request for this 
     type of aircraft, Gene Glaeser called and said he had located 
     an aircraft he thought would fit our needs. It was a 
     Beechcraft Queen Air and it had been used by NASA for several 
     years and was based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. 
     Following many phone calls to Langley to discuss the 
     condition of this craft, it was decided to acquire this 
     aircraft.
       In each of the above cases, there has been substantial cost 
     savings to the State of Minnesota. The OH58 helicopter was 
     placed in service at a total cost of $84,000.00. Had we 
     purchased this same type of helicopter on the open market, we 
     would have paid an estimated $450,000.00-$550,000.00. The 
     Beechcraft Queen Air acquired from NASA, including the 
     training of six pilots to fly it, cost the state 
     approximately $36,000.00 to place it in service. This 
     aircraft has been appraised at $150,000.00-$175,000.00 by an 
     aircraft broker. In each of these cases, had the State Patrol 
     been forced to buy from the open market, we would not have 
     been able to upgrade our fleet because of budget constraints.
       Had the surplus program not been available to us, our 
     chances of acquiring this equipment would not have existed. 
     This is a perfect example of our government obtaining the 
     most from a piece of equipment. When one agency no longer has 
     a need for that equipment, it is passed down to another 
     government agency that does have a need. I would hope that 
     this program would continue for many years into the future, 
     as everyone benefits from it. As is common in today's 
     language, ``it's a win-win situation.''
       Should you have further questions regarding anything I have 
     stated, please feel free to call me. Thank you.
       Sincerely,
                                             Capt. David J. Allen,
     Chief Pilot.
                                  ____

                                           The McCandless Township


                                           Sanitary Authority,

                                 Pittsburgh, PA, January 19, 1998.
     Senator Rod Grams,
     Dirkson Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Grams: The McCandless Township Sanitary 
     Authority (M.T.S.A.) is located approximately 15 miles north 
     of the City of Pittsburgh PA. M.T.S.A.'s main function is to 
     collect and treat wastewater for seven surrounding 
     communities, with a total customer base in excess of 35,000 
     residents. This Authority operates and maintains four 
     treatment facilities, fifteen pumping stations, over 250 
     miles of sewer lines and employs in excess of 45 employees. 
     Over the last five to six years this Authority has actively 
     participated in the Pa. Federal Surplus Program. Purchases 
     through this program have become a normal part of our budget 
     with a yearly allocation of $20,000.00.
       This Authority falls under the guidelines and rules and 
     regulation of the EPA and the Pa. DEP. Over the last couple 
     of years unexpected regulations have been imposed on this 
     Authority which require us to undertake the replacement and 
     enhancement of many of the older sections of the sewer line 
     collection system. Through the Federal Surplus Program we 
     were able to obtain equipment and materials to aid in this 
     system upgrading. Some of the items that were secured were: a 
     transit, material handling bucket, two-10 ton dump trucks, a 
     loader, fork lift, a job site toolbox, a six inch portable 
     pump, many small hand tools, hooks-cables-lifting straps and 
     even personal employee items such as boots and gloves.
       Purchases through this program have also benefited our 
     wastewater treatment facilities. We have secured both 
     materials and equipment for use by our maintenance personnel. 
     Some of the pictures that are enclosed show projects that 
     have been completed. Many of these projects were completed 
     with use of stainless steel and/or aluminum which were 
     secured from Federal Surplus for a fraction of their normal 
     cost. This Authority also was able to secure a 5000 gallon 
     tank trailer for transporting sludge from our satellite 
     treatment facilities to our main sludge de-watering facility. 
     This in itself was an excellent purchase; we were able to 
     purchase a $40,000 trailer for $2,500.00. The Authority was 
     also able to supply the treatment facility personnel with 
     numerous safety related items such as self contained 
     breathing apparatus, life vests, rubber * * * boots and even 
     a small life raft.
       This Authority has also used the Federal Surplus Program to 
     supplement its fleet of vehicles. We have purchased five mid-
     sized trucks, one station wagon and numerous trailers; one of 
     which we use for hauling heavy equipment. These vehicles all 
     needed some repairs but Authority personnel were able to fix 
     them up to make them nice additions to the fleet. Pictures 
     and a brief description of each of these vehicles is 
     enclosed. One vehicle of particular interest would be the 
     vehicle used for the Dye Test Program. The Dye Test Program 
     was implemented to meet requirements set by PA. DEP, which 
     requires the Authority to begin testing resident's roof and 
     driveway drains to locate illegal connections to the sanitary 
     sewer. This program required the Authority to hire employees 
     and purchase equipment, so this vehicle and the cost savings 
     associated with it helped to get this program off the ground.
       This Authority's involvement with the Pa. Federal Surplus 
     Program has been very beneficial to the Authority as well as 
     to the Authority's rate payers. The McCandless Township 
     Sanitary Authority has not had a rate increase since 1991 and 
     I believe that our involvement in this program as well as 
     other cost saving measures have helped to keep these rate 
     increases down. Finally, I would like to mention that we have 
     had purchase parts or materials from private distributors 
     when repairing some of our Federal Surplus purchases I was 
     surprised to see the amount of ``new stock'' they had on 
     hand. It was my understanding that state agencies have first 
     choice on surplus. I think there would be many government 
     bodies that could put this surplus to good use rather than 
     see a private company making a profit at the tax payers 
     expense.
           Sincerely,
                                                Dennis J. Blakley,
                                                   Superintendent.

                                     FEDERAL SURPLUS PURCHASES COST SAVINGS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Purchase
                               Item                                 Qty.      price        Value       Savings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filing Cabinet...................................................       1       $75.00      $500.00      $425.00
Cement...........................................................      84        94.92       420.00       325.08
Breathing apparatus..............................................       2       200.00     5,600.00     5,400.00
Fuel tanks.......................................................       8     1,600.00    17,200.00    15,600.00
Press Arbor......................................................       1       147.50     1,200.00     1,052.50
\1/4\ Ton trailer................................................       1       300.00     1,500.00     1,200.00
Tongue buckle harness............................................       9       135.00       675.00       540.00
Chevy station wagon..............................................       1       800.00     4,000.00     3,200.00
Air conditioner..................................................       1       195.00     5,000.00     4,805.00
Flatbed trailers (Fruehauf)......................................       1       750.00    15,000.00    14,250.00
Safety storage cabinet...........................................       2       300.00     1,000.00       700.00
Battery for fork lift at P.C.....................................       2       150.00     4,000.00     3,850.00
5000 Gal semi trailer............................................       1     2,500.00    30,000.00    27,500.00
1967 66 Dump truck...............................................       1     3,500.00    15,000.00    11,500.00
Jack stands......................................................       2        70.00       200.00       130.00
10,000 Lb. forklift..............................................       1     1,250.00    10,000.00     8,750.00
Lubricating oil..................................................       5       250.00     1,005.00       755.00
1988 GMC Flatbed truck...........................................       1     2,675.00    15,000.00    12,325.00
6 Pump...........................................................       1       375.00    10,000.00     9,625.00
Drafting table...................................................       1       100.00       400.00       300.00
1983 Ford pick up truck..........................................       1     1,500.00    10,000.00     8,500.00
Air sander.......................................................       1       125.00       500.00       375.00
Fire cabinet.....................................................       1        50.00       600.00       550.00
Pipe Bender......................................................       1       175.00     1,200.00     1,025.00
Flammable cabinet................................................       1        75.00       600.00       525.00
410 Steel plate..................................................       3        33.75       720.00       686.25
Alum round bar 1\5/8\............................................       1        25.00       185.00       160.00
48\1/16\ SS Plate................................................       1        45.00       245.00       200.00
412.090 Alum plate...............................................       1        80.00       241.00       161.00
412.050 Alum plate...............................................       2        60.00       482.00       422.00
6110 Alum bar....................................................       1        30.00       238.00       208.00
Grinder..........................................................       1        60.00       500.00       440.00
Snowblower.......................................................       1       250.00     1,000.00       750.00
Drill press......................................................       1       250.00     1,000.00       750.00
Alum sheets......................................................       2        70.00       600.00       530.00
Trailer/dye testing equip........................................       1       375.00     2,000.00     1,625.00
Desk.............................................................       1       175.00     1,000.00       825.00
Lateral files--5 drawer..........................................       2       150.00     1,000.00       850.00
Lateral files--4 drawer..........................................       3       180.00     3,000.00     2,820.00
Lateral files--2 drawer..........................................       4       100.00     4,000.00     3,900.00
Barrel lift......................................................       1       250.00     1,300.00     1,050.00
Sheet barrier-pine creek shed....................................       7       105.00     4,998.00     4,893.00
Drill............................................................       1       150.00       425.00       275.00
1984 AMA \3/4\ Ton cargo trailer.................................       1       750.00    20,000.00    19,250.00
1984/Chev--44 cargo diesel truck.................................       1     5,000.00    15,000.00    10,000.00
Generators 100 KW................................................       1     1,750.00    25,000.00    23,250.00
30 Ft flat bed trailer/miller....................................       1       375.00     3,000.00     2,625.00
Alum I beam......................................................       6       150.00     1,800.00     1,650.00
1985/GMC \3/4\ Ton truck.........................................       1       800.00    10,000.00     9,200.00
Port-A-Power.....................................................       1       125.00     1,000.00       875.00
Alum I beam......................................................       5       125.00     1,500.00     1,375.00
Threadlite survey--3 pc set......................................       1       250.00     3,000.00     2,750.00
      Totals.....................................................            29,106.17   253,834.00   224,727.83
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                                     
                                  ____
                                           Plumbers & Steamfitters


                                               Local Union 52,

                                 Montgomery, AL, January 16, 1998.
     Senator Rod Grams,
     Dirksen Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Sir: We are a Non-profit Organization partially funded 
     by the State of Alabama and the Federal Government. Our 
     Training School is a five year program that prepares our 
     students for working in the following trades: plumbing, 
     pipefitting, welding and air conditioning.
       We have obtained supplies and equipment from our Local 
     State and Federal Surplus Division, that has been very 
     beneficial to our program. These purchases have also saved 
     our Program thousands and thousands of dollars. Without these 
     savings, our Program would not have been able to obtain the 
     training equipment we currently possess.
       We are aware that there is less property available today 
     because of the downsizing of the Military. However, the 
     combinations of the special interest legislation and major 
     ``giveaways'' such as the humanitarian assistance program, 
     have destroyed most of

[[Page S582]]

     the opportunity the States have to receive the type and 
     quality of property available in prior years. Therefore, our 
     Program as well as all other non-profit organizations, suffer 
     the loss.
       Sir, please help us in keeping the Federal Donation Program 
     going. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Wayne Barfield,
     Business Agent.
                                  ____



                                  Grandview Police Department,

                                  Grandview, WA, January 20, 1998.
     Senator Grams,
     Dirkson Senate Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Grams: My purpose for writing you this letter 
     is to appraise you of the great benefits that my Agency and 
     City have received from our years of involvement in the 
     Federal Surplus Program. Over the past six years, we have 
     been very active in purchasing surplus equipment from the 
     Government that has improved the quality of our City, and 
     allowed us to expand and improve the operations in City 
     government.
       Over the past six years, the City has purchased a bulldozer 
     and dump truck which has allowed us to build a quality Police 
     firearms range to allow our officers to be proficient in the 
     use of their weapons, as well as purchasing pickup trucks, a 
     van and other related equipment to augment our Department, to 
     allow us to better serve our citizens. The majority of 
     furniture, desks, computers, typewriters and other supplies 
     that we use on a day to day basis in the Police department 
     are from the federal surplus program. Without this program, 
     our Department would still be using equipment that was 
     purchased over 20 years ago. Due to our financial situation 
     in our rural area, this program has allowed us to keep our 
     department current with the modern technologies and equipment 
     of the 1990's. I would hate to think where our Department, as 
     well as other departments within the City would be if we had 
     not been a active purchaser of federal surplus property. 
     Citywide, we have purchased thousands of dollars worth of 
     quality equipment on a yearly basis, saving our taxpayers 
     tens of thousands of dollars.
       I am a very proud participant of the federal surplus 
     program and believe that it is one of the best cost effective 
     programs that our City has ever been involved in. I also hope 
     that this program will continue to remain in tact in the 
     future and allow us to grow with it. We have the pleasure of 
     having Mr. Doug Coleman who is our State Federal Surplus 
     Property Manager, who does a fantastic job of working with 
     the local Cities in Washington State on the dispersement of 
     surplus property. I would hope that this worthwhile program 
     continues and grows.
           Respectfully,
                                                 David R. Charvet,
     Chief of Police.
                                  ____

                                       Talent Irrigation District,
                                     Talent, OR, January 19, 1998.
     Jack Guzman,
     Acting Manager, Federal Surplus Property, Salem, OR.
       Dear Mr. Guzman: The Federal Surplus Property Program is an 
     intricate part of the Talent Irrigation District's (TID) 
     operating target. It has significantly contributed to keeping 
     operating costs down resulting in low water rates for our 
     taxpayers. Here are just a very few specific examples.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Acquisition    Equivalent open
                                              cost         market cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance Pick-up trucks............        $2,000.00     $8-10,000.00
Snow Cat for Mountain/high lake                5,000.00        95,000.00
 operation............................
6" Gate valves........................            30.00           300.00
Fork Lifts............................         3,000.00         9,000.00
Structural Steel and Steel plate......    Simply could not afford it at
                                                  market price.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       The list goes on and on. In an era of austere funding and 
     increased property taxes TID has been able to keep water 
     rates one-third less than other Southern Oregon Districts. 
     This is a direct result of utilizing the Federal Surplus 
     Property program.
       The only inequity in the system from a donee standpoint, is 
     the ``Host State'' procedures. Not having any military 
     installations, Oregon Donees are a notch below the host state 
     at the donee level. This needs attention.
       Further comment would be redundant, suffice it to say 
     overall the program is very beneficial to the taxpayer.
           Sincerely,

                                                Hollie Cannon,

     Manager, Talent Irrigation District.
                                  ____



                                 Birch Tree Communities, Inc.,

                                     Benton, AR, January 19, 1998.
     Hon. Rod Grams,
     Dirksen Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Rod Grams: We are a non profit Certified 
     Community Mental Health Center. We are a clinical and 
     rehabilitative program for the chronically mentally ill. The 
     people we work with are the lowest of the low income people 
     in America.
       We utilize the products of the Federal Donation Program 
     immensely. We use many of the products they have for sale. A 
     few of those items are beds and mattresses. To be able to 
     purchase only these items saves our organization thousands of 
     dollars each year. The total items we purchase and utilize 
     would be too lengthy to list.
       A bed and mattress are very simple items, but can you 
     imagine sleeping without a bed or mattress? The people we 
     work with are classified as homeless and many have not had 
     the comfort of a bed or mattress for some time.
       This letter is to definitely continue the Federal Donation 
     Program in its present form.
           Sincerely,
     Paul Enderlin.
                                  ____



                                          Mountain Fire/Rescue

                             Mountain Ranch, CA, January 20, 1998.
       Dear Senator Grams: On behalf of Mountain Fire//Rescue and 
     as the Chief of this Volunteer Fire Company, I'm writing to 
     you in response to the urgent letter I received from the 
     National Asso. of State Agencies for Surplus Property.
       Mountain Fire/Rescue came to be 18 years ago and has grown 
     to be the largest fire unit in Calaveras County, CA. We have 
     94 pieces of fire fighting, rescue, potable water tenders, 
     generators and the parts to keep this equipment running. All 
     but 3 of our rolling stock was obtained through Surplus 
     property program.
       We use this equipment in various ways:
       Our 5 ton recovery vehicle (wrecker) is used to recover any 
     government agencies property that has become disabled. This 
     is a very poor county and most of the fire departments here 
     don't have the money to hire a large tow truck to recover 
     their equipment. This same unit responded to a call where a 
     farmer was driving his tractor and went over a mountain side, 
     300 yards. At the site, we pulled out the 400' + cable and 
     added all of our chain then a 20' piece of cable on the end 
     of this mess, put a snatch block in a tree by the victim, 
     that was pinned under the tractor, and was able to pick the 
     tractor off of him without hurting him further. Before we got 
     there, attempts to lift the tractor was futile. Every time 
     the rescue team tried to move the tractor it would slid down 
     the mountain side a little. He was air lifted to Modesto and 
     is doing fine now. Reports we received after this incident 
     tell us we saved his life. This was a piece of excess 
     property. Cost $99,000.00, our cost, $1200.00.
       In 1994, on a presidential order, this Volunteer Fire Co. 
     was sent to Goma, Zaire, Africa on a C5A from Travis AFB non 
     stop, to produce potable water to the refugees 15 miles 
     outside of Goma. A Report can be found in Vol. 141 
     Washington, Saturday, August 5, 1995 No. 130, on page E-1690, 
     True American Heroes, Hon. John T. Doolittle of California, 
     Friday, August 4, 1995. This may be useful to you. The 
     equipment was excess property except for the sub-pump and the 
     fire truck. As a US Army trained medic, I took along my 
     medical stuff from MFR. At the pumping site at Lac Kavu, MFR 
     set up pumping operations, chlorinated the water, took care 
     of the military personal at this site provided the heated 
     shower, built off the back of the fire truck and generally 
     blended in to the working order of this base. Two days into 
     the pumping operation, Dr. Thomas Durant, Asst. Medical 
     Director, Boston School of Medicine became my preceptor on 
     site. He was going to rent a car to go out to the refugee 
     camps and start to give shots to these poor people. He was 
     going to pay $100.00 per day for the rental. I told him to 
     take MFRs 1\1/4\ ton 4X4 pickup to do this work at no charge. 
     One day, as the doctor's and RNs were going to the camp, they 
     were stopped by a squad of Zaire soldiers, told to get out of 
     the truck. They were taken into a banana grove, where they 
     thought they were going to be shot. In the grove was a young 
     Zaire soldier that had picked up an explosive device of some 
     kind and blown his hands up. The doctors put him in the truck 
     and all his buddies and took him to a field hospital to be 
     treated. From that time on, no more stopping for road blocks. 
     This one vehicle provided the transportation for those good 
     docs and no one will ever know how many lives they saved. 
     Most of all of the support equipment we took with us was 
     surplus property.
       Photos of the African event can be obtained by contacting 
     Lt. Col. Eric Hanson. office # 1-703-607-7864. Confirmation 
     of events there can be confirmed by contacting Dr. Tom 
     Durant, office # 1-617-726-2106, Boston MS.
       Another source of information can be found in the August 
     1995 of the Fire Engineering monthly, poc Bill Manning @ 1-
     800-962-6484. I also wrote an article for this mag. on how to 
     procure excess property from the government. This might be 
     something you want in your information briefing.
       Lastly, we were told we were True American Heroes, 
     Congressman Doolittle has been the only person that has taken 
     it upon himself to make General Jack Nix's order to give us 
     the Category 1 and 2 civilian medals that Gen. Nix wanted us 
     to be awarded happen. This will happen when the congressman 
     has the time to fit us in.
       MFR has been involved in many events where we use the 
     equipment that we obtain through the DRMO program. Without 
     this program, we could not exist. I hope this note finds you 
     and your staff in good health and have a Happy New Year.

                                                   John D. Horner,
                                                       Fire Chief.

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I am particularly impressed at how 
effectively the state agencies, GSA and the Defense Re-utilization and 
Marketing Service have worked together as a team to respond quickly and 
efficiently

[[Page S583]]

during times of national disasters and emergencies.
  Together they have successfully identified and transported sandbags, 
blankets, cots, tools, trucks and other equipment and supplies to 
disaster sites.
  In 1997, the state agencies and their federal partners faced a number 
of emergencies--and they delivered.
  And I know Minnesotans who suffered through the Midwest floods last 
year appreciated the relief provided to them during these horrible 
times. I recently received a letter from Dave Allen, Chief Pilot of the 
Minnesota State Patrol, and a recipient of surplus property distributed 
by the Minnesota State Agency for Surplus Property for the last several 
years.
  Mr. Allen wrote:

       In February 1997 our unit had the need for a twin engine 
     airplane. One week after I made the request for this type of 
     aircraft, Gene Glaeser called and said he had located an 
     aircraft he thought would meet our needs. It was a Beechcraft 
     Queen Air and it had been used by NASA for several years and 
     was based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
       The Beechcraft Queen Air acquired from NASA including the 
     training of six pilots cost the State approximately $35,000 
     to place it in service. This aircraft had been appraised at 
     $150,000-$175,000 by an aircraft broker . . . Had the surplus 
     property program not been available to us our chances of 
     acquiring this equipment would not have existed.
       This is a perfect example of our government obtaining the 
     most from a piece of equipment . . . I would hope that this 
     program would continue for many years in the future, as 
     everyone benefits from it.

  The plane filled a very important need during last year's floods by 
shuttling state and emergency management staff to meetings, where they 
assessed the damage in our communities and provided guidance to 
residents.
  The state agencies for surplus property should be commended for 
following the intent of Congress and fulfilling their responsibilities 
under Public Law 94-519. However, I believe that the volume and value 
of distributed surplus federal property would increase if the intent of 
the Congress when it passed the 1976 reforms was more closely followed.
  If Congress continues to allow surplus federal property to go abroad, 
or not make its way through proper channels to eligible recipients, our 
students, workers, taxpayers, and families will lose. The legislation I 
am introducing will address these concerns through the following 
provisions.
  First, this legislation would ensure that when distributing surplus 
federal property, domestic needs are met before we consider foreign 
interests. It would, however, grant the President the authority to make 
supplies available for humanitarian relief purposes before going to the 
states, in the case of emergencies or natural disasters.
  Second, my bill would amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to 
prohibit the transfer of Government-owned excess property to foreign 
countries or international organizations for environmental protection 
activities in foreign countries unless GSA determined that there is no 
federal or state use for the property.
  Fourth, my bill would repeal the authority of the Secretary of Energy 
to transfer excess DOE research and development facility equipment to 
educational institutions in the U.S. This current practice by DOE falls 
outside the Donation Program and denies equal access to all local 
education agencies, schools and universities.
  Third, it would ensure that 8(a) firms participating in the Small 
Business Administration's Capital Ownership Development Program 
maintain their eligibility to receive surplus Federal property, but 
through the normal process involving GSA and the State agencies. 
States, not bureaucracies, should determine how to meet the needs of 
our schools and universities.
  Finally, this legislation would require GSA to report to Congress on 
the effectiveness of all statutes relating to the disposal and donation 
of personal property and recommend any changes that would further 
improve the Donation Program.
  Mr. President, my bill is based on the principle that eligible 
recipients should be able to maximize their tax dollars through 
expendable Federal property that meets their needs.
  It takes an important step toward stopping publicly-owned property 
from being shipped abroad and given to other organizations before it is 
distributed through each State agency for surplus property.
  My legislation will fulfill the public's right to know how and where 
their tax dollars are being spent.
  In many ways, it will serve as the second phase of the reforms 
overwhelmingly passed by Congress in 1976, by preserving the active 
role of States in the handling and distribution of surplus Federal 
property. This initiative will benefit thousands of recipients--the 
Nation's taxpayers.
  The best interests of America's taxpayers has always been at the top 
of my agenda. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the 
Senate to move this legislation through Congress and give the taxpayers 
the highest possible return on their investment.

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