[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7437-H7438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MARION NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY AND CLAUDE HARRIS NATIONAL AQUACULTURAL 
                     RESEARCH CENTER CONVEYANCE ACT

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1883) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
the Marion National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris National 
Aquacultural Research Center to the State of Alabama, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1883

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Marion National Fish 
     Hatchery and Claude Harris National Aquacultural Research 
     Center Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF MARION NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY AND 
                   CLAUDE HARRIS NATIONAL AQUACULTURAL RESEARCH 
                   CENTER TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

       (a) Conveyance Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to the State of Alabama without reimbursement, and 
     subject to the condition described in paragraph (2), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     properties described in subsection (b) for use by the Game 
     and Fish Division of the Department of Conservation and 
     Natural Resources of the State of Alabama (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Game and Fish Division)'' as part of 
     the fish culture program of the State of Alabama.
       (2) Lease of claude harris national aquacultural research 
     center.--As a condition of the conveyance under paragraph 
     (1), the Game and Fish Division shall offer to lease the 
     property described in subsection (b)(1)(B) to the Alabama 
     Agriculture Experiment Station--
       (A) at no cost to the Station or the Game and Fish 
     Division; and
       (B) for the period requested by the Station and provided by 
     Alabama law.
       (b) Description of Properties.--The properties referred to 
     in subsection (a)(1) consist of--
       (1)(A) the portion of the Marion National Fish Hatchery 
     leased to the Game and Fish Division, located 7 miles 
     northeast of Marion, Alabama, on State Highway 175, as 
     described in Amendment No. 2 to the Cooperative Agreement 
     dated June 6, 1974, between the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service and the Game and Fish Division, consisting 
     of approximately 300 acres; and
       (B) the Claude Harris National Aquacultural Research 
     Center, located 7 miles northeast of Marion, Alabama, on 
     State Highway 175, as described in a document of the United 
     States Fish and Wildlife Service entitled ``EXHIBIT A'' and 
     dated March 19, 1996, consisting of approximately 298 acres;
       (2) all improvements and related personal property under 
     the control of the Secretary of the Interior that are located 
     on the properties described in paragraph (1), including 
     buildings, structures, and equipment; and
       (3) all easements, leases, and water and timber rights 
     relating to the properties described in paragraph (1).
       (c) Reversionary Interest.--
       (1) Requirement.--If any property conveyed to the State of 
     Alabama under this section is used for any purpose other than 
     the use authorized under subsection (a), all right, title, 
     and interest in and to all property conveyed under this 
     section shall revert to the United States.
       (2) Condition of property on reversion.--In the case of a 
     reversion of property under paragraph (1), the State of 
     Alabama shall ensure that all property reverting to the 
     United States under this subsection is in substantially the 
     same condition as, or in better condition than, at the time 
     of conveyance under subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 1883, a bill introduced by our 
colleagues from Alabama, Senators Shelby and Sessions, to transfer the 
Marion National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris National 
Aquacultural Research Center to the State of Alabama.
  This legislation, which would convey about 600 acres of Federal land, 
is virtually identical to a measure that the House of Representatives 
unanimously adopted in 1996.
  The Alabama Fish and Game Division has effectively operated the 
Marion Fish Hatchery for over 24 years. During that time it has 
produced thousands of bluegills, channel fish, channel catfish, large-
mouthed bass, striped bass, sunfish, and hybrid striped bass 
fingerlings. These fish are used to stock over 500,000 acres of public 
waters in the State of Alabama, and they are available to over 530,000 
licensed sport anglers.
  Furthermore, over $2 million has been spent on improvements and 
renovations to the Marion Fish Hatchery since the State assumed 
operation of the facility in 1974. By obtaining title to the hatchery, 
the State will be able to make additional necessary modifications for 
the future.
  The Claude Harris National Aquacultural Research Center, which is 
adjacent to the hatchery, was established in 1959 to conduct much of 
the primary research on the channel catfish. Within the past 2 years 
the State has assumed, under a memorandum of agreement with the 
Department of the Interior, the operation of the research center, and 
its mission will be to continue to improve the efficiency of warm water 
aquaculture.
  Under the terms of this legislation, the State of Alabama has agreed 
to use these two facilities exclusively for their fish culture program. 
S. 1883 is supported by the Clinton administration, Governor Fab James, 
and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to vote for this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. This is the 
Senate companion to a House bill introduced by our colleague, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Hilliard). It was considered in our 
Committee on Resources, and employs the standard legislative formula 
that we have used to transfer hatcheries in the past. In fact, it is 
almost identical to a bill that was passed

[[Page H7438]]

by the House in the last Congress, but it did not become law. It is 
without controversy, and I urge Members to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1883.
  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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