Congressional Record, Volume 144 Issue 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)

[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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