[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3247-S3248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAMM (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 694. A bill to authorize the conveyance of the Naval Weapons 
Industrial Reserve Plant No. 387, Dallas, Texas; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.


   CONVEYANCE OF THE NAVAL WEAPONS INDUSTRIAL RESERVE PLANT NO. 387, 
                             DALLAS, TEXAS

   Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, along with Senator Kay Bailey 
Hutchison, I am introducing legislation today which will authorize the 
Secretary of the Navy to transfer ownership of the property known as 
the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant #387, located in Dallas, 
Texas, to the City of Dallas. This legislation allows the Navy to 
divest itself of property no longer needed to accomplish the Navy's 
mission, while enabling the City of Dallas to maintain and develop the 
facilities in the best interests of the citizens of the Metroplex.
  The Navy Weapons Plant in Dallas is adjacent to Naval Air Station 
Dallas, which was closed by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission 
of 1993. Years ago, the work performed at the plant directly supported 
the Navy and its missions, but today, the Navy no

[[Page S3248]]

longer needs the facility. With all of our military services struggling 
to meet today's unprecedented number of peacekeeping, humanitarian 
assistance, and sanctions enforcement operations, the Navy and the 
taxpayer cannot afford to maintain a facility that is no longer needed. 
The legislation I introduce today relieves the Navy of the costs of 
ownership while ensuring that the citizens of North Texas are allowed 
to use the facilities for public benefit.
  The bill will permit the City of Dallas to continue its special 
relationship with Northrop Grumman Corporation, the current contract 
tenant. Northrop Grumman utilizes the facility primarily to manufacture 
commercial aircraft components and systems. As one of America's premier 
aerospace and defense companies, Northrop Grumman's operations in 
Dallas are vital to our national economy and security, as evidenced by 
their annual economic impact of $840 million. Northrop Grumman's 
current operations at the plant provide direct employment for 5,600 
Texas workers, while another 16,800 indirect jobs are created in the 
metropolitan area. This bill gives the City of Dallas the opportunity 
to assure the continuation of jobs, growth, and opportunity at the 
plant when the Navy leaves the area. This is precisely the kind of 
public-private partnership that will be the foundation for prosperity 
in the future. I ask my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 694

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

     SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, NAVAL WEAPONS INDUSTRIAL RESERVE 
                   PLANT NO. 387, DALLAS, TEXAS.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--(1) The Secretary of the Navy 
     may convey to the City of Dallas, Texas (in this section 
     referred to as the ``City''), all right, title, and interest 
     of the United States in and to parcels of real property 
     consisting of approximately 314 acres and comprising the 
     Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant No. 387, Dallas, 
     Texas.
       (2)(A) As part of the conveyance authorized by paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary may convey to the City such improvements, 
     equipment, fixtures, and other personal property located on 
     the parcels referred to in that paragraph as the Secretary 
     determines to be not required by the Navy for other purposes.
       (B) The Secretary may permit the City to review and inspect 
     the improvements, equipment, fixtures, and other personal 
     property located on the parcels referred to in paragraph (1) 
     for purposes of the conveyance authorized by this paragraph.
       (b) Authority To Convey Without Consideration.--The 
     conveyance authorized by subsection (a) may be made without 
     consideration if the Secretary determines that the conveyance 
     on that basis would be in the best interests of the United 
     States.
       (c) Exception from Screening Requirement.--The conveyance 
     authorized by subsection (a) shall be made without regard to 
     the requirement under section 2696 of title 10, United States 
     Code, that the property be screened for further Federal use 
     in accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative 
     Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.).
       (d) Condition of Conveyance.--The conveyance authorized by 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the condition that the 
     City--
       (1) use the parcels, directly or through an agreement with 
     a public or private entity, for economic purposes or such 
     other public purposes as the City determines appropriate; or
       (2) convey the parcels to an appropriate public or private 
     entity for use for such purposes.
       (e) Reversion.--If, during the 5-year period beginning on 
     the date the Secretary makes the conveyance authorized by 
     subsection (a), the Secretary determines that the conveyed 
     real property is not being used for a purpose specified in 
     subsection (d), all right, title, and interest in and to the 
     property, including any improvements thereon, shall revert to 
     the United States, and the United States shall have the right 
     of immediate entry onto the property.
       (f) Interim Lease.--(1) Until such time as the real 
     property described in subsection (a) is conveyed by deed 
     under this section, the Secretary may continue to lease the 
     property, together with improvements thereon, to the current 
     tenant under the existing terms and conditions of the lease 
     for the property.
       (2) If good faith negotiations for the conveyance of the 
     property continue under this section beyond the end of the 
     third year of the term of the existing lease for the 
     property, the Secretary shall continue to lease the property 
     to the current tenant of the property under the terms and 
     conditions applicable to the first three years of the lease 
     of the property pursuant to the existing lease for the 
     property.
       (g) Maintenance of Property.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), 
     the Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the real 
     property to be conveyed under this section in its condition 
     as of the date of the enactment of this Act until such time 
     as the property is conveyed by deed under this section.
       (2) The current tenant of the property shall be responsible 
     for any maintenance required under paragraph (1) to the 
     extent of the activities of that tenant at the property 
     during the period covered by that paragraph.
       (h) Environmental Remediation.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the City shall not be responsible for any 
     environmental restoration or remediation that is required 
     with respect to the real property to be conveyed under 
     subsection (a) as a result of activities of parties other 
     than the City at the property before its conveyance under 
     this section.
       (i) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property to be conveyed under 
     subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory 
     to the Secretary. The cost of the survey shall be borne by 
     the City.
       (j) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.
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