[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 112 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OLD JICARILLA ADMINISTRATIVE SITE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 695 would direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately twenty acres of real 
property and improvements at an abandoned and surplus ranger station 
administrative site in San Juan County, New Mexico to San Juan College 
in Farmington, New Mexico. The Forest Service has determined that the 
``Old Jicarilla Site,'' as the site is known, is of no further use 
because the Forest Service moved its operations to a new administrative 
facility in Bloomfield, New Mexico several years ago. In fact, the site 
has been unoccupied for several years.
  The College would pay for all lands to be conveyed in accordance with 
the Recreation and Public Purposes Act and would use the site for 
educational and recreational purposes. In the event that the land 
ceases to be used for such purposes, they would revert to the United 
States.
  According to Dr. James C. Henderson, President of San Juan College, 
``San Juan College has grown to be the fourth largest college in New 
Mexico. The college serves the people of the Northwest quadrant of the 
state in numerous ways [by] providing business and industrial training, 
life-long learning opportunities, and various academic and technical 
degree programs.'' The transfer of the ``Old Jicarilla Site'' to San 
Juan College to better serve the surrounding community by offering new 
programs that meet the needs of that community. In addition, the 
facilities would be available to other civic organizations such as the 
Scouts and the Boys and Girls Club.
  This legislation creates a situation in which the federal government, 
the State of New Mexico, the people of San Juan County, and most 
importantly, the students and faculty of San Juan College all benefit. 
I would like to thank Dr. Henderson, Ms. Marjorie Black, Executive 
Assistant to the President, and the Staff of San Juan College, the 
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management for their hard work 
directed towards making this transfer a reality. In addition, I would 
like to thank Representative Wilson for her support as well as my New 
Mexico colleagues in the Senate; Senator Bingaman, and in particular, 
Senator Domenici for beginning this effort in the last Congress and for 
continuing his efforts again this Congress.

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