[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 127 (Monday, September 27, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H8779-H8780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONVEYING LAND IN NEW MEXICO TO SAN JUAN COLLEGE

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 293) to direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and 
Interior to convey certain lands in San Juan County, New Mexico, to San 
Juan College.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 293

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

     SECTION 1. OLD JICARILLA ADMINISTRATIVE SITE.

       (a) Conveyance of Property.--Not later than one year after 
     the date of completion of the survey referred to in 
     subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to 
     San Juan College, in Farmington, New Mexico, subject to the 
     terms, conditions, and reservations under subsection (c), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a 
     parcel of real property (including any improvements on the 
     land) not to exceed 20 acres known as the ``Old Jicarilla 
     Site'' located in San Juan County, New Mexico (T29N; R5W; 
     portions of sections 29 and 30).
       (b) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property conveyed under subsection 
     (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the 
     Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, and the 
     President of San Juan College. The cost of the survey shall 
     be borne by San Juan College.
       (c) Terms, Conditions, and Reservations.--
       (1) Notwithstanding exceptions of application under the 
     Recreation and Public Purposes Act (43 U.S.C. 869(c)), 
     consideration for the conveyance described in subsection (a) 
     shall be--
       (A) an amount that is consistent with the Bureau of Land 
     Management special pricing program for Governmental entities 
     under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act; and
       (B) an agreement between the Secretaries of the Interior 
     and Agriculture and San Juan College indemnifying the 
     Government of the United States from all liability of the 
     Government that arises from the property.
       (2) The lands conveyed by this Act shall be used for 
     educational and recreational purposes. If such lands cease to 
     be used for such purposes, at the option of the United 
     States, such lands will revert to the United States.
       (3) The Secretary of Agriculture shall identify any 
     reservations of rights-of-way for ingress, egress, and 
     utilities as the Secretary deems appropriate.
       (4) The conveyance described in subsection (a) shall be 
     subject to valid existing rights.
       (d) Land Withdrawals.--Public Land Order 3443, only insofar 
     as it pertains to lands described in subsections (a) and (b), 
     shall be revoked simultaneous with the conveyance of the 
     property under subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 293 was introduced by Senator Pete Domenici of New 
Mexico. The legislation would require the Secretaries of Agriculture 
and Interior to convey a 10 acre parcel of land known as the Old 
Jicarilla Site to San Juan College.
  The Forest Service no longer requires its use and has not occupied 
the site for several years. The bill would require the site to be used 
for educational and recreational purposes.
  Back in February of this year, our esteemed colleague, the gentleman 
from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), who has worked so hard on this bill, 
introduced H.R. 695 as the House companion. He worked diligently to see 
that his legislation passed the committee process, and finally it 
passed the House under suspension of the rules in early August. 
However, because the Senate would prefer the House to pass its version, 
S. 293, we are here today to do just that so this legislation might be 
enacted into law.
  Let me close by saying that my good friend the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Udall) has done a great job on this legislation, and I urge 
everyone to support the passage of S. 293 under suspension of the 
rules.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, S. 293, like H.R. 695 passed by 
the House on August 2, 1999, would direct the Secretary of Interior to 
convey approximately 20 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.

[[Page H8780]]

  With over one-third of the land in New Mexico under Federal 
ownership, it is often difficult for local communities to find 
appropriate sites for educational and recreational purposes. This 
bipartisan legislation will overcome this hurdle by conveying surplus 
Federal lands to San Juan College.
  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 
ceased to be used for such purposes, it 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 would 
allow the 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, his 
executive assistant, 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 the gentlewoman from New Mexico 
(Mrs. Wilson) for her work, 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 continuing his efforts 
again in this Congress. I thank Members for their consideration in this 
matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson).
  Mrs. WILSON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to ask my 
colleagues to pass Senate 293, the Old Jicarilla Site Conveyance Act of 
1999. It does allow the college to be able to administer a piece of 
unwanted land that is now owned by the Federal Government.
  For those who do not live in the Rocky Mountain West, you might 
think, well, gosh, why is no other land available? But in San Juan 
County, 90 percent of the land is owned by the Federal Government, 
which is why a piece of legislation like this is needed.
  This bill passed the Senate in the last Congress but did not pass the 
House before we went to adjournment. It is a very simple bill and it is 
just something that is part of the routine business that we have to do 
and need to get done.
  I want to thank my colleagues for their work on this, particularly 
the gentleman from northern New Mexico (Mr. Udall), Senator Pete 
Domenici, and Senator Jeff Bingaman, who sponsored this in the Senate 
and passed it last year. With your assistance, we will pass it and make 
it possible for San Juan College to continue the great education that 
it provides to so many New Mexicans.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and 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. 293.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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