[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 12 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SARBANES:
  S. 2059. A bill to modify land conveyance authority relating to the 
former Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Cecil County, Maryland, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.


            bainbridge naval training center land conveyance

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that 
would alleviate the $500,000 cost associated with the transfer of the 
former Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Cecil County, Maryland. It 
is my hope that this bill will help expedite the development of this 
property by the Bainbridge Development Corporation and the State of 
Maryland, and allow this site to realize its tremendous potential as 
soon as possible. Moreover, the money that the BDC will save through 
this waiver will be put towards salvaging several of the historic 
buildings on the site, namely, the historic Tome School.
  Next week, I will participate in the transfer ceremony for this base, 
which now represents 1200 acres of pristine and strategically located 
land. The transfer follows decades of negotiations and cleanup, and I, 
along with the Navy, my constituents in Cecil County, and the other 
members of the Maryland State congressional delegation hope to see 
development of this site begin promptly.
  In my view, the transfer of the Bainbridge site is a shining example 
of what can be accomplished through partnerships between Federal, 
State, and local governments. I introduce this bill to sustain our 
momentum and move this property into productive use as expeditiously as 
possible. Mr. President, I have spoken with the appropriate Navy 
officials regarding this matter and they have raised no concerns about 
this waiver. Indeed, this is truly a non-controversial measure with a 
very modest cost and I urge my colleagues to support its swift passage.
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