[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 86 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7114-S7115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE NEBRASKA AVENUE NAVAL COMPLEX

  Mr. KYL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H. R. 4322, which is at the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H. R. 4322) to provide for the transfer of the 
     Nebraska Avenue Naval Complex in the District of Columbia to 
     facilitate the establishment of the headquarters for the 
     Department of Homeland Security, to provide for the 
     acquisition by the Department of the Navy of suitable 
     replacement facilities, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                     Homeland Security Headquarters

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Madam President, I rise in support of H.R. 4322, a 
bill to transfer the Nebraska Avenue complex property from the Navy to 
the General Services Administration, GSA, for use by the Department of 
Homeland Security, DHS, for its headquarters operations. One of the 
many exigencies surrounding the creation of DHS was the need to quickly 
find suitable space for the Department's operations. While many of the 
component agencies could--at least temporarily--remain in their current 
locations, there had to be new space for the Department's leadership 
and new programs. The Navy had previously been providing space at the 
Nebraska Avenue complex to the President's Office of Homeland Security, 
and the administration subsequently decided that the site should be 
used as a headquarters for the new Department for the immediate future. 
DHS already has some of its headquarters operations at the site, and 
plans to move additional staff to the property once the Navy has 
finished moving out. It is vital that DHS be able to move ahead with 
consolidating its headquarters operations and renovating the complex to 
meet its needs. It is also critical that the Navy be fairly compensated 
and that its displaced operations be able to move into new facilities. 
This legislation will allow all this to take place. This legislation 
formalizes the transfer of the property and provides for a payment 
mechanism for the Navy's temporary and permanent relocation costs. GSA, 
in keeping with its traditional responsibilities, will own the property 
and manage it for DHS, which shall be a tenant there.
  There has been a question about precisely how, under this 
legislation, to provide payment to the Navy, and which parties should 
bear which costs. Therefore, I am pleased to submit for the Record a 
letter from Joshua Bolten, Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget, that specifically clarifies this issue. DHS shall provide the 
Navy with compensation for its initial moving and interim relocation 
costs for the first year. This amount is already budgeted for fiscal 
year 2005. Meanwhile, OMB has agreed that GSA is the proper entity to 
supply funds to compensate the Navy for permanent relocation expenses. 
This legislation will allow GSA to provide those funds and, as this 
letter specifically makes clear, OMB pledges that it, on behalf of the 
Administration, will request adequate funds in the GSA budget after the 
first year for GSA to do so. This responds to my concern that forcing 
DHS to pay an undue share of the Navy's relocation expenses would 
dangerously burden

[[Page S7115]]

limited resources for critical homeland security programs. I appreciate 
the OMB's and the Administration's efforts in clarifying its intentions 
on this matter.
  Mr. BYRD. Madam President, I share the Senator's concern that the 
bill that is before us requires a nondefense agency to pay for the 
permanent relocation of the Navy. Homeland security dollars are scarce. 
The Department of Homeland Security should not be forced to use dollars 
that should be used for securing our ports or for securing our mass 
transit systems to pay for a new Navy facility. With the Senator's 
cooperation, we have asked for a commitment from the administration 
that these costs will be requested through the General Services 
Administration, which will own the property, rather than the Department 
of Homeland Security. I am pleased that the Administration has provided 
this assurance.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
letter on this matter from Joshua Bolten, Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         Executive Office of the President, Office of Management 
           and Budget,
                                    Washington, DC, June 17, 2004.
     Hon. Joseph Lieberman,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Lieberman: The purpose of this letter is to 
     explain the Administration's plan to transfer administrative 
     jurisdiction of the Nebraska Avenue Complex (NAC) from the 
     Navy to the General Services Administration (GSA) so that the 
     facility can be used to house the consolidated headquarters 
     of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
       Once the Congress allows GSA to take control of the 
     property, the Navy will relocate its operations from the NAC 
     to other facilities. Based on long-standing Comptroller 
     General opinions, the Department of Homeland Security will 
     reimburse the Navy for its initial move to a replacement 
     facility and the first year of rent at that new location. 
     Combined, the first-year costs are estimated at $26 million. 
     This amount has been requested in the FY 2005 DHS budget and 
     is included in the appropriations bills for the Department of 
     Homeland Security currently under consideration by the House 
     and Senate.
       After the Navy's first year of occupancy at its new 
     location, GSA will be responsible to reimburse the Navy for 
     acquisition of an subsequent moves to permanent facilities. 
     Once estimates are developed for these costs, the 
     Administration plans to request the funding in future budgets 
     through the GSA Federal Buildings Fund.
       Consolidating the headquarters operations of DHS is 
     necessary to ensure the DHS can efficiently execute its 
     mission to protect the American people from terrorist attack. 
     To that end, the Administration has proposed legislation that 
     would authorize the Navy to transfer the NAC to GSA and 
     authorize the relocation of Navy personnel. H.R. 4322, as 
     passed by the House of Representatives, would accomplish 
     these goals, and we look forward to working with the Senate 
     to enact this legislation as quickly as possible.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Joshua B. Bolten,
                                                         Director.
  Mr. KYL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H. R. 4322) was read the third time and passed.

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