[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7021-H7022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AVAILABILITY OF NOAA REAL PROPERTY ON VIRGINIA KEY, FLORIDA
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4027) to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make
available to the University of Miami property under the administrative
jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on
Virginia Key, Florida, for use by the University for a Marine Life
Sciences Center, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4027
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AVAILABILITY OF NOAA REAL PROPERTY ON VIRGINIA
KEY, FLORIDA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce may make
available to the University of Miami real property under the
administrative jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration on Virginia Key, Florida, for
development by the University of a Marine Life Science
Center.
(b) Manner of Availability.--The Secretary may make
property available under this section by easement, lease,
license, or long-term agreement with the University.
(c) Authorized Uses by University.--
(1) In general.--Property made available under this section
may be used by the University (subject to paragraph (2)) to
develop and operate facilities for multidisciplinary
environmental and fisheries research, assessment, management,
and educational activities.
(2) Agreement.--Property made available under this section
may not be used by the University (including any affiliate of
the University) except in accordance with an agreement with
the Secretary that--
(A) specifies--
(i) the conditions for non-Federal use of the property; and
(ii) the retained Federal interests in the property,
including interests in access to and egress from the property
by Federal personnel and preservation of existing rights-of-
way;
(B) establishes conditions for joint occupancy of buildings
and other facilities on the property by the University and
Federal agencies; and
(C) includes provisions that ensure--
(i) that there is no diminishment of existing National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs and services
at Virginia Key; and
(ii) the availability of the property for planning,
development, and construction of future Federal buildings and
facilities.
(3) Termination of availability.--The availability of
property under this section shall terminate immediately upon
use of the property by the University--
(A) for any purpose other than as described in paragraph
(1); or
(B) in violation of the agreement under paragraph (2).
(d) Use of Facilities by Secretary.--The Secretary may--
(1) subject to the availability of funding, enter into an
agreement to occupy facilities constructed by the University
on property made available under this section; and
(2) participate with the University in collaborative
research at, or administered through, such facilities.
(e) No Conveyance of Title.--This section shall not be
construed to convey or authorize conveyance of any interest
of the United States in title to property made available
under this section.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms.
Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
General Leave
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume
to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4027. This
is an important bill to my constituents, indeed to the people of all of
south Florida.
Madam Speaker, this bill makes available to the property on Virginia
Key, Florida, under the jurisdiction of
[[Page H7022]]
NOAA for use by the University of Miami for a marine life science
center. This property may be made available to the University via
easement, lease, license or long-term agreement.
Madam Speaker, Virginia Key, Florida, which is located just a few
miles from downtown Miami, is the site of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric's National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries
Science Center. It is also the home for NOAA's Office of Atmospheric
Research Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, as well
as the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Sciences.
Due to their proximity and because they overlap in research interest,
NOAA and the Rosenstiel School have had a close working relationship
for many years. This legislation is designed to maintain and strengthen
that relationship.
Located on a 16-acre campus on Virginia Key in Miami, the Rosenstiel
School is the only subtropical applied and basic marine and atmospheric
research institute of its kind in the continental United States.
Rosenstiel's research interests include satellite oceanography, with
particular emphasis on remote sensing and satellite imagery, as well as
experimental fish hatchery. It also leads in the field of global marine
and atmospheric chemistry program, comprehensive oceanic and
atmospheric numerical modeling activities, sedimentary geology and
marine geophysics groups with considerable expertise in seismic
methods, and has an innovative ocean acoustics program.
{time} 1630
In short, Madam Speaker, the Rosenstiel School is a proud and
indispensable establishment for all of us in south Florida, in the
State of Florida and indeed throughout the Nation.
The genesis of a new University of Miami and NOAA marine science
complex will bring together expertise in environmental and fisheries
research, assessment and management, and facilitate the intellectual
exchange of ideas and results. H.R. 4027 is a critical first step in
reaching the goal of establishing a new marine science complex.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to have introduced this important
legislation and am most appreciative of the consideration and focus of
this vital project in my congressional district.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 4027. I
compliment the gentlewoman from Florida for her leadership on behalf of
her constituents and want to thank the Committee on Science for their
assistance in moving this important legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4027 is noncontroversial
legislation that would encourage cooperative use of Federal land at
Virginia Key, Florida under the administrative jurisdiction of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration between the Federal
agency and the University of Miami. The existing long-term relationship
between the two NOAA laboratories at Virginia Key and their neighbor,
the University's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science,
has produced an enviable record of scientific achievement.
While this legislation, Madam Speaker, will not authorize the
conveyance of any Federal land, it is expected to provide helpful
guidance for future collaboration among the institutions as they look
to upgrade their respective research facilities at Virginia Key. I urge
Members to support this legislation to enhance ocean and coastal
scientific research.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Blackburn). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4027, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________