[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.

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