[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 117 (Friday, September 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9673-S9674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Ensign):
  S. 2846. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain Bureau of 
Land Management land in the State of Nevada to the University and 
Community College System of Nevada, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today for myself and Senator Ensign 
to introduce the Nye County Higher Education Campus Conveyance Act. 
This bill would transfer 280 acres of federal land in Nye County, NV, 
to the University and Community College System of Nevada for a much-
needed college campus.
  As you may know, southern Nevada is one of the most rapidly growing 
regions of the country. For some time now, growth has been progressing 
out of Las Vegas, over the mountains, and into nearby surrounding 
areas. The Pahrump Valley in Nye County is one such area that is 
growing. However, Nye County does not have a single institution of 
higher learning to serve its now more than 33,000 residents.
  This bill would set the stage to change that. The land conveyed by 
this bill would become the home of a college campus with facilities 
shared among the Community College of Southern Nevada, Nevada State 
College, and the Nye County School District.
  In other States, educational systems can acquire land to accommodate 
growth relatively easily. In Nevada, where the Federal government owns 
87 percent of the land, even a new college campus requires an Act of 
Congress.
  The college campus that this bill would enable will become an 
exceptional asset not only to the citizens of Nye County, but to all 
Nevadans and ultimately to the Nation as a whole.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2846

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nye County Higher Education 
     Campus Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) Chancellor.--The term ``Chancellor'' means the 
     Chancellor of the University system.
       (2) County.--The term ``County'' means the County of Nye, 
     Nevada.
       (3) College.--The term ``College'' means the Nye County 
     Nevada Higher Education Campus in Pahrump Valley, Nevada, a 
     component of the University system.
       (4) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
     parcel of Bureau of Land Management land identified on the 
     map as the N\1/2\ (excluding the NW\1/4\NW\1/4\) of sec. 2 of 
     T. 21 S., R. 54 E.
       (5) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act'' and dated 
     October 1, 2002.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Nevada.
       (7) University system.--The term ``University system'' 
     means the University and Community College System of Nevada.

     SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
                   SYSTEM OF NEVADA.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the Federal Land Policy 
     and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and 
     section 1(c) of the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as 
     the ``Recreation and Public Purposes Act'') (43 U.S.C. 
     869(c)), not later than 1 year after the date on which a 
     survey defining the official metes and bounds of the Federal 
     land is approved by the Secretary, the Secretary shall convey 
     to the University system without consideration, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     Federal land for use as a campus for the College.

[[Page S9674]]

       (b) Conditions.--
       (1) In general.--As a condition of the conveyance under 
     subsection (a), the Chancellor shall agree in writing--
       (A) to pay any administrative costs associated with the 
     conveyance, including the cost of any environmental, 
     wildlife, cultural, or historical resources studies;
       (B) to use the Federal land conveyed for educational and 
     recreational purposes;
       (C) to release and indemnify the United States from any 
     claims or liabilities which may arise from uses that are 
     carried out on the Federal land on or before the date of 
     enactment of this Act by the United States or any person;
       (D) as soon as practicable after the date of the conveyance 
     under subsection (a), to erect at the College an appropriate 
     and centrally located monument that acknowledges the 
     conveyance of the Federal land by the United States for the 
     purpose of furthering the higher education of citizens in the 
     State; and
       (E) to assist the Bureau of Land Management in providing 
     information to the students of the College and the citizens 
     of the State on--
       (i) public land in the State; and
       (ii) the role of the Bureau of Land Management in managing, 
     preserving, and protecting the public land.
       (2) Valid existing rights.--The conveyance under subsection 
     (a) shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
       (c) Use of Federal Land.--
       (1) In general.--The University system may use the land 
     conveyed under subsection (a) for--
       (A) any purpose relating to the establishment, operation, 
     growth, and maintenance of the College; and
       (B) any uses relating to those purposes, including 
     residential and commercial development that would generally 
     be associated with an institution of higher education.
       (2) Other entities.--The University system may--
       (A) consistent with Federal and State law, lease or 
     otherwise provide property or space at the College, with or 
     without consideration, to religious, public interest, 
     community, or other groups for services and events that are 
     of interest to the College, the University system, or any 
     community located in the County;
       (B) allow the County or any other community in the County 
     to use facilities of the College for educational and 
     recreational programs of the County or community; and
       (C) in conjunction with the County, plan, finance 
     (including through the provision of cost-share assistance), 
     construct, and operate facilities for the County on the 
     Federal land for educational or recreational purposes 
     consistent with this section.
       (d) Reversion.--If the Federal land or any portion of the 
     Federal land conveyed under subsection (a) ceases to be used 
     for the College, the Federal land or any portion of the 
     Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, 
     revert to the United States.

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