[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 132 (Wednesday, November 17, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H9826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT LAND EXCHANGE

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1113) to authorize an exchange 
of land at Fort Frederica National Monument, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Page 2, line 2 strike out ``any other provision of law'' 
     and insert ``section 5(b) of Public Law 90-401 (16 U.S.C. 
     460l-22(b))''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. 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 H.R. 1113.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1113, as amended, was introduced by the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) and would authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to convey 6 acres of land within the boundaries of the Fort 
Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island, Georgia, to the 
Christ Church, also located on St. Simons Island. In return, the 
National Park Service would receive 8.7 acres of nearby property that 
would be acquired by the church from the Sea Island Company and then 
exchanged with the Park Service. The exchange is viewed by all parties 
as a win-win.
  Christ Church has doubled in size in the last 9 years, and the 
additional land is needed for its expansion. In return, the monument 
would receive lands that are known to contain valuable archaeological 
remains from the colonial period.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1113, which authorizes a land 
exchange at Fort Frederica National Monument in Georgia, has been 
amended by the Senate to clarify that the proposed land exchange is 
only exempt from a narrow and specific provision of law.
  Even with the passage of this legislation, there is much work left to 
be done with this proposed exchange. Appraisals and archaeological 
surveys of the lands in question have not been completed. As such, the 
value and historic significance of the proposed lands have not been 
established.
  Furthermore, the National Park Service testified that the 
noncontiguous parcel that would be acquired through the exchange will 
likely increase the administrative and operational costs of the 
national monument necessitating an evaluation of this question as well.
  It is important to note that H.R. 1113 authorizes but does not 
require a land exchange at Fort Frederica National Monument. Before any 
exchange could occur, the National Park Service would be required to 
complete appraisals and historical surveys, as well as comply with the 
requirements of NEPA and the National Park Service management 
standards. These legal and administrative procedures are in place to 
ensure that the exchange, if it does go forward, is in the public 
interest.
  Mr. Speaker, that being the case, we do not object to consideration 
of H.R. 1113, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 
1113.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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