[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 46 (Monday, April 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3821-S3822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS:
  S. 826. A bill to provide that the conveyance of the former radar 
bomb scoring site to the city of Conrad, Montana, is not subject to 
reversion; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I take the floor today to ask that we 
finally help the town of Conrad, MT continue its successful program of 
providing affordable housing for our seniors. I renew my commitment to 
making sure this occurs.
  In the defense authorization act of 1994, the Air Force conveyed an 
unused 42-acre parcel of land to the city of Conrad, which then built a 
retirement home for Montana seniors. The home has been a great success, 
and the city of Conrad has begun the process of expanding the facility.
  When the city proposed using the land as collateral for the home, it 
ran into a problem. In the quitclaim deed where we conveyed the land to 
the city, we included a customary reversion clause that would transfer 
the property back to the Department of Defense in the event that the 
land stopped being used for the purpose of housing or public 
recreation.
  While the intent of this clause is and will continue to be met, a 
small city like Conrad must use the title to the land to secure 
construction loans, rather than issuing a municipal bond or some other 
measure to raise funds used by larger cities. The reversion clause 
prevents banks from using the land to secure the loan, as the city does 
not have clear title to the land.
  Therefore, I ask the Senate to approve this modification to public 
law 103-160, section 2816 regarding the 42 acre site of the Blue Sky 
Villa, which removes the reversion clause for this

[[Page S3822]]

land, giving the city of Conrad clear title. I thank the Senate for 
it's consideration of this important matter for our senior citizens in 
Montana.
                                 ______