[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7827-H7828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DANDINI RESEARCH PARK CONVEYANCE ACT

  Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 252) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain land in Washoe County, Nevada, to the Board of Regents of the 
University and Community College System of Nevada.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 252

       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 ``Dandini Research Park 
     Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Board of regents.--The term ``Board of Regents'' means 
     the Board of Regents of the University and Community College 
     System of Nevada.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

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

       (a) Conveyance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall convey to the Board of 
     Regents, without consideration, all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the approximately 467 
     acres of land located in Washoe County, Nevada, patented to 
     the University of Nevada under the Act of June 14, 1926 
     (commonly known as the ``Recreation and Public Purposes 
     Act'') (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), and described in paragraph 
     (2).
       (2) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (1) is--
       (A) the parcel of land consisting of approximately 309.11 
     acres and more particularly described as T. 20 N., R. 19 E., 
     Sec. 25, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/
     4\SW\1/4\, Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada; and
       (B) the parcel of land consisting of approximately 158.22 
     acres and more particularly described as T. 20 N., R. 19 E., 
     Sec. 25, lots 6 and 7, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, Mount 
     Diablo Meridian, Nevada.
       (b) Costs.--The Board of Regents shall pay to the United 
     States an amount equal to the costs of the Secretary 
     associated with the conveyance under subsection (a)(1).
       (c) Conditions.--If the Board of Regents sells any portion 
     of the land conveyed to the Board of Regents under subsection 
     (a)(1)--
       (1) the amount of consideration for the sale shall reflect 
     fair market value, as determined by an appraisal; and
       (2) the Board of Regents shall pay to the Secretary an 
     amount equal to the net proceeds of the sale, for use by the 
     Director of the Bureau of Land Management in the State of 
     Nevada, without further appropriation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H7828]]

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. 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 S. 252.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of Senate 252, the 
Dandini Research Park Conveyance Act, which was introduced in the 
Senate by Senator Harry Reid and co-sponsored by Senator John Ensign.
  I was proud to introduce the companion legislation in the House, and 
I am pleased to be here today to champion passage of this important 
bill.
  This legislation will direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
467 acres of land in Washoe County, Nevada, to the Board of Regents of 
the University and Community College System of Nevada.
  The land is patented under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 
which now prevents the Board of Regents from expanding a university-
sponsored research park that provides for technology transfer, science-
based economic development, and partnering among academic, 
governmental, and industrial sectors in Nevada.
  Known as the Dandini Research Park, the land is currently used by 
leading research and education institutions in Nevada, including the 
Truckee Meadows Community College and the Desert Research Institute.
  The research being done by TMCC and DRI at the Dandini Research Park 
benefits not only Nevada but communities across the western United 
States. The science park stands as a great example of a successful 
public/private partnership that brings the highest quality researchers 
to this educational facility.
  For example, DRI is a world-class nonprofit research campus of the 
Nevada Higher Education System, and their research is driven by a 
special emphasis in atmospheric, Earth and ecosystem, and hydrologic 
sciences.
  Additionally, DRI has three state-of-the-art interdisciplinary 
centers for arid lands, watershed and environmental sustainability, and 
environmental remediation and monitoring.
  DRI's research has helped provide innovative and important 
advancements in their field and has increased demand for their 
expertise. The state-of-the-art research being conducted at the Dandini 
site has resulted in the need to expand these facilities. However, 
since the University and Community College System of Nevada does not 
own the land of the Dandini Research Park, they are unable to obtain 
financing to expand the science center.
  Today's bill allows for the transfer of this land to allow the Board 
of Regents to develop and expand the Northern Nevada Science Center. 
Additionally, the bill mandates that net proceeds of any future sale of 
this property would be returned to the Secretary of the Interior for 
use by the Bureau of Land Management.
  The goal of much of the work being done at the Dandini Research 
Project is to provide innovative solutions to maintaining the vital 
balance between environmental protection and the development of our 
natural resources.
  This work helps us to better understand how we can live in harmony 
with our environment.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to pass this 
noncontroversial bill that is supported by the entire Nevada delegation 
and which passed the Senate in July. This bill will allow Nevada's 
leading education and research institutes to continue to expand upon 
their great work on behalf of Nevada and this great country, as well as 
our environment.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, before I speak to S. 252, I would 
just like to voice my support also for S. Con. Res. 26, honoring and 
memorializing the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 that 
was just before this body.
  The legislation which we are discussing now, S. 252, is technical in 
nature and once approved will allow the University and Community 
College System in Nevada to expand ongoing research activities at the 
Dandini facility. This is a noncontroversial measure which passed the 
Senate by unanimous consent in July.
  The distinguished Senate minority leader is to be commended for his 
tireless efforts on behalf of this legislation and for his commitment 
to supporting important research in our Nation's academic institutions.
  On the House side, the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), a co-
sponsor of the House companion legislation, has also taken a leadership 
role in making certain this legislation is approved. And we also 
commend the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for his work and 
leadership on this bill.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker would like to voice my strong support for 
S. 252.
  As a cosponsor of the House-introduced version of this bill, H.R. 
542, I am well aware of the positive impact the transfer of this land 
will have on the University and Community College System of Nevada. 
Located in Reno, Nevada, this tract of land, known as the Dandini 
Research Park, is currently restricted under the provisions and 
authority of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.
  If this bill were to be signed into law, the Board of Regents for the 
University and Community College System of Nevada would like to turn 
this land into a University-sponsored research park that would provide 
science-based economic development, technology transfer, and the 
furthering of intergovernmental, academic and industrial partnerships 
in Nevada.
  Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on this important 
bill.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 252.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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