[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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