[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1992-H1993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONAL CONVEYANCE OF ANY INTEREST RETAINED IN ST. 
                          JOSEPH MEMORIAL HALL

  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass

[[Page H1993]]

the bill (H.R. 4700) to provide for the conditional conveyance of any 
interest retained by the United States in St. Joseph Memorial Hall in 
St. Joseph, Michigan.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4700

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF RETAINED INTEREST IN ST. JOSEPH 
                   MEMORIAL HALL.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the terms and conditions of 
     subsection (c), the Administrator of General Services shall 
     convey to the city of St. Joseph, Michigan, by quitclaim 
     deed, any interest retained by the United States in St. 
     Joseph Memorial Hall.
       (b) St. Joseph Memorial Hall.--In this section, the term 
     ``St. Joseph Memorial Hall'' means the property subject to a 
     conveyance from the Secretary of Commerce to the city of St. 
     Joseph, Michigan, by Quitclaim Deed dated May 9, 1936, 
     recorded in Liber 310, at page 404, in the Register of Deeds 
     for Berrien County, Michigan.
       (c) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection 
     (a) is subject to the following terms and conditions:
       (1) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance 
     under subsection (a), the City of St. Joseph, Michigan, shall 
     pay $10,000.00 to the United States.
       (2) Additional terms and conditions.--The Administrator of 
     General Services may require such additional terms and 
     conditions to the conveyance under subsection (a) as the 
     Administrator considers appropriate to protect the interest 
     of the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Kuhl) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.

                              {time}  1115


                             General Leave

  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4700.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 4700 was introduced by Representative Upton from Michigan on 
February 1, 2006. This bill conveys an interest retained by the United 
States of America in the St. Joseph Memorial Hall in St. Joseph, 
Michigan.
  St. Joseph, Michigan, is in the process of redeveloping an area of 
the downtown to create a recreational and educational and cultural 
district. This development will link downtown St. Joseph with the 
beautiful lakefront district, creating a more inviting environment for 
residents, for businesses and for tourists. The project is intended to 
make St. Joseph a more attractive place to live and work and to play, 
while also improving the local economy.
  H.R. 4700 is necessary to allow for the incorporation of St. Joseph 
Memorial Hall into those redevelopment plans. Memorial Hall's use is 
limited by deed restriction, placed on the property by the Federal 
Government more than 60 years ago. While similar deed restrictions in 
the city have been lifted, the restriction on Memorial Hall remains, 
making it impossible for the redevelopment of the neighborhood to 
continue.
  Limitations on this tiny parcel of land located in the center of the 
redevelopment will significantly jeopardize the city's plans if not 
lifted. H.R. 4700 is a sensible, simple solution that will allow the 
City of St. Joseph to proceed with redevelopment. I support this 
measure, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4700 authorizes the conveyance of any interest 
retained by the United States in St. Joseph Memorial Hall in St. 
Joseph, Michigan, in the City of St. Joseph, Michigan.
  This bill merely completes a land transfer between the Federal 
Government and the City of St. Joseph, Michigan, which began back in 
May, 1935. At that time, the city received a non-historic building and 
property with restricted use for a public park. In 1954, the public use 
restriction was lifted on the parcel just north of the building through 
Public Act 348.
  The city officials have requested this transfer as the city is 
contemplating a redevelopment plan for the downtown which would utilize 
the parcel of land and the building. The city is prepared to pay 
$10,000 to the General Services Administration for the transfer.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4700 and urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would say at this point that the sponsor of the bill, 
Mr. Upton of Michigan, had intended to be here to speak on the bill but 
was at the last minute taken away to a leadership meeting that is very, 
very important to the long term of this country and certainly to the 
world. I would like to say that, as a result thereof, obviously he is 
not here to speak on this bill.
  As we look at items like this, what we see from a general overall 
standpoint is that oftentime there are deed restrictions and 
limitations put on communities years ago that are no longer of any real 
interest or any real need in this particular area. So what we see from 
time to time as part of the evolution of our process of managing is, in 
fact, that what we have to do is to modify those provisions; and this 
is the perfect case.
  Now, there are many cities and communities, counties, villages across 
the country who are trying to revitalize themselves in ways which will 
be beneficial for the creation of jobs for the community and the people 
who reside there. This is one of those components. This is one of those 
actions. A small little city in a small little State called Michigan, a 
small part of the large country and the larger part of the world is 
obviously trying to revitalize their activities and was prevented from 
doing such immediately by a restriction placed by this big, bad at 
times, government on them.
  So we are attempting to remove that, and hopefully this bill will do 
that.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4700.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________