[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7663-H7664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TO MODIFY A LAND GRANT PATENT ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3606) to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary 
of the Interior.

[[Page H7664]]

  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3606

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

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO LAND GRANT PATENT ISSUED BY 
                   SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

       Patent Number 61-2000-0007, issued by the Secretary of the 
     Interior to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, 
     Chippewa County, Michigan, pursuant to section 5505 of 
     division A of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
     1997 (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-516) is amended in 
     paragraph 6, under the heading ``subject also to the 
     following conditions'' by striking ``Whitefish Point 
     Comprehensive Plan of October 1992, or a gift shop'' and 
     inserting ``Human Use/Natural Resource Plan for Whitefish 
     Point, dated December 2002, permitted as the intent of 
     Congress''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Gohmert) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3606 is a simple measure that updates a land 
patent reference to an outdated management plan currently being used by 
the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. This 8-acre property was 
obtained in 1992 from the Department of the Interior under a land grant 
patent. Under the new resource management plan, the museum will be able 
to greatly improve its visitor access to wildlife areas and expand its 
facilities to accommodate additional shipwreck exhibits.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such the time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the majority's support for this 
legislation and commend my good friend from the upper peninsula of 
Michigan, Bart Stupak, for introducing this legislation, and I 
encourage its adoption.
  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking 
Member and their staffs on the Committee for assisting in moving this 
legislation forward.
  H.R. 3606 is a straightforward, non-controversial bill that would 
allow the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society to implement the new 
Human Use/Natural Resource Management Plan for the Great Lakes 
Shipwreck Museum in Chippewa County, Michigan.
  The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society is a nonprofit 
organization dedicated to preserving the history of shipwrecks in the 
Great Lakes.
  Since 1992, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has operated 
the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to educate the public about shipwrecks 
in the region.
  The Museum provides exhibits on several shipwrecks in the area, 
including an in-depth exhibit on the Edmund Fitzgerald, which was lost 
with her entire crew of 29 men near Whitefish Point, Michigan on 
November 10, 1975. Among the items on display is the 200 pound bronze 
bell recovered from the wreckage in 1995, as a memorial to her lost 
crew.
  In 2002, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, working with 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the local chapter of the Audubon 
Society, and the local community, finalized a new management plan for 
the Museum to improve the experience at the Museum.
  The new management plan developed by these groups will allow the 
Historical Society to enhance the visitor's experience by expanding the 
Museum's exhibits and improving parking and access to surrounding 
wildlife opportunities.
  The new management plan represents a consensus of all associated 
parties, and will improve the enjoyment of the historical and 
ecological resources in Chippewa County, Michigan.
  However, because the original land grant patent references the 
previous management plan, legislation to amend the patent is necessary 
before the new management plan can be implemented.
  In response, I introduced H.R. 3606, which would amend the land grant 
patent to allow the new plan to be implemented. This legislation would 
simply change the land grant patent to include the new management plan, 
which has been agreed upon by all of the necessary stakeholders.
  Congressman Camp has joined me in cosponsoring this legislation, 
recognizing the importance of increasing visitors to our state and its 
economy. I thank him for his support of this legislation.
  The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has continuously 
improved the experience at the Museum since it was established in 1992. 
With the approval of H.R. 3606, Congress will allow additional 
developments at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, improving this 
cultural and historical resource.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this simple legislation, which 
will improve the opportunities available to visitors of Chippewa 
County, Michigan and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3606.
  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.

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