[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 129 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8645-H8646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FRANNIE, WYOMING, LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 101) to convey to the town of Frannie, Wyoming, certain 
land withdrawn by the Commissioner of Reclamation.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 101

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO THE TOWN OF FRANNIE, 
                   WYOMING.

       (a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall convey by quitclaim deed, 
     without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to the parcel of land described in 
     subsection (b) to the town of Frannie, Wyoming.
       (b) Description of Land.--The parcel of land referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the parcel of land withdrawn by the 
     Commissioner of Reclamation--
       (1) consisting of approximately 37,500 square feet;
       (2) located in the town of Frannie, Wyoming; and
       (3) more particularly described in the approved Plat of 
     Survey of Frannie Townsite, Wyoming, as the North \1/2\ of 
     Block 26, T. 58 N, R. 97 W.
       (c) Reservation of Mineral Rights.--The conveyance under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the reservation by the 
     United States of any oil and gas rights.
       (d) Revocations.--
       (1) Special use permit.--The special use permit issued by 
     the Commissioner of Reclamation, numbered O-LM-60-L1413, and 
     dated April 20, 1990, is revoked with respect to the land 
     described in subsection (b).
       (2) Secretarial Orders.--The following Secretarial Orders 
     issued by the Commissioner of Reclamation are revoked with 
     respect to the land described in subsection (b):
       (A) The Secretarial Order for the withdrawal of land for 
     the Shoshone Reclamation Project dated October 21, 1913, as 
     amended.
       (B) The Secretarial Order for the withdrawal of land for 
     the Frannie Townsite Reservation dated April 19, 1920.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Drake) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  S. 101, introduced by Senator Mike Enzi, and supported by our Wyoming 
colleague, Barbara Cubin, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey a parcel of land to the town of Frannie, Wyoming. The land in 
question is less than 1 acre and equates to approximately half a city 
block.
  The Bureau of Reclamation has not used this land for many years, and 
the town has actually managed it for the last 15 years. As the land is 
no longer needed for reclamation projects, the town would like to use 
this land to build a community center.
  The Department of the Interior has testified in support of this 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this noncontroversial 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of S. 101 is to convey a small 
parcel of Federal land to the town of Frannie, Wyoming.
  While we do not object to passage of S. 101, we do want to ensure 
that we address concerns raised at the December 7, 2005, hearing of the 
Subcommittee on Water and Power regarding the intent of Congress with 
respect to the ownership of this parcel and the purpose for which it 
will be used.
  Mr. Speaker, I will include in the Record at this point two letters 
received from the town of Frannie by Water and Power Subcommittee 
Ranking Member Grace Napolitano.

                                              Town of Frannie,

                                   Frannie, WY, December 15, 2005.
     Hon. Grace Napolitano,
     Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Napolitano: It has come to our 
     attention that there were concerns expressed over the Town of 
     Frannie gaining ownership of federal lands in Frannie Wyoming 
     and then immediately disposing of them. As a smaller 
     governmental entity, we fully understand the concerns on this 
     issue.
       One of the unique features in the Town of Frannie is on the 
     NE\1/4\ of Block 26. The Town

[[Page H8646]]

     of Frannie holds a Bureau of Reclamation 99-year Special Use 
     Permit for our Centennial (Lasting Legacy) Park. In 1990, as 
     a project to commemorate a ``Lasting Legacy'' of Wyoming's 
     centennial year, the Frannie Elementary students, with 
     community support and help, built this park. The park is a 
     topographical representation of Wyoming with rocks depicting 
     mountain ranges and the pathways are the two main 
     thoroughfares across the state. This children's park holds a 
     special place in the hearts of many of our community members.
       Past and present Town Council members have been discussing 
     the use for the NW\1/4\ of Block 26. The need for a large 
     group picnic shelter, a community hall, and a maintenance 
     shop are a few ideas that the councils were considering. 
     Before we can commit to developing these lots for public use, 
     we will first need to gain ownership.
       It is our desire to have this land remain open for public 
     use since it is adjacent to our town hall, basketball court, 
     and library. We feel that we would be better managers and 
     protectors of these lots if they were under our care. On July 
     19, 2000, the Wyoming State Director of the Bureau of Land 
     Management, stated in a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation, 
     ``Since BLM feels the parcel is not suitable for return to 
     the public domain and management under the public land and 
     mining laws, and the land is no longer needed for BR 
     purposes, it is recommended a means of disposal of this 
     parcel be sought whereby the Town of Frannie can protect its 
     investment.''
       We understand the concern with the Town of Frannie turning 
     around and selling the North\1/2\ of Block 26. Although we 
     cannot guarantee what future council members' goals and 
     values will be, you can rest assured that the present council 
     and many of our community members desire that this entire 
     block remain intact for the public's use.
       We sincerely hope that you will give us your support of S. 
     101.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Jerry Dart,
     Mayor.
                                  ____



                                               Town of Frannie

                                       Frannie, WY, July 14, 2006.
     Hon. Grace Napolitano,
     Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water and Power, House 
         Committee on Resources, Washington, DC.
       Dear Ranking Member Napolitano: Thank you for your interest 
     in S. 101, a bill to convey land to the Town of Frannie, and 
     for your continued interest in good government. As a local 
     government official, 1 have a great respect for your desire 
     to see lands conveyed to our town used in a manner that is in 
     the public interest.
       I write you today to make clear that the Town of Frannie 
     has no intention of selling the land that the federal 
     government would convey to us if S. 101 is signed into law. 
     It is my understanding that a letter sent by our previous 
     mayor did not clarify what our intention is for that land, 
     and so I hope to ease your concerns that the town may attempt 
     to sell this land in the future. That is not our goal, and we 
     have no desire to sell the land to private individuals.
       Half of the land owned by the Bureau of Reclamation holds a 
     portion of the town's Centennial Park. It is our intention to 
     keep that park in place. The Other half of the land contains 
     an American Legion building that is condemned. It is our 
     intention to tear that building down, and it is our dream to 
     build a community center on that land.
       We expect the community center to be a place where 
     townspeople can meet for dinners, meetings and other 
     community events because our community does not have such a 
     gathering facility. Although it is our dream to make this 
     happen, we do not yet want to begin the process of raising 
     the funds if we do not own the land. Although we enjoy our 
     relationship with Bureau of Reclamation, we do not feel 
     comfortable investing what we believe to be substantial 
     dollars if we do not own the land.
       Because the federal government no longer uses the land and 
     because the cost of selling the land is more than the value 
     of the land, we believe S. 101 is a win-win situation for our 
     community and for the taxpayers. It is my hope that you will 
     support passage of S. 101 so that we can begin moving forward 
     with our dream to build It community center that will 
     undoubtedly make Frannie a better place for all its citizens.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Miriam Roberts,
                                           Mayor, Town of Frannie.

  The letters clearly state that it is the intent of the town 
government that this parcel permanently remain in public ownership and 
that the land continue to be used as it is presently, that is, for 
public purposes. We appreciate these assurances by the town of Frannie.
  In addition to these assurances, Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of the 
Interior, in executing the transfer of real property authorized by this 
act, shall include in the deed or deeds a restriction requiring that 
the lands remain in public ownership by the town of Frannie and used 
solely and in perpetuity for public purposes.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. 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 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 101.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate 
bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________