[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 74 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H4502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK EXTENSION ACT OF 2007
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1080) to modify the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park
to include certain land within the GT Park Subdivision, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1080
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 ``Grand Teton National Park
Extension Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Grand Teton National
Park.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Subdivision.--The term ``Subdivision'' means the GT
Park Subdivision, with an area of approximately 49.67 acres,
as generally depicted on--
(A) the plat recorded in the Office of the Teton County
Clerk and Recorder on December 16, 1997, numbered 918,
entitled ``Final Plat GT Park Subdivision'', and dated June
18, 1997; and
(B) the map entitled ``2006 Proposed Grand Teton Boundary
Adjustment'', numbered 136/80,198, and dated March 21, 2006,
which shall be on file and available for inspection in
appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF LAND.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may accept from any willing
donor the donation of any land or interest in land of the
Subdivision.
(b) Administration.--On acquisition of land or an interest
in land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) include the land or interest in the boundaries of the
Park; and
(2) administer the land or interest as part of the Park, in
accordance with all applicable laws (including regulations).
(c) Deadline for Acquisition.--It is the intent of Congress
that the acquisition of land or an interest in land under
subsection (a) be completed not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Restriction on Transfer.--The Secretary shall not
donate, sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer any land
acquired under this section without express authorization
from Congress.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 1080 was introduced by our colleague from Wyoming,
Representative Barbara Cubin. The legislation would authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to expand the boundaries of the Grand Teton
National Park to include approximately 50 acres that landowners in the
adjacent Grand Teton Park Subdivision wish to donate to the park.
The subdivision is located adjacent to the park's eastern boundary
and is visible from the park's main road. According to the National
Park Service, the land is similar in character and quality to the
adjacent parklands and offers unobstructed views of the Teton range and
across the broad valley of Jackson Hole.
One lot in the subdivision was owned by the Gerald Halpin family. The
remaining seven lots were donated by the Halpin family to private
organizations, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the
National Park Foundation, and the Grand Teton National Park Foundation.
All of these owners would like to donate their land to the park, but
the parcels lie outside the existing park boundary. The 1950 law
creating the park includes a provision forbidding expansion of any
national park or monument in Wyoming without the express authorization
of Congress.
H.R. 1080 would authorize the Secretary to accept the donation of
lands within the subdivision and, upon acquisition, adjust the boundary
of Grand Teton National Park. The bill would also prohibit the future
sale, donation, exchange or other transfer of the acquired land without
congressional approval.
Related legislation passed the other body in the 109th Congress and
has been reintroduced by Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming and approved
by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this year.
Mr. Speaker, the National Park Service has testified in support of
the bill, and it cleared the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
Subcommittee, and the full Natural Resources Committee on voice votes
without any amendments.
Mr. Speaker, Representative Cubin is to be commended for her work on
this legislation. We support passage of H.R. 1080 and urge its adoption
by the House today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 1080, introduced by our colleague Congresswoman Barbara Cubin,
would modify the boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park to include
49 acres of privately donated land. I commend Mrs. Cubin for her work
on this legislation. This highly valuable land, which has been valued
at nearly $20 million, is being conveyed to the Park Service at very
minimal cost.
Representative Cubin and her staff did an excellent job working with
the private individuals and groups who are donating the land and with
the Park Service. The 49 acres are beautiful and highly desirable land
that will enhance Grand Teton National Park.
This noncontroversial bill was favorably reported by the Natural
Resources Committee by unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 1080.
I would also like to add that our thoughts and prayers are with
Representative Cubin and her husband, Dr. Cubin. We wish him a quick
and speedy recovery.
Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield
back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1080.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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