[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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