[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8912-H8913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IDAHO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LAND GRANT

  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3006) to improve the use of a grant of a parcel of 
land to the State of Idaho for use as an agricultural college, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows

                               H.R. 3006

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

     SECTION 1. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LAND GRANT.

       (a) In General.--Section 10 of the Act of July 3, 1890 (26 
     Stat. 215, chapter 656) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(a)'' after ``Sec. 10.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Notwithstanding sections 3 through 5 of the Act of 
     July 2, 1862 (commonly known as the `First Morrill Act') (7 
     U.S.C. 303 et seq.), the State of Idaho may--
       ``(1) invest and manage earnings and proceeds derived from 
     land granted to the State of Idaho pursuant to subsection 
     (a), in accordance with the standards applicable to a trustee 
     under Idaho law;
       ``(2) deduct from earnings and proceeds generated from 
     granted land any expenses that a trustee is authorized to 
     deduct pursuant to Idaho law; and
       ``(3) use earnings and proceeds generated by the granted 
     land for any uses and purposes described in that Act (7 
     U.S.C. 301 et seq.) without regard to the limitations set out 
     in section 5 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 305) that prohibit the 
     State from exceeding 10 per centum on the purchase of land 
     and prohibit the State from purchasing, erecting, preserving, 
     or repairing of any building or buildings.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 27, 1998.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Roybal-Allard). Pursuant to the rule, 
the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin) and the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from South Dakota.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3006, a bill introduced by 
Congressman Simpson of Idaho and cosponsored by Congressman Sali, also 
of Idaho, that addresses an Idaho-specific problem.
  The University of Idaho would like to construct a Center for 
Livestock and Environmental Studies to research environmental issues 
facing the dairy industry in central Idaho, but current law prevents 
the university from using proceeds from endowed lands toward funding 
for the center.
  The dairy industry faces a number of significant EPA regulation, 
animal health and environmental issues, including nutrient management 
and odor control. Idaho is now the fourth largest milk-producing State, 
with 477,475 cows and 686 dairies in 2006.
  To support the Idaho dairy industry and help address the challenges 
facing it, the University of Idaho, in collaboration with the College 
of Southern Idaho, Idaho Dairymen, Kimberley ARS/USDA and others, is 
seeking to develop the Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies 
in the Magic Valley area. The total cost of the center is projected to 
be $25-$35 million. The State of Idaho and the dairy industry have been 
willing to put forward a large percentage of funding, and the 
University of Idaho is responsible for the remaining portion.
  The university would like to use the proceeds from endowed lands 
granted to the university by the Morrill Act. In order to do this, the 
Idaho Admissions Bill must be amended. Currently, lands granted to the 
University of Idaho through the Morrill Act can be exchanged and 
managed with the proceeds going only to the operation of buildings, not 
construction. This bill will lift that restriction within the Idaho 
Admissions Bill and will leave the Morrill Act untouched, making it 
Idaho specific.
  Governor Otter and the Idaho Legislature have approved a $10 million 
appropriation for the center, contingent upon the passage of H.R. 3006, 
and additional funding is being raised by the Idaho dairy community.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3006 is a simple amendment to the act granting statehood to 
Idaho. The legislation will allow Idaho additional flexibility to 
invest and manage earnings from the land grant provided under the first 
Morrill Act.
  The purpose of the Morrill Act of 1862 was to provide an amount of 
public land to be apportioned to each State, the proceeds of which were 
to be used to establish a college of agriculture. The Morrill Act is 
the foundation of our land grant college system and one we can continue 
to build upon with each farm bill.
  The purpose of H.R. 3006 is to provide additional flexibility to 
Idaho in how it manages funds derived from the original land grant. 
Specifically, this legislation would waive statutory limitations 
related to facility procurement and maintenance. This, in turn, will 
allow Idaho to construct a research facility addressing environmental 
concerns facing the dairy industry.
  As stated previously, this is simple legislation for which I know of 
no opposition.
  I am told that any concerns the U.S. Department of Agriculture may 
have have been subsequently addressed. I, therefore, urge all Members 
to support this legislation
  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I submit the following 
information for the Record on H.R. 3006:
                                         House of Representatives,


                                     Committee on agriculture,

                                    Washington, DC, July 27, 2007.
     Hon. Nick J. Rahall II,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I ask your help in scheduling H.R. 3006, 
     a bill to improve the use of a grant of a parcel of land to 
     the State of Idaho, for consideration by the House of 
     Representatives as soon as possible.
       H.R. 3006 was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and 
     additionally to your Committee. The purpose of H.R. 3006 is 
     to allow the University of Idaho to construct a Center for 
     Livestock and Environmental Studies to research environmental 
     issues facing the dairy industry in central Idaho.
       In the interest of expediency, I ask that you allow the 
     Committee on Natural Resources to be discharged from further 
     consideration of the bill. This action would not be 
     considered as precedent for any future referrals of similar 
     measures or seen as affecting your Committee's jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter of the bill. Moreover, if the bill is 
     conferenced with the Senate, I would support naming Natural 
     Resources Committee members to the conference committee.

[[Page H8913]]

       I look forward to your response and would be pleased to 
     include it and this letter in the report on H.R. 3006.
           Sincerely,
                                               Collin C. Peterson,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                                    Washington, DC, July 27, 2007.
     Hon. Collin C. Peterson,
     Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for the opportunity to review 
     the text of H.R. 3006, a bill to improve the use of a grant 
     of a parcel of land to the State of Idaho. As you know, the 
     Committee on Natural Resources was granted an additional 
     referral on this legislation due to provisions therein which 
     fall under the Committee's jurisdiction.
       Because of the continued cooperation and consideration that 
     you have afforded me and my staff in developing these 
     provisions, and knowing of your interest in expediting this 
     legislation, I will discharge H.R. 3006 from further 
     consideration by the Committee on Natural Resources. Of 
     course, this waiver is not intended to prejudice any future 
     jurisdictional claims over these provisions or similar 
     language. I also reserve the right to seek to have conferees 
     named from the Committee on Natural Resources on these 
     provisions, and request your support if such a request is 
     made.
       Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 
     3006 and into the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of the measure on the House floor.
       Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have 
     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     respective committees.
       With warm regards, I am
           Sincerely,
                                               Nick J. Rahall, II,
                                                         Chairman.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3006.
  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.

                          ____________________