[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8532-H8533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING GSA ACTIONS IN EASTLAKE, OHIO, AND KOOCHICHING COUNTY, 
                               MINNESOTA

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6524) to authorize the Administrator of General Services to 
take certain actions with respect to parcels of real property located 
in Eastlake, Ohio, and Koochiching County, Minnesota, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6524

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

     SECTION 1. EASTLAKE, OHIO.

       (a) Release of Restrictions.--Subject to the requirements 
     of this section, the Administrator of General Services is 
     authorized to release the restrictions contained in the deed 
     that conveyed to the city of Eastlake, Ohio, the parcel of 
     real property described in subsection (b).
       (b) Property Description.--The parcel of real property 
     referred to in subsection (a) is the site of the John F. 
     Kennedy Senior Center located at 33505 Curtis Boulevard, city 
     of Eastlake, Ohio, on 10.873 acres more or less as conveyed 
     by the deed from the General Services Administration dated 
     July 20, 1964, and recorded in the Lake County Ohio 
     Recorder's Office in volume 601 at pages 40-47.
       (c) Consideration.--
       (1) In general.--The city of Eastlake shall pay to the 
     Administrator $30,000 as consideration for executing the 
     release under subsection (a).
       (2) Deposit of proceeds.--The Administrator shall deposit 
     any funds received under paragraph (1) into the Federal 
     Buildings Fund established under section 592 of title 40, 
     United States Code.
       (3) Availability of amounts deposited.--To the extent 
     provided in appropriations Acts, amounts deposited into the 
     Federal Buildings Fund under paragraph (2) shall be available 
     for the uses described in section 592(b) of title 40, United 
     States Code.
       (d) Filing of Instruments To Execute Release.--The 
     Administrator shall execute and file in the appropriate 
     office or offices a deed of release, amended deed, or other 
     appropriate instrument effectuating the release under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 2. KOOCHICHING COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--Subject to the requirements of 
     this section, the Administrator of General Services shall 
     convey to Koochiching County, Minnesota, the parcel of real 
     property described in subsection (b), including any 
     improvements thereon.
       (b) Property Description.--The parcel of real property 
     referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 5.84 acre 
     parcel located at 1804 3rd Avenue in International Falls, 
     Minnesota, which is the former site of the Koochiching Army 
     Reserve Training Center.
       (c) Quitclaim Deed.--The conveyance of real property under 
     subsection (a) shall be made through a quit claim deed.
       (d) Consideration.--
       (1) In general.--Koochiching County shall pay to the 
     Administrator $30,000 as consideration for a conveyance of 
     real property under subsection (a).
       (2) Deposit of proceeds.--The Administrator shall deposit 
     any funds received under paragraph (1) (less expenses of the 
     conveyance) into a special account in the Treasury 
     established under section 572(b)(5)(A) of title 40, United 
     States Code.
       (3) Availability of amounts deposited.--To the extent 
     provided in appropriations Acts, amounts deposited into a 
     special account under paragraph (2) shall be available to the 
     Secretary of the Army in accordance with section 572(b)(5)(B) 
     of title 40, United States Code.
       (e) Reversion.--The conveyance of real property under 
     subsection (a) shall be made on the condition that the 
     property will revert to the United States, at the option of 
     the United States, without any obligation for repayment of 
     the purchase price for the property, if the property ceases 
     to be held in public ownership or ceases to be used for a 
     public purpose.
       (f) Other Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance of real 
     property under subsection (a) shall be made subject to such 
     other terms and conditions as the Administrator considers 
     appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
       (g) Deadline.--The conveyance of real property under 
     subsection (a) shall be made not later than 90 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6524.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6524, a bill to authorize the 
administrator of General Services to transfer a parcel of real property 
in Eastlake, Ohio, to the city of Eastlake. Further, the bill 
authorizes the transfer of real property in the Koochiching Army 
Reserve Training Center in Koochiching County, Minnesota, to the County 
of Koochiching.
  The city of Eastlake will compensate the General Services $30,000 for 
the real property transfer and the County of Koochiching also will 
compensate the General Services $30,000 for the real property transfer. 
The General Services Administration will forward to the Secretary of 
the Army the net proceeds for the transfer.
  The parcel of real property in Eastlake is an approximate 10-acre 
site, which includes the John F. Kennedy Senior Citizen Center. In 
1964, the city of Eastlake purchased the property and, consistent with 
the deed restriction, used the site for recreational uses for over 40 
years. The bill will lift the deed restrictions and thus allow the city 
to use the property for economic development purposes. The senior 
center has been moved to a better location. Further, the city has 
purchased over 17 acres for parks and recreational uses, increasing the 
overall acreage devoted to open space and parkland.
  The first parcel in Minnesota is 5\1/2\ acres, which includes the 
U.S. Army Armory Building, which will pay to have the roof replaced, 
install a new boiler and heating system, and make extensive repairs to 
the ceiling. The Army reported the property excess in January 2006 and 
GSA accepted the report of excess in February 2006. GSA screened the 
property with other Federal agencies, but there were no expressions of 
interest. Likewise, no expressions of interest from homeless shelter 
providers were received by GSA.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend both Chairman Oberstar and my colleague, 
Congressman LaTourette, for working on these essential pieces of 
legislation and for ensuring compensation will be made to the General 
Services, and the Federal taxpayers will be fully protected.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6524. This legislation will 
allow the General Services Administration to remove the public use deed 
restriction on a former National Park property in the community of 
Eastlake, Ohio, and dispose of a surplus property in Koochiching 
County, Minnesota.
  Since its transfer to Eastlake, Ohio, in 1964, the former National 
Park Service property has met its public use requirements by serving as 
a senior center. Because the community has built a new center to 
replace the aging John F. Kennedy Senior Citizen, Eastlake desires to 
make use of the property for other purposes. The city of Eastlake would 
pay the General Services Administration $30,000 for removal of the 
restrictions on the use of the property.
  For more than 40 years, the real estate has served the purpose 
intended in the initial agreement. And this bill will allow the 
property to be repurposed to continue to serve the community.
  The community of Koochiching County, Minnesota, has similar plans for 
a parcel of property that has for years served as a military training 
facility. The changing needs of the U.S. Army Reserve and the community 
now mean that the property can serve the public interests better by 
housing several local government agencies.
  The conveyance of property in Koochiching has restrictions that will 
ensure that the property continue to serve the community. GSA does not 
oppose either of those provisions. In fact, in conversations with 
staff, GSA indicated that if GSA had the authority, it would remove the 
deed restriction on the property and convey the Minnesota property at 
no cost because GSA believes the public interest has been and

[[Page H8533]]

is being served by the provisions in the bill.
  Each of these properties has served the General Services 
Administration purposes well, but the changing needs of the communities 
of Eastlake and Koochiching County now require that the properties be 
repurposed. In both cases, the needs of the community can be better 
served through adaptive reuse of these properties.
  I support the bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6524, a 
bill to authorize the Administrator of General Services to transfer 
parcels of real property in Eastlake, Ohio, and Koochiching County, 
Minnesota.
  The Koochiching parcel is approximately 5\1/2\ acres located at 1804 
3rd Avenue in International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota. The 
Koochiching Army Reserve Training Center site includes the U.S. Army 
Armory Building. The bill transfers the property to Koochiching County, 
which will pay to have the roof replaced, install a new boiler and 
heating system, and make extensive repairs to the ceiling. The Army 
reported the property excess in January 2006 and the General Services 
Administration, GSA, accepted the report of excess in February 2006. 
GSA screened the property with other Federal agencies but there were no 
expressions of interest.
  The conveyance will be by quitclaim deed and the County of 
Koochiching will pay $30,000 to GSA for the real property transfer. The 
General Services Administration will forward to the Secretary of the 
Army the net proceeds from the Koochiching transfer.
  The parcel of real property in Eastlake is an approximate 10-acre 
site which includes the John F. Kennedy Senior Citizen Center. In 1964, 
the city of Eastlake purchased the property and, consistent with the 
deed restriction, used the site for recreational uses for more than 40 
years. The bill will lift the deed restrictions and thus allow the city 
to use the property for economic development purposes. The city of 
Eastlake has provided a better location for the senior citizens center. 
The city of Eastlake will pay $30,000 to GSA for the real property 
transfer.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6524.
  Finally, I insert in the Record an exchange of letters between 
Chairman Ike Skelton, Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, and 
me.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                               Washington, DC, September 22, 2008.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Skelton: I write to you regarding H.R. 6524, 
     to authorize the Administrator of General Services to take 
     certain actions with respect to parcels of real property 
     located in Eastlake, Ohio, and Koochiching County, Minnesota, 
     and for other purposes.
       I appreciate your willingness to waive further 
     consideration of H.R. 6524, notwithstanding the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Armed Services. 
     Of course, this waiver does not prejudice any further 
     jurisdictional claims by your Committee over this or similar 
     legislation. Furthermore, I agree to support your request for 
     appointment of conferees from the Committee on Armed Services 
     if a conference is held on this matter.
       This exchange of letters will be placed in the Committee 
     Report on H.R. 6524 and inserted in the Congressional Record 
     as part of the consideration of this legislation in the 
     House. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have 
     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     respective committees. I understand that you prefer to 
     consider such property transfers in National Defense 
     Authorization Acts and I greatly appreciate your courtesy in 
     waiving further consideration of H.R. 6524.
       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                James L. Oberstar,
     Chairman
                                  ____



                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                         House of Representatives,
                               Washington, DC, September 18, 2008.
     Hon. James L. Oberstar,
     Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and 
         Infrastructure, Washington, DC.
       Dr. Mr. Chairman: On July 31, 2008, the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure ordered H.R. 6524, to 
     authorize the Administrator of General Services to take 
     certain actions with respect to parcels of real property 
     located in Eastlake, Ohio, and Koochiching County, Minnesota, 
     and for other purposes, to be reported.
       As you know, this measure contains certain provisions that 
     are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed 
     Services. These provisions transfer property for which the 
     Department of Defense has real property interests. For many 
     years, our committee has authorized such transfers through 
     annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA).
       Given the expressed need for the legislation to move 
     expeditiously, and out of my respect for you and our 
     friendship, I am prepared to make an extraordinary exception 
     to my committee's long-standing practice of always 
     considering such property transfers in the NDAA.
       Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over 
     this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive 
     further consideration of H.R. 6524. I do so with the 
     understanding that by waiving further consideration of the 
     bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional 
     claims over similar measures. In the event of a conference 
     with the Senate on this bill, the Committee on Armed Services 
     reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees.
       I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy 
     of the response in your Committee's report on H.R. 6524 and 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure 
     on the House floor.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6524.
  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.

                          ____________________