[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4214-H4215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1815
                 MIAMI DADE COLLEGE LAND CONVEYANCE ACT

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 838) to provide for the conveyance of a parcel 
of land held by the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice in 
Miami Dade County, Florida, to facilitate the construction of a new 
educational facility that includes a secure parking area for the Bureau 
of Prisons, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 838

       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 ``Miami Dade College Land 
     Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF BUREAU OF PRISONS LAND TO MIAMI DADE 
                   COUNTY, FLORIDA.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--The Attorney General shall convey 
     to Miami Dade College of Miami Dade County, Florida (in this 
     section referred to as the ``College''), all right, title, 
     and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of land 
     held by the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice in 
     Miami Dade County, Florida, consisting of a parking lot 
     approximately 47,500 square feet and located at 35 NE 2 
     Street, for the purpose of permitting the College to use the 
     parcel as a site for a new educational building that includes 
     a parking area, of which not less than 118 secure parking 
     spaces shall be designated for use by the Bureau of Prisons 
     of the Department of Justice.
       (b) Reversionary Interest.--If the Attorney General 
     determines at any time that the real property conveyed under 
     subsection (a) is not being used in accordance with the 
     purpose of the conveyance specified in such subsection, all 
     right, title, and interest in and to the property shall 
     revert, at the option of the Attorney General, to the United 
     States, and the United States shall have the right of 
     immediate entry onto the property. Any determination of the 
     Attorney General under this subsection shall be made on the 
     record after an opportunity for a hearing.
       (c) Survey.--If the Attorney General considers it 
     necessary, the Attorney General may have the exact acreage or 
     square footage and legal description of the land to be 
     conveyed under subsection (a) determined by a survey 
     satisfactory to the Attorney General. The College shall bear 
     the cost of the survey.
       (d) Exemption.--Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) shall 
     not apply to the conveyance of land under subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lujan). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. Chaffetz) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act, 
introduced by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, will authorize the 
Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons to convey a parcel of land to 
Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida.
  Currently, the BOP's Miami Federal Detention Center's satellite 
parking lot occupies the land. Miami Dade College plans on building an 
educational facility on this land, which will include covered and 
secured ground floor parking for BOP employees at no cost to the 
agency.
  The Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to transfer this 
parcel of land to the college. However, this bill, which the agency 
supports, would permit the transfer to take place.
  The college will make good use of the 47,500-square-foot area of land 
while also providing as many as 118 Bureau of Prisons parking spaces. 
This, obviously, is a good, collegiate way to work with an institution 
of higher education and our need for detention facilities, and this 
legislation allows that decision and that action to go forward. I urge 
all of my colleagues to support this helpful legislation.
  H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act, introduced by 
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, will authorize the Department of 
Justice's Bureau of Prisons to convey a parcel of land to Miami Dade 
College in Miami, Florida.
  Currently, the BOP's Miami Federal Detention Center's satellite 
parking lot occupies the land. Miami Dade College plans on building an 
educational facility on this land, which will include covered and 
secured ground floor parking for BOP employees at no cost to the 
agency.
  The Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to transfer this 
parcel of land to the college. However, this bill, which the agency 
supports, would permit the transfer to take place.
  The college will make good use of the 47,500 square foot area of 
land, while also providing as many as 118 BOP parking spaces.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this helpful legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College 
Land Conveyance Act. This bill was introduced

[[Page H4215]]

by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). The act would 
convey a parcel of land held by the Bureau of Prisons to the Miami Dade 
College, which is adjacent to the Bureau of Prisons facility. The 
parcel of land is now used as a parking lot by the Bureau of Prisons 
facility.
  As a result of this act, the college will be permitted to use the 
parcel as a site for the new building that will include a garage 
parking area. That parking area will contain 118 secured parking spaces 
that will be designated for use by the Bureau of Prisons.
  This conveyance outlined in this bill will benefit both the Bureau of 
Prisons and the Miami Dade College. The Department of Justice has 
reviewed the bill, and does not oppose its enactment. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 838.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to see that the Miami 
Dade College Land Conveyance Act is before the House today. This is a 
great example of Federal-local partnerships truly benefiting both Miami 
Dade College and the Bureau of Prisons. This bill will facilitate the 
construction of a new educational facility in downtown Miami as well as 
provide secured parking for the Bureau of Prisons.
  Miami Dade College has been an essential institution in South Florida 
for over half a century. It was born of the idea that anyone with a 
desire to get a college degree should be given that opportunity.
  By 1967, the college was the largest institution of higher education 
in our great State of Florida. Today, it has built upon that position, 
and is now the largest institution of higher education in the United 
States, serving over 160,000 students last year, all the while 
maintaining an affordable and exceptional course of study.
  Miami Dade College has been instrumental in the development and 
success of thousands of students, and I am proud to say that my father, 
my brother and I are all graduates of this fine institution. It serves 
our community with fine distinction. In fact, 96 percent of the 
students enrolled at Miami Dade College are residents from our local 
area. Just 2 years ago, the college reached a truly incredible 
milestone. It welcomed its 1.5 millionth student. We are only a 
community of 2.3 million, so the sheer amount of lives that the college 
has influenced is astonishing.
  When I say that Miami Dade College is central to the educational, 
social and cultural fabric of South Florida, know that this is no 
exaggeration. The college also embodies the essence of diversity. 
Almost 80 percent of its students come from a minority background. It 
enrolls more minorities than any other college or university in the 
United States, and in Florida, 33 percent of all minority students 
attending community colleges are attending Miami Dade College.
  This bill will allow for the much needed expansion of the facilities 
in downtown Miami, and it will allow the college to offer more courses 
to more students. All this has been made possible by the stellar 
performance, leadership and guidance of the college president, Dr. 
Eduardo J. Padron, himself an alum of Miami Dade College. He is a man 
of unyielding strength and a passion for education. He has spent his 
entire career making sure that all students have the tools and the 
opportunities to succeed. His time at Miami Dade College has been 
defined by growth and greater academic accreditation. He has truly made 
a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals, and I 
commend him for all that he continues to do in support of our college.
  I thank the Speaker; I thank the Members who have given me this 
opportunity, and I urge all Members to vote in favor of this 
legislation, supporting a fine institution of higher learning and the 
many wonderful students who will benefit from this expansion.
  I thank the gentleman for his time, and I thank my good friend from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for her time as well.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the 
gentlewoman for not only providing this facilitation for this 
institution of higher learning but for helping out the Bureau of 
Prisons, which is the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction.
  As I close, let me just acknowledge the legislation, H. Res. 290, 
that Congresswoman Barbara Lee offered today and add my sympathy to the 
people of California. I thank Congresswoman Lee for bringing forward 
legislation that honors the lives that were lost--Sergeant Mark 
Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John 
Hege, who were members of the Oakland Police Department in California.
  In the month of May, we will be honoring law enforcement officers who 
have fallen across America. We have done that every year since I have 
been in the United States Congress. Tragically and sadly, we will do it 
again, even honoring those who have come from Texas and Houston. So H. 
Res. 290 has my sympathy as well. Before I closed, I wanted to 
acknowledge that.
  Let me now close on this legislation, H.R. 838, and indicate my 
support and ask my colleagues to support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 838, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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