[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 114 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8829-H8830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY AND TOWN OF BLOWING ROCK LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1121) to authorize a land exchange to acquire lands for the 
Blue Ridge Parkway from the Town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1121

       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 ``Blue Ridge Parkway and Town 
     of Blowing Rock Land Exchange Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Town.--The term ``Town'' means the Town of Blowing Rock 
     in the State of North Carolina.
       (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the National Park Service 
     map titled ``Blue Ridge Parkway, Proposed Land Exchange with 
     Town of Blowing Rock'', numbered ``601/90,000A'', and dated 
     ``April, 2008''.
       (4) Exchange.--The term ``exchange'' means the exchange of 
     land authorized by section 3(a).

     SEC. 3. LAND EXCHANGE.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary 
     may exchange approximately 20 acres of land within the 
     boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway that are generally 
     depicted on the map as ``Blowing Rock Reservoir'', for 
     approximately 192 acres of land owned by the Town that are 
     generally depicted on the map as ``Town of Blowing Rock 
     Exchange Lands''.
       (b) Map Availability.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (c) Timing.--The Secretary shall seek to complete the land 
     exchange not later than three years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (d) Applicable Laws; Terms and Conditions.--The exchange 
     shall be subject to--
       (1) laws, regulations, and policies applicable to exchanges 
     of land administered by the National Park Service, including 
     those concerning land appraisals, equalization of values, and 
     environmental compliance; and
       (2) such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (e) Equalization of Values.--If the lands proposed for 
     exchange are found to be not equal in value, the equalization 
     of values may be achieved by adjusting the acreage amounts 
     identified in subsection (a).
       (f) Boundary Adjustment.--Upon completion of the exchange, 
     the Secretary shall adjust the boundary of the Blue Ridge 
     Parkway to reflect the exchanged lands.
       (g) Administration.--Lands acquired by the Secretary 
     through the exchange shall be administered as part of the 
     Blue Ridge Parkway in accordance with all applicable laws and 
     regulations.
       (h) Future Disposition of Property.--If the Town desires to 
     dispose of the reservoir property that is the subject of the 
     exchange, the Secretary shall have the right of first refusal 
     to acquire the property for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which 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 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1121 is sponsored by our colleague 
Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina. The bill authorizes the 
exchange of approximately 192 acres of land owned by the Town of 
Blowing Rock, North Carolina, for roughly 20 acres of land within the 
Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park System. Both the town 
and the National Park Service support this exchange. All applicable 
laws and policy regarding environmental compliance and equalization of 
values will be followed.
  This is a good bill, Mr. Speaker, that resolves a longstanding 
management issue for both parties, so I ask my colleagues to support 
the passage of this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the reservoir that supplies the water to Blowing Rock, 
North Carolina, is on land that was donated to the Blue Ridge Parkway 
over 50 years ago. After the Park Service acquired the land, the 
reservoir continued to operate under an informal agreement until 
recently when the National Park Service decided to require an annual 
special use permit for the site and imposed water rights fees. The Park 
Service pronouncement means that the town faced the prospect of renting 
its longstanding sole source of water 1 year at a time and being 
charged for the water.
  So I want to compliment Dr. Foxx for this legislative solution to the 
problem. Her bill will allow Blowing Rock to own and manage its 20-acre 
municipal water supply, rather than accessing it through the Park 
Service permitting process.
  I must say, though, that I am dismayed because of the price extracted 
by the National Park Service because it forced the town to come up with 
192 acres in exchange for 20. I think that is a bad ratio. 
Nevertheless, I support this legislation. I think it's a good piece of 
legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she 
may consume to the author of this legislation, the gentlelady from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Washington 
and my colleague from Guam for bringing my bill forward, and I 
especially want to thank the committee for bringing H.R. 1121, the Blue 
Ridge Parkway and Town of Blowing Rock Land Exchange Act forward for 
consideration.
  This is noncontroversial, bipartisan legislation, which is recognized 
by the North Carolina delegation as essential to the Blue Ridge 
Parkway's vital tourism industry and the town of Blowing Rock's access 
to public drinking water. My two colleagues have done a phenomenal job 
of explaining the need for this legislation and the fact that it is 
noncontroversial and very, very positive legislation.
  In recent years, the North Carolina mountain region has experienced 
remarkable population growth and increased tourism, increasing the need 
for a reliable water supply in the towns like Blowing Rock. A testament 
to its importance in the region, this legislation is cosponsored by the 
entire North Carolina delegation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and again 
thank the committee for bringing it to the floor for consideration.
  This land exchange will ensure an adequate public drinking water 
supply for the Town's citizens, guests and Parkway travelers. The 
Town's economy is heavily based on tourism generated primarily by the 
Blue Ridge Parkway. With thousands of annual visitors, the transfer 
will benefit the town's residents and the many North Carolinians who 
visit Blowing Rock each year.
  The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Town of Blowing Rock have had a long, 
successful relationship and history of working together in order to 
serve their constituencies. This land exchange will continue to provide 
demonstrable benefits to both parties and the region.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time and 
would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional 
speakers.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for 
time, and so I'll yield back my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H8830]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1121, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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