[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H9368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRANSFER OF CERTAIN FEDERAL PROPERTY TO GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2121) to provide for the transfer of certain Federal 
property to the Galveston Historical Foundation, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2121

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, 
                   TO GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.

       (a) Conveyance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services 
     shall offer to convey, by quitclaim deed, to the Galveston 
     Historical Foundation all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to the parcel of real property located 
     at 502 20th Street in Galveston, Texas, including the 
     improvements thereon.
       (b) Consideration.--As consideration for conveyance of the 
     parcel under subsection (a), the Administrator shall require 
     the Galveston Historical Foundation to pay to the 
     Administrator the fair market value of the parcel, as 
     determined based on an appraisal that is acceptable to the 
     Administrator.
       (c) Costs of Conveyance.--The Galveston Historical 
     Foundation shall be responsible for the costs of an appraisal 
     conducted under subsection (b) and for all other costs 
     related to the conveyance.
       (d) Proceeds.--
       (1) Deposit.--Any proceeds received under subsection (b) 
     shall be paid into the Federal Buildings Fund established 
     under section 592 of title 40, United States Code.
       (2) Expenditure.--Amounts paid into the Federal Buildings 
     Fund under paragraph (1) shall be available to the 
     Administrator, in amounts specified in appropriations Acts, 
     for expenditure for any lawful purpose consistent with 
     existing authorities granted to the Administrator, except 
     that the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works of the Senate 30 days advance written notice of any 
     expenditure of the proceeds.
       (e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Administrator may 
     require that any conveyance under subsection (a) be subject 
     to such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2121.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2121, as amended, authorizes the Administrator of General 
Services to convey a parcel of real property located at 502 20th Street 
in Galveston, Texas, to the Galveston Historical Foundation subject to 
certain requirements, but not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of the bill.
  The bill was introduced by Congressman Paul. The building is the U.S. 
Custom House and is currently occupied by the historical foundation, 
which has a long-term lease on the facility. In 1998, the historical 
foundation signed a cooperative agreement with the General Services 
Administration to permit the foundation to lease and rehabilitate the 
building. Despite a dedicated and unanimous commitment to preservation, 
the building is not well suited for Federal tenants and the needs that 
we have for modern office space.
  This bill allows the Galveston Historical Society to purchase the 
building outright at fair market value as determined by the 
administrator. The proceeds will be deposited into the Federal building 
fund. The General Services Administration supports the bill, and I 
strongly urge its passage as Chair of the Subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I also support this 
resolution by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul). The chairwoman has 
done a great job explaining what it does, and I would urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2121, as amended, authorizes the 
Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to transfer 
to the Galveston Historical Foundation the Federal property located at 
502 20th St. Galveston, Texas.
  The parcel of real property is the 1861 U.S. Custom House, one of the 
oldest buildings in Galveston, Texas, and was added to the National 
Register of Historic Places in 1970. The Galveston Historical 
Foundation was incorporated in 1954, and has since cultivated its work 
to cover community redevelopment, public education, historic 
preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, and stewardship of 
historic properties on Galveston Island. To date, the Galveston 
Historical Foundation has more than 2,000 members and has twice been 
awarded the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Honor Award.
  In 1998, GSA and the Galveston Historical Foundation entered into a 
long-term lease agreement with respect to the 1861 U.S. Custom House. 
In exchange for the Galveston Historical Society rehabilitating the 
historical building, it was granted a long-term lease. This bill allows 
the Galveston Historical Society to purchase the building outright.
  H.R. 2121 would convey the property at fair market value to the 
Galveston Historical Foundation. The proceeds will be deposited into 
the Federal Building Fund.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2121.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2121, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to authorize the 
Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property 
in Galveston, Texas, to the Galveston Historical Foundation.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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