[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7464-H7465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                KINGMAN AND HERITAGE ISLANDS ACT OF 2010

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6278) to amend the National Children's Island Act of 1995 to 
expand allowable uses for Kingman and Heritage Islands by the District 
of Columbia, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6278

       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 ``Kingman and Heritage Islands 
     Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ISLAND ACT OF 1995.

       (a) Expansion of Allowable Uses for Kingman and Heritage 
     Island.--The National Children's Island Act of 1995 (sec. 10-
     1401 et seq., D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:

     ``SEC. 7. COMPREHENSIVE AND ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT FRAMEWORK 
                   PLANS.

       ``(a) Compliance With Plans.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this Act, it is not a violation of the terms and 
     conditions of this Act for the District of Columbia to use 
     the lands conveyed and the easements granted under this Act 
     for recreational, environmental, or educational purposes in 
     accordance with the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan and 
     the Comprehensive Plan.
       ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
     following definitions apply:
       ``(1) Anacostia waterfront framework plan.--The term 
     `Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan' means the November 2003 
     Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan to redevelop and 
     revitalize the Anacostia waterfront in the District of 
     Columbia, as may be amended from time to time, developed 
     pursuant to a memorandum of understanding dated March 22, 
     2000, between the General Services Administration, Government 
     of the District of Columbia, Office of Management and Budget, 
     Naval District Washington, Military District Washington, 
     Marine Barracks Washington, Department of Labor, Department 
     of Transportation, National Park Service, Army Corps of 
     Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington 
     Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, National Capital 
     Planning Commission, National Arboretum, and Small Business 
     Administration.
       ``(2) Comprehensive plan.--The term `Comprehensive Plan' 
     means the Comprehensive Plan of the District of Columbia 
     approved by the Council of the District of Columbia on 
     December 28, 2006, as such plan may be amended or superseded 
     from time to time.''.
       (b) Modification of Reversionary Interest.--Paragraph (1) 
     of section 3(d) of the National Children's Island Act of 1995 
     (sec. 10-1402(d)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended by 
     striking ``The transfer under subsection (a)'' and all that 
     follows and inserting the following: ``Title in the property 
     transferred under subsection (a) and the easements granted 
     under subsection (b) shall revert to the United States upon 
     the expiration of the 60-day period which begins on the date 
     on which the Secretary provides written notice to the 
     District that the Secretary has determined that the District 
     is using any portion of the property for a use other than 
     recreational, environmental, or educational purposes in 
     accordance with National Children's Island, the Anacostia 
     Waterfront Framework Plan, or the Comprehensive Plan. Such 
     notice shall be made in accordance with chapter 5 of title 5, 
     United States Code (relating to administrative procedures).'' 
     .


[[Page H7465]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Bilbray) 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 in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  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 
and rise to support H.R. 6278, the Kingman and Heritage Islands Act of 
2010. This bill would permit the District of Columbia to use the 
Kingman and Heritage Islands for recreational, environmental, and 
educational purposes. I introduced this bill on September 29, 2010.
  The bulk of the language in the bill was considered by the Oversight 
Committee, the full House, and the Senate in another measure, H.R. 
2092. However, because of a clerical error in the Senate, minor changes 
were not included in the bill when it was considered by the Senate. I 
have introduced H.R. 6278 to ensure the correct language is passed by 
both Houses. This bill includes the House-passed language in H.R. 2092, 
and captures the minor changes agreed upon in a bipartisan fashion by 
the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.
  The amendment agreed to by the Senate Homeland Security and 
Government Affairs Committee makes it clear that the islands may revert 
back to the Federal Government in the future if they are not used for 
the purposes specified in the bill.
  I should note that the House Oversight Committee did file a report on 
H.R. 2092, and that report is an important part of the legislative 
history of the bill we are considering now.
  Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased that this bill has come in time 
before the House. The original act transferred title of this land on 
the Anacostia bill, but a prior Congress authorized it for another 
purpose, and, therefore, since we in the District of Columbia want to 
use this for environmental, recreational, and educational purposes, it 
was necessary to come again with a bill.
  This is a bill that involves 40 acres of tidal marsh in Kingman Lake, 
currently being restored by the Army Corps, the District, and local 
environmental teaching groups. These islands are beautiful little 
places in the midst of the concrete of a big city. They, for example, 
have a memorial tree grove dedicated to the three District of Columbia 
schoolchildren who were on a trip sponsored by the National Geographic 
on a plane that went down in the September 11 attack on our country. 
This quaint set of islands has guided trails and interpretive stations.
  As far as my own work in the Congress is concerned, Mr. Speaker, the 
dedication of these islands to environmental, teaching, and recreation 
purposes complements my own work on the Anacostia River. I am the 
primary sponsor of the Anacostia River initiative. There's already a 
10-year plan of the jurisdictions in this region to restore the 
Anacostia River so that it is no longer one of the most polluted rivers 
in America.
  To that end, I regard this bill as another manifestation of our 
determination to return the river to its original state and to allow 
the use of these small islands for the recreational and environmental 
purposes of the citizens of the District of Columbia and to all of 
those who visit our city and would like some relief from the big-city 
life and will find it right in the midst of what appears to be nothing 
other than a big-city landscape and will be relieved if they are 
privileged to visit these islands.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I rise today in support of H.R. 6278, the Kingman and Heritage Islands 
Act, and would just ask for support for it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure, and 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. 6278.
  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.

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