[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 185 (Monday, December 5, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8132-H8133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BOX ELDER UTAH LAND CONVEYANCE ACT
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (S. 683) to provide for the conveyance of certain
parcels of land to the town of Mantua, Utah.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 683
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 ``Box Elder Utah Land
Conveyance Act''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Box
Elder Utah Land Conveyance Act'' and dated June 23, 2011.
(2) National forest system land.--The term ``National
Forest System land'' means the approximately 31.5 acres of
National Forest System land in Box Elder County, Utah, that
is generally depicted on the map as parcels A, B, and C.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(4) Town.--The term ``Town'' means the town of Mantua,
Utah.
(b) Conveyance.--On the request of the Town submitted to
the Secretary by the date that is not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey
to the Town, without consideration and by quitclaim deed, all
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the
National Forest System land.
(c) Survey; Costs.--
(1) In general.--If determined by the Secretary to be
necessary, the exact acreage and legal description of the
National Forest System land shall be determined by a survey
approved by the Secretary.
[[Page H8133]]
(2) Costs.--The Town shall pay the reasonable survey and
other administrative costs associated with the conveyance.
(d) Use of National Forest System Land.--As a condition of
the conveyance under subsection (b), the Town shall use the
National Forest System land only for public purposes.
(e) Reversionary Interest.--In the quitclaim deed to the
Town, the Secretary shall provide that the National Forest
System land shall revert to the Secretary, at the election of
the Secretary, if the National Forest System land is used for
a purpose other than a public purpose.
(f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the
conveyance under subsection (b), the Secretary may require
such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the
United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
S. 683 would convey approximately 31.5 acres of the Wasatch-Cache
National Forest to the town of Mantua, Utah. The lands in question are
primarily open grasslands surrounded by agricultural lands. The town is
seeking these lands for expansion of the cemetery and construction of a
town hall and fire station.
National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chair Rob
Bishop is the author of the House version of this bill, and I commend
him and Senator Mike Lee of Utah for their efforts in seeing this
small, but important, conveyance enacted into law.
I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. LUJAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, this is a land conveyance to a small town in
Utah which requires that the land be used for public purposes. Assuming
this measure is approved today, this will be the third Congress in
which the House has approved this legislation. We have been pleased to
work with Mr. Bishop in the last two Congresses to secure passage of
this measure and support passage again today.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield
such time as he may consume to the author of the House version of this
legislation, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop).
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago the Forest Service paid
the huge sum of $1 for two parcels of land, a total of 30 acres,
surrounded on three sides by private property. In that intervening time
period, per the Forest Service's own plans, not only have they not
needed them, they have not used them and, until 5 years ago, forgot
they had them.
The city of Mantua now desperately needs this for its cemetery
expansion as well as for a town hall and a fire station to protect
people who actually go on the real forest lands.
Three times this House has passed this piece of legislation, and the
Senate has found it too complex to consider. This time, the Senate has
passed a very similar bill over to us, not as good as the one we had,
but when one considers we have sent over to them a budget bill,
multiple appropriation bills, repeal of ObamaCare, 16 job bills, and
numerous regulatory reform bills, the fact that the Senate did anything
should be a cause of our celebration today.
And, therefore, I urge, even though this is not a perfect bill, it's
a pretty good one, so I urge its adoption so that we can send it to the
President's desk and let the Senate know we do appreciate them when
they finally, finally do their work.
Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, although I really enjoy the opportunity to
have a conversation about all of the work that's happening over at the
Senate, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I urge my colleagues to support the
Senate bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 683.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LUJAN. 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, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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