[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CIVILIAN PROPERTY REALIGNMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1734) to 
     decrease the deficit by realigning, consolidating, selling, 
     disposing, and improving the efficiency of federal buildings 
     and other civilian real property, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, while I agree that the federal government 
must find a way to dispose of unused federal government property 
properly, I voted against H.R. 1734, because this legislation turns the 
federal government into a worse partner than it already is.
  There is a way to save federal government dollars and reduce our 
property holdings while working in cooperation with local governments 
and the local population. Rather than working with local governments 
and respecting the plans they have implemented, this legislation 
ignores plans that are already in place, and does not give community 
leaders a chance to participate in any part of the property 
realignment. Additionally, the legislation overrides important 
environmental regulation that has helped protect our communities for 
decades.
  It is frustrating that my colleagues refused to work in a bipartisan 
fashion, or even to work with local governments, to develop a better 
way to dispose of excess federal property. I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to find a solution we can all agree on.

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