[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H2050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2240) to authorize the exchange of land or interest in 
land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2240

       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 ``Lowell National Historical 
     Park Land Exchange Act of 2012''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

       The Act entitled ``An act to provide for the establishment 
     of the Lowell National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts, and for other purposes'' approved June 5, 1978 
     (Public Law 95 290; 16 U.S.C. 410cc et seq.), is amended in 
     section 202, by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d)(1) The Secretary may exchange any land or interest in 
     land within the boundaries of the park for any land or 
     interest in land owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
     the city of Lowell, or the University of Massachusetts 
     Building Authority.
       ``(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), an exchange 
     under this subsection shall be subject to the laws, 
     regulations, and policies applicable to exchanges of land 
     administered by the National Park Service and any other terms 
     and conditions that the Secretary determines to be necessary 
     to protect the interests of the United States.
       ``(3) Where facilities or infrastructure required for the 
     management and operation of the Lowell National Historical 
     Park exists on the Federal land to be exchanged, and the non-
     Federal land or interest in land to be exchanged is not of 
     equal value, the values shall be equalized by the payment of 
     cash to the Secretary. The Secretary shall not be required to 
     equalize the values of any exchange conducted under this 
     subsection if the land or interest in land received by the 
     Federal Government exceeds the value of the Federal land or 
     interest in land exchanged.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days 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 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2240, introduced by the gentlelady from Massachusetts (Ms. 
Tsongas), will authorize a land exchange between the Lowell National 
Historical Park and the city of Lowell, the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts or the University of Massachusetts Building Authority.
  This will allow the transfer of the visitor center parking lot in 
exchange for an equal number of parking spaces in a new garage to be 
built by the city. The Park Service property, where the current lot is 
located, is needed for the community development, and the stakeholders 
have concluded that this is a more beneficial use to the community and 
the park visitors.
  I urge the adoption of H.R. 2240, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Ms. TSONGAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. TSONGAS. It is with great pleasure that I rise today in support 
of H.R. 2240, the Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act.
  This legislation will facilitate the exchange of land or interest in 
land between the city of Lowell and the Lowell National Historical 
Park.
  In 1978, legislation was passed establishing this park. It was 
championed by my late husband as well as by two Republican Members of 
Congress who previously represented this district. We should take 
bipartisan pride in its great success.
  This national park was given a unique mandate to not only preserve 
and interpret the resources representing Lowell's central role in our 
19th century industrial revolution, but also to serve as a catalyst in 
revitalizing the city's physical, economic, and cultural environment, 
all outgrowths of the city's industrial heritage.
  In working together with the city of Lowell, the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts and many other public and private partners, the Lowell 
National Historical Park has played a vital role in rehabilitating over 
400 structures and has since 1978 helped spur an estimated $1 billion 
in private investment in the city. All of this has been done while the 
park has developed a compelling array of programs, exhibits, guided 
tours, and other interpretive programs.

                              {time}  1700

  H.R. 2240 would allow the park and its partners to continue working 
to advance the park's mission to preserve the city's historic 
industrial architecture while creating jobs and continuing to partner 
with the city of Lowell to advance a critical economic development 
project, the Hamilton Canal District.
  This legislation would most immediately allow the park to exchange a 
current surface parking lot for an equivalent number of spaces in a new 
garage that will be built by the city of Lowell adjacent to the present 
parking lot, guaranteeing necessary parking spaces for park visitors 
while freeing the surface parking lot for the incorporation into the 
Hamilton Canal District redevelopment.
  On the space of the current parking lot and adjacent vacant property, 
the city, in working with private partners, plans to construct over 
400,000 square feet of commercial and R&D space, generating as many as 
1,600 jobs. As such, it is a critical piece in the master redevelopment 
plan for the area. This land exchange is supported by the Lowell 
National Historical Park, the city of Lowell, and all local 
stakeholders, and has received all major State permits and local zoning 
allowances.
  Because the enabling law for the Lowell National Historical Park only 
provides for the park to receive additional land, it is not allowed to 
exchange land. This legislation would allow this mutually agreed-upon 
exchange. I want to stress that this legislation will cost the 
taxpayers absolutely nothing.
  I thank Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey, as well as 
Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva and the committee staff for 
working with me to advance this bill to the floor. It is my hope that 
my colleagues today will appreciate the importance of passing this 
legislation to create jobs, continue revitalizing this historic mill 
city, and protect a key part of our industrial heritage and economic 
history.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. It's another great bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2240, 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.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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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