[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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