[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 63 (Monday, May 7, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H2299-H2300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONVEYANCE OF PARCEL, TRACY, CALIFORNIA

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 1302) to authorize the Administrator of General Services to convey 
a parcel of real property in Tracy, California, to the City of Tracy.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1302

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PARCEL, TRACY, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of General Services.
       (2) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of Tracy, 
     California.
       (3) Parcel.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``Parcel'' means the 
     approximately 150 acres conveyed to the City for educational 
     or recreational purposes pursuant to section 140 of division 
     C of Public Law 105 277 (112 Stat. 2681 599; 113 Stat. 104; 
     118 Stat. 335).
       (B) Exclusions.--The term ``Parcel'' does not include the 
     approximately 50 acres conveyed to the City for economic 
     development, in which the United States retains no 
     reversionary interest, pursuant to section 140 of division C 
     of Public Law 105 277 (112 Stat. 2681 599; 113 Stat. 104; 118 
     Stat. 335).
       (b) Conveyance.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (c) through 
     (f) of section 140 of division C of Public Law 105 277 (112 
     Stat. 2681 599; 113 Stat. 104; 118 Stat. 335) and subject to 
     subsection (c), the Administrator may offer to enter into a 
     binding agreement with the City, as soon as practicable, but 
     not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, under which the Administrator may convey to the City, 
     through a deed of release or other appropriate instrument, 
     any reversionary interest retained by the United States in 
     the Parcel, and all other terms, conditions, reservations, 
     and restrictions imposed, in connection with the conveyance 
     of the Parcel.
       (2) Survey.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the exact 
     acreage and legal description of the Parcel shall be 
     determined by a survey that is satisfactory to the 
     Administrator.
       (c) Consideration.--
       (1) In general.--As consideration for the conveyance under 
     subsection (b), the City shall pay to the Administrator an 
     amount not less than the appraised fair market value of the 
     Parcel, as determined by the Administrator pursuant to an 
     appraisal conducted by a licensed, independent appraiser, 
     based on the highest and best use of the Parcel, as 
     determined by the Administrator.
       (2) Treatment.--The determination of the Administrator 
     under paragraph (1) regarding the fair market value of the 
     Parcel shall be final.
       (d) Cost of Conveyance.--The City shall be responsible for 
     reimbursing the Administrator for the costs associated with 
     implementing this section, including the costs of each 
     applicable appraisal and survey.
       (e) Proceeds.--
       (1) Deposit.--The net proceeds from the conveyance under 
     this section shall be deposited in the Federal Buildings Fund 
     established by section 592(a) of title 40, United States 
     Code.
       (2) Expenditure.--The amounts deposited in the Federal 
     Buildings Fund under paragraph (1) shall be available to the 
     Administrator, in amounts specified in appropriations Acts, 
     for expenditure for any lawful purpose consistent with the 
     authority of the Administrator.
       (f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Administrator may 
     establish such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under subsection (b) as the Administrator 
     considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the 
     United States.
       (g) No Effect on Compliance With Environmental Laws.--
     Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act affects 
     or limits the application of or obligation to comply with any 
     environmental law, including section 120(h) of the 
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
     Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  S. 1302 would direct the General Services Administration to sell 150 
acres of land in Tracy, California, to the city of Tracy for not less 
than its appraised fair market value. This property is undeveloped land 
that was once under the custody and control of the Federal Government. 
However, the Federal Government maintains a reversionary

[[Page H2300]]

interest in the property based on certain usage restrictions.
  Through three separate pieces of legislation enacted since 1999, 
Congress has conveyed the 150 acres to the city of Tracy and has 
restricted its use of the land to educational and recreational uses 
only. Over the past decade, the city of Tracy has determined that these 
uses are no longer feasible, and it would like to utilize the land for 
economic development, thus adding to its base and to the welfare of the 
citizens of Tracy. In fact, the city expects significant commercial 
interest in the property and is optimistic that future development on 
the land will create hundreds of much-needed jobs.
  S. 1302 would remove all restrictions currently imposed on the 
property by Congress and would transfer complete ownership of the land 
from the Federal Government to the city of Tracy. Additionally, this 
legislation advances the goal of the disposing of unneeded Federal 
property, which is something that Mr. Denham, who is with me today, has 
been very active in.
  As we look at the Senate bill passed by the Senate unanimously in 
August of last year, I believe we see a win-win. The Federal Government 
takes a piece of land it has no further interest in and that it has, 
through congressional acts in the past, locked up for specific uses not 
likely to occur, and we receive full fair market value for the 
property. This is the way Federal land in excess should be disposed 
of--sold at fair market value or above and assured to be put to good 
use by the recipient, which, in this case, is the city of Tracy.
  I urge support for this, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of this important legislation, which would result 
in the efficient disposal of a parcel of Federal real property to the 
city of Tracy, California. It has been outstanding for some years.
  The city of Tracy, with a population of 80,000, has been hard hit by 
the economic recession. Unemployment in and around Tracy stood at 16.2 
percent a year ago, a level far higher than the national average. The 
people of Tracy are looking for every available avenue to revive their 
economy, and they have found such a stimulus in the potential 
construction of a solar field.
  Congress can assist Tracy in its economic recovery by supporting S. 
1302. This bill authorizes the city of Tracy to purchase, without 
restriction, 150 acres of Federal land previously conveyed by Congress 
for a specific public benefit use. The city would pay the Federal 
Government fair market value for the release of this reversionary 
interest.

                              {time}  1700

  The conveyance of land would permit Tracy to build a solar field at 
the site, a use which enjoys strong local support.
  Tracy estimates that construction of a solar field will create 
approximately 200 jobs, which are much needed in the city. The project 
will also generate cleaner sources of energy and will alleviate the 
air-quality challenges that presently afflict that area. These are all 
powerful reasons to support the legislation.
  I urge passage of S. 1302, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from California (Mr. Denham), who has been a 
strong advocate for both the disposal of property in a profitable way 
and in particular contacted us and asked us to move this legislation 
with a powerful and convincing argument.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1302, a bill 
to convey a parcel of land in the city of Tracy.
  S. 1302 is commonsense legislation that will be a win for the Federal 
taxpayer, the local community, and private enterprise. Simply put, this 
bill allows the city of Tracy to purchase at fair-market value a parcel 
of land from the Federal Government.
  Currently, the government has a reversionary interest in a vacant 
parcel of its land, and the community of Tracy deeply needs it. The 
city would like to purchase the land from the government at fair-market 
value and eliminate the reversionary interest so that the local 
community can decide what's best for the land. This land will then be 
leased to a private company to develop a solar project that will 
provide renewable energy and economic activity to the local community.
  I had the opportunity to tour this location with the mayor of Tracy, 
Brent Ives, who's been working on this for quite some time. He showed 
how this project will provide a significant economic impact to a 
community struggling with high rates of unemployment.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation will solve another problem created by 
too much government. Local control of this property will put people 
back to work, benefit the local economy, provide a source of renewable 
energy, and turn a profit for the taxpayer.
  I was proud to be a cosponsor of the House version of this 
legislation introduced by Mr. McNerney, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this measure.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and I again urge 
passage of S. 1302 and yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Although this is a small piece of property, it's part of a vast 
amount of property the Federal Government currently owns, controls, and 
does not use. So as we take this step today, I hope all of my 
colleagues in the House and the Senate will look at this as at least a 
small contribution to a direction we should go, find ways to take 
government-owned property, get it in private hands, paying property 
tax, being developed, and creating jobs throughout the areas in which 
it lies.
  As I urge support, I would like to thank my colleague, the gentlelady 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), for her work; I would like 
to thank the Senate cosponsors, including Senator Boxer, for getting 
this to us; and I would like to thank Mr. Denham for brining it to the 
floor at this time.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for S. 
1302, an important bill to facilitate a land transfer in Tracy, 
California. I was proud to introduce identical companion legislation in 
the House of Representatives last year, and I am glad to see S. 1302 on 
a path to final enactment.
  S. 1302 allows the city of Tracy to purchase 150 acres of property 
from the Federal Government. Congress previously conveyed the parcel to 
the city but placed certain restrictions on its use. This legislation 
waives these restrictions so long as the city purchases the property at 
fair market value.
  Tracy has long-standing plans to build a solar energy project at the 
site. Building this solar field will create nearly 200 jobs, improve 
air quality, and increase the availability of renewable energy in 
California. S. 1302 will also generate revenue for the Federal 
treasury. This bill is a win for Tracy and a win for the taxpayers.
  S. 1302 is being passed today in the spirit of bicameral, bipartisan 
cooperation. I would like to thank Senators Boxer and Feinstein for 
their support of this initiative in the Senate as well as 
Representatives Denham and Issa for their work here in the House. I 
look forward to seeing the President sign S. 1302 into law.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1302.
  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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