[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3440-H3441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXCHANGE OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION PROPERTY IN 
                        PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 363) to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to 
convey property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 363

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

     SECTION 1. EXCHANGE OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
                   ADMINISTRATION PROPERTY IN PASCAGOULA, 
                   MISSISSIPPI.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, if the Secretary of Commerce determines that it is in 
     the best interest of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration and the Federal Government to do so, the 
     Secretary may convey to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi, 
     by standard quitclaim deed, real property consisting of 
     parcels, or portions of parcels, under the administrative 
     jurisdiction of the Under Secretary for Oceans and 
     Atmosphere, including land and improvements thereon, within a 
     tract roughly bounded by--
       (1) Delmas Avenue to the south;
       (2) Pascagoula River to the west;
       (3) Pol Street to the north; and
       (4) real property owned by the City of Pascagoula to the 
     east.
       (b) Consideration.--
       (1) In general.--For a conveyance under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall require that the United States receive 
     consideration of not less than the fair market value of the 
     property or rights conveyed.
       (2) Form.--Consideration under this subsection may include 
     any combination of--
       (A) property (either real or personal), including tracts of 
     real property and buildings, owned by the City of Pascagoula, 
     that are located in such city south of Delmas Avenue, as well 
     as a contiguous portion of the street known as Delmas Avenue 
     adjacent to real property under the administrative 
     jurisdiction of the Under Secretary for Oceans and 
     Atmosphere;
       (B) cash or cash equivalents; and
       (C) consideration in-kind, including--
       (i) provision of space, goods, or services of benefit, 
     including construction, repair, remodeling, or other physical 
     improvements;
       (ii) maintenance of property;
       (iii) provision of office, storage, or other useable space; 
     or
       (iv) relocation services associated with conveyance of 
     property under this section.
       (3) Determination of fair market value.--The Secretary 
     shall determine fair market value for purposes of paragraph 
     (1) based on a highest- and best-use appraisal of the 
     properties conveyed under subsection (a) conducted in 
     conformance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
     Professional Appraisal Practice.
       (c) Use of Proceeds.--Any amounts received under subsection 
     (b)(2)(A) by the United States as proceeds of any conveyance 
     under this section shall be available to the Secretary, 
     subject to appropriation, for activities related to the 
     operations of, or capital improvements to, property of the 
     Administration.
       (d) Additional Terms and Conditions.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may require such additional 
     terms and conditions with the exchange of property by the 
     United States under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate to protect the interest of the United States.
       (2) Easements or rights of way.--The Secretary may grant or 
     convey to the City of Pascagoula a right of way or easement 
     if the Secretary determines such grant or conveyance is in 
     the best interest of the Administration and the Federal 
     Government.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) 
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?

[[Page H3441]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 363, introduced by Senator Wicker from Mississippi, 
would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey less than 1 acre of 
property owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to 
the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

                              {time}  1750

  This would improve the operations of the NOAA science center and give 
the city river access and space for a park.
  The bill specifies that a land conveyance could occur provided that 
the United States receives at least the fair market value for the 
property or in-kind exchange. The city and the agency have identified 
properties to exchange, and therefore, both parties are in agreement. 
S. 363 would simply allow them to go forward with this land exchange, 
so I urge its adoption.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Many years ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
fenced off two small parcels of land plus a portion of a street outside 
of their Pascagoula, Mississippi, facility for security purposes. 
Recently, NOAA has been using this property for storage and parking. 
NOAA would like to secure this land, which is now back under the 
ownership of the City of Pascagoula, to accommodate the storage and 
future expansion of their facility.
  In exchange for these two parcels of land, NOAA proposes to transfer 
real estate to the City of Pascagoula to develop waterfront property 
for the purposes of creating a public green space as part of the 
overall redevelopment plan in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. NOAA and 
the city have both identified the parcels of land to be considered for 
this transaction, and NOAA is prepared to contract for the land surveys 
and appraisals necessary to prepare the acquisition and disposal 
documents. They have both expressed written support for this land 
exchange.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. 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. 363.
  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. HASTINGS of Washington. 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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