[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H7491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1120
                MANIILAQ ASSOCIATION PROPERTY CONVEYANCE

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 443) to provide for 
the conveyance of certain property from the United States to the 
Maniilaq Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.

       (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, but not later than 180 days after 
     such date, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
     this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall convey to 
     the Maniilaq Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska, all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     property described in section 2 for use in connection with 
     health and social services programs. The Secretary's 
     conveyance of title by warranty deed under this section 
     shall, on its effective date, supersede and render of no 
     future effect on any Quitclaim Deed to the properties 
     described in section 2 executed by the Secretary and the 
     Maniilaq Association.
       (b) Conditions.--The conveyance required by this section 
     shall be made by warranty deed without consideration and 
     without imposing any obligation, term, or condition on the 
     Maniilaq Association, or reversionary interest of the United 
     States, other than that required by this Act or section 
     512(c)(2)(B) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
     Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 458aaa-11(c)(2)(B)).

     SEC. 2. PROPERTY DESCRIBED.

       The property, including all land and appurtenances, to be 
     conveyed pursuant to section 1 is as follows:
       (1) Kotzebue hospital and land.--Re-Plat of Friends Mission 
     Reserve, Subdivision No. 2, U.S. Survey 2082, Lot 1, Block 
     12, Kotzebue, Alaska, containing 8.10 acres recorded in the 
     Kotzebue Recording District, Kotzebue, Alaska, on August 18, 
     2009.
       (2) Kotzebue quarters aka kic site.--Re-plat of Friends 
     Mission Reserve, U.S. Survey 2082, Lot 1A, Block 13, 
     Kotzebue, Alaska, containing 5.229 acres recorded in the 
     Kotzebue Recording District, Kotzebue, Alaska, on December 
     23, 1991.
       (3) Kotzebue quarters aka nana site.--Lot 1B, Block 26, 
     Tract A, Townsite of Kotzebue, U.S. Survey No. 2863 A, 
     Kotzebue, Alaska, containing 1.29 acres recorded in the 
     Kotzebue Recording District, Kotzebue, Alaska, on December 
     23, 1991.

     SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     Federal law, the Maniilaq Association shall not be liable for 
     any soil, surface water, groundwater, or other contamination 
     resulting from the disposal, release, or presence of any 
     environmental contamination, including any oil or petroleum 
     products, or any hazardous substances, hazardous materials, 
     hazardous waste, pollutants, toxic substances, solid waste, 
     or any other environmental contamination or hazard as defined 
     in any Federal or State of Alaska law, on any property 
     described in section 2 on or before the date on which all of 
     the properties described in section 2 were conveyed by 
     quitclaim deed.
       (b) Easement.--The Secretary shall be accorded any easement 
     or access to the property conveyed as may be reasonably 
     necessary to satisfy any retained obligations and liability 
     of the Secretary.
       (c) Notice of Hazardous Substance Activity and Warranty.--
     The Secretary shall comply with section 120(h)(3)(A) and (B) 
     of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
     and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)(A)).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam 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 Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  My bill, H.R. 443, directs the Indian Health Service to transfer 15 
acres of Federal land in Alaska to the Maniilaq Association by warranty 
deed. The IHS has already conveyed these lands to the association by 
quitclaim deed; however, under Federal Indian health laws, transferring 
land by quitclaim deed could present some obstacles to the future use 
of the land by the association. The association is a nonprofit entity 
that runs Federal Indian health services for Native people in northwest 
Alaska. The land subject to this legislation is currently the site of a 
Native health facility and of proposed long-term care facilities and 
employee housing.
  The administration testified in support of the land transfer, and we 
have heard no other objections to this bill which passed the House over 
a year ago by a 407-4 vote. The Senate amendment before us today makes 
four small technical changes to the bill, including changing verb 
tenses, clarifying the timing of the conveyance, and clarifying a 
definition. None are controversial and, some might say, even necessary.
  I, again, thank Chairman Upton of the Energy and Commerce Committee 
for allowing H.R. 443, a bill that we share jurisdiction over, to be 
considered on the floor today.
  I urge the House to adopt the Senate amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, we do not object to the Senate amendment to H.R. 443, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I have no other requests for 
time. I urge the passage of the legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 443.
  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. GRIJALVA. Madam 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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