[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6219-S6220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley):
  S. 1437. A bill to provide for the release of the reversionary 
interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed in 1954 by 
the United States, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land 
Management, to the State of Oregon for the establishment of the 
Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center of Oregon State 
University in Hermiston, Oregon; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce a bill that will 
give Oregon State University the flexibility to continue its important 
agricultural work in Hermiston, Oregon. I am pleased to be joined on 
this bill with my colleague from Oregon, Senator Merkely. I look 
forward to working with Senator Merkley, other colleagues, and 
supporters of the bill to update the federal interests in the land to 
match current needs and conditions.
  The Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, HAREC, 
provides support to one of the most unique and important agricultural 
areas in the world: the Columbia Basin region of Oregon and Washington. 
As one of Oregon State University's, OSU, 12 Agricultural Experiment 
Stations, HAREC concentrates on the discovery and implementation of 
agricultural opportunities while also providing solutions to production 
issues for regional growers and beyond.
  Research at HAREC emphasizes identification of new crop 
opportunities, improved production practices that save money while 
reducing inputs, plant breeding and varietal evaluation of cereals and 
potatoes. Through this work it has developed new lines with higher 
nutritional value, integrated pest management of insects and insect-

[[Page S6220]]

transmitted diseases, and provided information related to environmental 
issues and salmon restoration. In recent years the center provided 
leadership, research, and new knowledge essential to allow growers to 
diversify production and convert 30,000 acres of commodity crops to 
high-value crops. The station has led efforts to cultivate value-added 
agriculture in Morrow and Umatilla counties, resulting in over 
$50,000,000 in annual economic return.
  The history of HAREC and a Umatilla agricultural research center 
spans more than a century. The Federal Government paved the way in the 
development of farming and ranching in the Umatilla Basin. In 1954, the 
Bureau of Land Management granted land to the State of Oregon on the 
condition that the land is used for cooperative agricultural 
experimental work. Over the past nearly 60 years, OSU has developed a 
center with state-of-the-art laboratories, irrigation technology 
abilities, greenhouses, screenhouses and research and extension 
faculty. HAREC now supports nearly 500,000 acres of irrigated 
agriculture.
  Just as agriculture in the Columbia Basin has grown by leaps and 
bounds since 1954, so has the community of Hermiston. This bill removes 
the reversionary clause from the original land grant while conditioning 
that any consideration gained by OSU from the sale, lease, or other use 
of the land be put back into agricultural experimental and research 
work. It gives OSU the flexibility to adapt to the population growth 
and city expansion that will ultimately necessitate the relocation of 
HAREC from inside the urban growth boundary to a more rural location. 
Without this bill, moving the station would mean triggering the federal 
reversionary clause and losing HAREC land and all the buildings and 
improvements over nearly six decades to the Federal Government. I'm 
sponsoring this bill to ensure HAREC can continue for another hundred 
years.
  Regional leaders and Oregon State University support removing the 
barriers to the continued operation of the center. I express my 
gratitude for their work with me on this legislation. I also look 
forward to working with Senator Merkley to advance this bill and 
support the agricultural heart of the regional economy.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1437

       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 ``Hermiston Agricultural 
     Research and Extension Center Land Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Research center land.--The term ``research center 
     land'' means the approximately 290 acres of land in 
     Hermiston, Oregon, identified as the ``Reversionary Interest 
     Area'' on the map entitled ``Hermiston Agricultural Research 
     and Extension Center'' and dated July 23, 2013, including any 
     improvements to, and building on, the land.
       (2) Patent.--The term ``patent'' means the patent granted 
     by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (acting on 
     behalf of the United States) to the State, numbered 130889, 
     and dated September 17, 1954.
       (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Oregon 
     (acting through the Oregon State Board of Higher Education on 
     behalf of Oregon State University).

     SEC. 3. RELEASE OF REVERSIONARY INTEREST AND RESERVATION OF 
                   MINERAL RIGHTS TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 
                   LAND CONVEYED TO THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE 
                   ESTABLISHMENT OF HERMISTON AGRICULTURAL 
                   RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER.

       (a) Release of Reversionary Interest and Reservation of 
     Mineral Rights.--Subject to subsection (b), there are 
     released by the United States without consideration--
       (1) the reversionary interest retained by the United States 
     to the research center land under the patent; and
       (2) the reservation of mineral rights by the United States 
     to the research center land under the patent.
       (b) Condition.--The release of the reversionary interest 
     under subsection (a)(1) is subject to the condition that the 
     State agrees to use any consideration received by the State 
     from the sale, lease, or other conveyance of the research 
     center land after the date of enactment of this Act for 
     agricultural experimental and research work of Oregon State 
     University.
       (c) Instrument of Release.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     (acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land 
     Management) shall execute and file in the appropriate office 
     a deed of release, amended deed, or other appropriate 
     instrument reflecting the release under subsection (a).
                                 ______