[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4856-H4858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1715
HERMISTON REVERSIONARY LANDS ACT
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 3366) to provide for the release of the
property interests retained 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3366
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 Reversionary Lands
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled
``Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center'' and
dated April 7, 2014.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of
Land Management.
(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 PROPERTY INTERESTS IN BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT LAND CONVEYED TO THE STATE OF OREGON
FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF HERMISTON AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER.
(a) Release of Retained Interests.--Any reservation or
reversionary interest retained by the United States to the
approximately 290 acres in Hermiston, Oregon, depicted as
[[Page H4857]]
``Reversionary Interest Area'' on the Map, is hereby released
without consideration.
(b) Instrument of Release.--The Secretary shall execute and
file in the appropriate office a deed of release, amended
deed, or other appropriate instrument reflecting the release
of retained interests under subsection (a).
(c) Conveyance of Orphan Parcel.--Notwithstanding the land
use planning requirements of sections 202 and 203 of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1712, 1713), not later than 180 days after the date on which
the Secretary receives a request from the State, the
Secretary shall convey to the State, without consideration,
all right, title, and interest of the United States to and in
the approximately 6 acres identified on the Map as ``Bureau
of Land Management Administered Land''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms.
Michelle Lujan Grisham) 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?
There was no objection.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
H.R. 3366 would release the Bureau of Land Management's reversionary
interest in 290 acres that were conveyed to the State of Oregon in 1954
for the establishment of the Hermiston Agricultural Research and
Extension Center at Oregon State University in Hermiston, Oregon. It
would also reunite that land with a 6-acre orphan parcel that the
Bureau of Land Management has no use for.
In 1954, the Federal Government conveyed the 290 acres affected by
this legislation to the State of Oregon. However, the Federal
Government retained a reversionary interest in the property which now
denies OSU and the city of Hermiston the control and flexibility needed
to efficiently manage the property to advance new agricultural research
programs.
As Hermiston continues to grow up around this area, lifting the
reversionary interest will advance the goals of Oregon State
University, benefit the local economy, and create job opportunities to
meet the demands of the expanding region.
Adjacent to the 290 acres is a 6-acre parcel of land that previously
reverted back to the BLM and that currently stands idle. This parcel is
the subject of an amendment being considered with this bill.
If it is not dealt with, it will become an orphan land parcel that is
of no use to the Bureau of Land Management, and it will be a challenge
to manage. The 6 acres would be better managed when they are rejoined
with the adjacent 290 acres that this bill addresses.
Congressman Walden, who is from that district, should be commended
for his work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support its
passage.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of the Hermiston Reversionary Interest Release Act.
In 1954, the Federal Government conveyed 250 acres near Hermiston,
Oregon, to the State of Oregon, to establish an agricultural experiment
station. The agricultural experiment station ultimately became the
Oregon State University Agricultural Research and Experiment Center.
The Hermiston Center focuses on the innovation and implementation of
agricultural and horticultural opportunities, and it provides solutions
to production restraints. This work is crucial to the agricultural
economy of the region.
Oregon State University would like to move the Hermiston Center to a
new location and is looking to Congress to remove Federal restrictions
placed on the land at the time of conveyance in order to sell or to
develop the property.
H.R. 3366 removes these Federal restrictions and will allow Oregon
State to develop its agricultural research facilities to meet the
future needs of the agricultural sector. Allowing the flexibility that
H.R. 3366 provides is a priority for Oregon State University and the
region, and we gladly support this bill and the university's continued
research.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 8
minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the author of this
legislation.
Mr. WALDEN. I thank the chairman and the members of the Natural
Resources Committee for their work that brought this legislation to the
floor.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3366, the Hermiston Reversionary Interest Release
Act, is very important to the city of Hermiston--as you all have
heard--to Umatilla County, and to Oregon State University, so I
appreciate being able to speak in support of it today.
Oregon--and the nearly 70,000 square miles that I represent in my
district--is full of unique landscapes, ranging from high deserts to
green valleys, which produce more than 220 different agricultural
crops.
Farmers in this part of Oregon, the Columbia Basin, grow crops from
commodities--like corn and wheat--to specialty crops--like onions,
potatoes, asparagus, and, of course, the world-famous Hermiston
watermelons.
In fact, Umatilla County is the second highest agricultural producing
county in the State of Oregon, with sales topping $487 million
annually.
Agriculture has always been the economic backbone of Umatilla County.
However, growth of the industry would not have been maintained without
significant innovation in what types of crops are grown and in
improvements in production techniques.
The land that this legislation deals with was conveyed to the State
of Oregon and then to Oregon State University by the Federal
Government. It is the home of the Hermiston Agricultural Research and
Extension Center, capably and ably managed by Superintendent Phil Hamm,
with whom we have worked closely on this legislation.
This center has fueled these innovations, and it has helped growers
in the region maximize the use of precious water, fight off new pests
and diseases, and achieve record-breaking yields.
This commonsense legislation simply places the home of the research
center back fully under local control by removing the retained
reversionary interest. This bill also conveys 6 acres of land that were
orphaned from the station after the construction of a railroad line.
This release and conveyance provides the flexibility OSU needs to
better manage the station for the future benefit of area farmers and to
meet the needs of the city of Hermiston, eastern Oregon's largest city.
When this land was originally conveyed in 1954, the Hermiston
population was fewer than 4,000 people, and the research station was
located well out of town. Today, with a population of 16,745 people,
the research facilities now lie within the city limits of Hermiston,
presenting potential challenges to growth in the future.
Despite economic and population growth in the last 60 years, the
needs of farmers have not changed much. They still rely upon the
quality work done by researchers at the station to grow top-notch crops
and to create jobs in the region.
Unfortunately, as station managers try to plot the path for continued
viability of the station as the city continues to grow, they find their
hands tied by the reversionary interest the Federal Government
maintains over the property.
Commonsense opportunities that could generate additional revenue for
research, like siting a cell tower on a small portion of the property
that can't be farmed, are passed over because of these improvement
restrictions.
Also, if the need arises in the future, the reversionary interest
stands in the way of the relocation of the facility, which would
provide additional economic opportunities for the city, while
maintaining the research capabilities at a site better suited for
agriculture production, rather than being stuck between industrial
sites or residential communities.
By removing the reversionary interest, H.R. 3366 removes these
hurdles and provides opportunities for economic and job growth for the
local
[[Page H4858]]
community, which is why it has been strongly supported by farmers in
the area, by the city of Hermiston, and by the Umatilla County Board of
Commissioners as well.
For farmers in the Columbia Basin, it is a way for valuable
agriculture research to continue into the future, bringing new
techniques they need to tackle new challenges as they continue to feed
and clothe the world.
For Oregon State University, it provides the flexibility they need to
ensure they continue their mission of providing the quality research
they have provided in the area for decades.
Again, I want to thank the staff on the committee, as well as my own
staff--Riley Bushue and Thomas Griffin--for their work on this
legislation.
I would ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this important
piece of legislation.
Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I thank my
colleagues for their work on this important piece of legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleague from
Oregon mentioned the Columbia Basin. My district happens to be just
north of that. That part of the Columbia Basin that I represent also is
a very plentiful agriculture area, and I am glad my friend from Oregon,
just to the south of me, recognizes that.
With that, this is a good piece of legislation, and I urge its
passage.
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, H.R. 3366, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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