[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.

                          ____________________