[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 127 (Monday, September 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7271-H7272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMOVAL OF USE RESTRICTION ON LAND FORMERLY A PART OF ACADIA NATIONAL
PARK
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4527) to remove a use restriction on land formerly
a part of Acadia National Park that was transferred to the town of
Tremont, Maine, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4527
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. USE RESTRICTION REMOVED.
The Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the conveyance, for
school purposes, of certain land in Acadia National Park to
the town of Tremont, Maine, and for other purposes'',
approved August 1, 1950, is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``Lands conveyed to the town of Tremont, Maine,
under the Act known as NPS Tract 06-126, which were conveyed
by the National Park Service in deed recorded at the Hancock
County Registry of Deeds Book 737 Page 467, National Park
Service Deed 377, shall no longer be required to be used
exclusively and perpetually for school purposes and upon the
discontinuance of such use of said land, or any part thereof,
shall no longer be required to revert to the United
States.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
General Leave
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, enacted in 1950, Public Law 81-629 permitted the
National Park Service to convey property, formerly part of Acadia
National Park, to the town of Tremont, Maine, to build a new school.
In 1951, the Secretary of the Interior completed the conveyance of
approximately 8 acres with a clause that specified the land would
revert back to the United States if it was not used exclusively for
school purposes.
Tremont is now consolidating schools with a nearby town, and the
property will no longer be used for the original intended purpose.
However, Tremont would like to retain ownership and continue to use the
developed property in the best interest of the community.
H.R. 4527 removes the requirement that the land be used exclusively
and perpetually for school purposes, allowing Tremont to use the
property to the maximum benefit of its residents.
The Natural Resources Committee has consistently sought to assist
local communities in gaining control of property within their
boundaries by freeing them from Federal interference. Communities
around the country would benefit significantly and immediately if the
example of H.R. 4527 was replicated by Congress.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. LOWENTHAL asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, the town of Tremont, Maine, was granted a
parcel of Federal land to build a school in 1950. The town, which is
adjacent to Acadia National Park, no longer needs the parcel for school
purposes and would like to be able to consider other uses.
H.R. 4527 will remove the restrictions on the parcel, and its passage
is a priority for the town and the bill's sponsor, Mr. Michaud of
Maine. I would like to thank and congratulate my colleague from Maine
for his work on this bill on behalf of his constituents.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1745
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), the sponsor of the legislation.
Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. As you heard, this
legislation would allow the town of Tremont,
[[Page H7272]]
Maine, to continue to use public land that has been continuously
maintained for more than six decades.
In 1950, Congress transferred a parcel of land from Acadia National
Park to the Town of Tremont so the town could build and maintain a
school. Unfortunately, what might have been best for the Park Service
and the community in 1950 might not be best for either in 2014.
Due to demographic changes, Tremont has explored the possibility of
merging its elementary school with another in a neighboring town. Under
the terms of the original agreement, if Tremont were to stop using the
land for school purposes, the land would be transferred back to the
Federal Government.
Complicating the situation is legislation passed by Congress in 1986
that established a permanent boundary for Acadia National Park. The
permanent boundary did not include the tract of land containing the
school. As a result, any changes in usage would require transfer to the
General Services Administration.
This legislation would simply remove any restriction on the land,
which would allow the community to continue utilizing the land as it
sees fit. Acadia National Park supports this legislation; GSA has no
objection.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank Chairmen Hastings
and Bishop and Ranking Members DeFazio and Grijalva for their support
for this remedy of this issue, and I would like to thank the committees
on both sides of the aisle for supporting this issue.
I urge my colleagues to adopt it.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. With that, I yield back the balance of my time also.
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
pass the bill, H.R. 4527.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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