[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7464-H7465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1630
                TRANSFER OF YELLOW CREEK PORT PROPERTIES

  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3044) to approve the transfer of Yellow Creek Port 
properties in Iuka, Mississippi.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3044

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF YELLOW CREEK PORT PROPERTIES.

       In accordance with section 4(k) of the Tennessee Valley 
     Authority Act of 1933 (16

[[Page H7465]]

     U.S.C. 831c(k)), Congress approves the conveyance by the 
     Tennessee Valley Authority, on behalf of the United States, 
     to the State of Mississippi of the Yellow Creek Port 
     properties owned by the United States and in the custody of 
     the Authority at Iuka, Mississippi, as of the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Crawford) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on H.R. 3044.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Tennessee Valley Authority was created by Congress 
in 1933 to provide wholesale electric power and create economic 
development opportunities for those States in the Tennessee Valley 
region.
  The State of Mississippi initiated development of Yellow Creek Port 
in 1971 on 116 acres purchased from the TVA. Industrial growth, high-
paying jobs, associated spinoff companies, and increased traffic on the 
Nation's inland waterway system have occurred because of the 
development of Yellow Creek Port.
  I would like to thank Congressman Alan Nunnelee for introducing H.R. 
3044, legislation that will convey land from TVA to the State of 
Mississippi to provide economic development opportunities in the 
region. Nunnelee has been a leader on these types of activities since 
he was elected to Congress in 2010.
  The land being conveyed through this legislation will be used solely 
for industrial purposes and allow the State of Mississippi to expand 
the Yellow Creek Port to meet increasing demand.
  H.R. 3044 will execute the conveyance of the remaining 173 acres of 
property from TVA to the State of Mississippi to complete the 
development of Yellow Creek Port and fulfill one of TVA's missions of 
ensuring economic development opportunities in the TVA service area.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 3044, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3044 will allow the transfer of 173 acres of Tennessee Valley 
Authority lands to the State of Mississippi for industrial and economic 
development.
  The Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 withdrew lands from the 
Tennessee River System to provide for future development of power 
plants, industrial sites, ports, and supporting infrastructure.
  In 1971 at the confluence of the Tennessee and the Tombigbee Rivers, 
the Yellow Creek Port project was initiated. The purpose of the Yellow 
Creek Port project was to support economic development and local jobs 
in northeast Mississippi. The TVA and the State of Mississippi have 
jointly supported the development and growth of the port.
  TVA initially transferred 289 acres of land to the Yellow Creek Port 
to facilitate development back in 1971. H.R. 3044 would transfer an 
additional 173 acres of the land to the State of Mississippi.
  The acreage includes industrial, highway, and railroad easements and 
54 acres of undeveloped land. The TVA has attempted to sell this land 
since 1984, with no interested buyers.
  Mr. Speaker, the TVA Act allows TVA, with appropriate congressional 
approvals, to dispose of property for particular uses. According to 
TVA, the agency places reversionary interest clauses in transfers and 
sales to ensure that those uses specified by Congress in the TVA Act 
are carried out. TVA then retains the right to retake possession of the 
property if the use condition is breached.
  In February the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 
considered and passed S. 212, by a voice vote, which supported the 
transfer of these same 173 acres. The Congressional Budget Office has 
concluded that the net impact of the transfer would be insignificant 
and would not affect direct spending. TVA has confirmed that the 
transferred lands would be used for industrial development; and again, 
if for some reason the lands are instead proposed for some 
nonindustrial purpose, the TVA can legally have the lands returned to 
them.
  Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any opposition to H.R. 3044, and as we 
have heard, the construction of the Yellow Creek Port in 1971 initially 
involved approximately 289 acres.
  So with that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to support the passage of H.R. 3044.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland for 
her support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important 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 Arkansas (Mr. Crawford) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3044.
  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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