[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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