[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 137 (Wednesday, November 12, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7913-H7914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CLIFFORD P. HANSEN FEDERAL COURTHOUSE CONVEYANCE ACT
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 1934) to direct the Administrator of General Services to
convey the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse to Teton County,
Wyoming.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1934
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 ``Clifford P. Hansen Federal
Courthouse Conveyance Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of General Services.
(2) County.--The term ``County'' means Teton County,
Wyoming.
(3) Courthouse.--The term ``Courthouse'' means--
(A) the parcel of land located at 145 East Simpson Street,
Jackson, Wyoming; and
(B) the building located on the land described in
subparagraph (A), which is known as the ``Clifford P. Hansen
Federal Courthouse''.
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL COURTHOUSE TO TETON COUNTY,
WYOMING.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Administrator shall offer to convey to the County
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the Courthouse.
(b) Consideration.--In exchange for the conveyance of the
Courthouse to the County under this Act, the Administrator
shall require the County to pay to the Administrator--
(1) nominal consideration for the parcel of land described
in section 2(3)(A); and
(2) subject to subsection (c), consideration in an amount
equal to the fair market value of the building described in
section 2(3)(B), as determined based on an appraisal of the
building that is acceptable to the Administrator.
(c) Credits.--In lieu of all or a portion of the amount of
consideration for the building described in section 2(3)(B),
the Administrator may accept as consideration for the
conveyance of the building under subsection (b)(2) any
credits or waivers against lease payments, amounts expended
by the County under facility maintenance agreements, or other
charges for the continued occupancy or use by the Federal
Government of the building.
(d) Restrictions on Use.--The deed for the conveyance of
the Courthouse to the County under this Act shall include a
covenant that provides that the Courthouse will be used for
public use purposes.
(e) Costs of Conveyance.--The County shall be responsible
for paying--
(1) the costs of an appraisal conducted under subsection
(b)(2); and
(2) any other costs relating to the conveyance of the
Courthouse under this Act.
(f) Proceeds.--
(1) Deposit.--Any net proceeds received by the
Administrator as a result of the conveyance under this Act,
as applicable, shall be paid into the Federal Buildings Fund
established under section 592 of title 40, United States
Code.
(2) Expenditure.--Amounts paid into the Federal Buildings
Fund under paragraph (1) shall be available to the
Administrator, in amounts specified in appropriations Acts,
for expenditure for any lawful purpose consistent with
existing authorities granted to the Administrator.
(g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Administrator may
establish such additional terms and conditions with respect
to the conveyance under this Act as the Administrator
considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the
United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.
Carson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. MEADOWS. 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 S. 1934.
[[Page H7914]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
S. 1934 would direct the GSA to convey property in Wyoming to Teton
County, Wyoming, for fair market value.
The land was originally donated to the Federal Government by the
county for the purposes of a courthouse. However, since built, the
courthouse has rarely been used by the Federal judiciary, and no other
Federal use has been identified for this building.
The bill would sell the building to the county for fair market value
for the purposes of a county courthouse and county courthouse
functions. Selling this property for fair market value will ensure that
the taxpayers receive the best return on the property, and it will
provide for the continued public use of the facility.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of S. 1934, introduced by Senator John Barrasso.
It directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration
to transfer the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse and the land
underneath to Teton County, Wyoming.
The GSA has indicated to the committee that the agency has no need
for the facility. This directed sale supports the GSA's efforts to
downsize and dispose of underutilized properties. However, this bill
breaks with precedent. Although the local municipality is required to
pay for the fair market value of the building, the bill directs the
land underneath the building to be sold for a nominal value. Typically,
the building and the land underneath would all be valued at a fair
market value when being sold.
The committee has consistently upheld the bipartisan principle that
taxpayers are entitled to the full value of their assets in any sale.
Nevertheless, the committee is supporting this unusual transaction
because the underlying land was originally donated to the GSA by the
local municipality, which is why I am supporting selling the land back
to them for a nominal value.
The bill provides taxpayers with further protections, Mr. Speaker.
The legislation requires that the future use of this property be
restricted to public purposes. I urge the GSA to interpret this
language consistent with restrictions typically used by the GSA when
considering land transfers for public purposes under title 40.
I continue to support efforts to shrink the Federal footprint where
appropriate while protecting taxpayer interests, and I urge Members to
approve this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his support of
this legislation.
I concur with him that, in terms of setting a precedent, that is not
something that we want to do. This has a unique set of circumstances in
which the county actually had conveyed the property to the Federal
Government at no cost. Certainly, I would agree with my colleague
opposite that we need to make sure that taxpayers get the best return
and that this does not set a precedent.
Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to support this
legislation on behalf of the American taxpayers.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 1934.
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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