[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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