[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 13, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN LAND 
               TRANSFERRED TO ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA

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                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2015

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation to 
transfer land from the U.S. Department of Interior to Rockingham 
County, Virginia. For over 25 years, Rockingham County, Virginia has 
managed a small area of land in my congressional district as if it 
belonged to the County to meet the needs of the community and serve the 
public good. Although this land was already transferred from the 
Federal Government to the County, it was not done effectively. This 
legislation will finalize the efforts of a previous Congress and fully 
transfer this land to the County, while continuing to meet public 
needs.
  Since 1989, a little over 3 acres of land and its associated 
buildings, previously wholly held by the Federal Government, have been 
maintained by Rockingham County and the Plains Area Daycare Center. In 
that year, the Department of the Interior deeded this land, which it no 
longer used, to Rockingham County for public good.
  Prior to this official declaration, Rockingham County had already 
been maintaining the lands around the facility. The land and building 
had been used as a garage and maintenance facility for the National 
Forest Service. However, it was no longer being utilized, and the 
County was performing upkeep on the land.
  PL 101-479 was approved in the 101st Congress to allow the buildings 
on this land to be used for the particular use of a non-profit day care 
that serves the County. Unfortunately, because of the narrow way Public 
Law 101-479 was drafted, any extension or maintenance of the physical 
structures has required approval by the Department of the Interior. 
Given that the building is used for a child care facility, this impedes 
the ability of the day care to move efficiently to make any necessary 
upgrades. The building is currently in need of repairs; however, 
because of the terms of the deed, the daycare center has been unable to 
get a loan to complete the needed renovations.
  To be clear, the center and the playground are the sole reason that 
this previously abandoned government land is being used by the public 
today. The Federal Government no longer has a vested interest in the 
land.
  Mr. Speaker, my legislation, which was approved by the House of 
Representatives in nearly a unanimous manner in the 113th Congress as 
H.R. 5162, is a simple formality. I have been pleased to visit the 
Plains Area Daycare Center on many occasions. By passing this 
legislation and allowing Rockingham County more authority over the 
land, it will ensure that more children and more of the community will 
be served by this land.
  I urge swift consideration of this bill in the 114th Congress.

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