[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6002-H6003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
YUKON KUSKOKWIM HEALTH CORPORATION PROPERTY CONVEYANCE
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 230) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the
Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation located in Bethel, Alaska.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 230
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable, but not later than
180 days, after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall convey to the Yukon Kuskokwim
Health Corporation located in Bethel, Alaska (referred to in
this Act as the ``Corporation''), all right, title, and
interest of the United States in and to the property
described in section 2 for use in connection with health and
social services programs.
(b) Effect on Any Quitclaim Deed.--The conveyance by the
Secretary of title by warranty deed under this section shall,
on the effective date of the conveyance, supersede and render
of no future effect any quitclaim deed to the property
described in section 2 executed by the Secretary and the
Corporation.
(c) Conditions.--The conveyance of the property under this
Act--
(1) shall be made by warranty deed; and
(2) shall not--
(A) require any consideration from the Corporation for the
property;
(B) impose any obligation, term, or condition on the
Corporation; or
(C) allow for any reversionary interest of the United
States in the property.
SEC. 2. PROPERTY DESCRIBED.
The property, including all land and appurtenances,
described in this section is the property included in U.S.
Survey No. 4000, Lot 2, T. 8 N., R. 71 W., Seward Meridian,
containing 22.98 acres.
SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY.
(a) Liability.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Corporation shall not be liable for any soil,
surface water, groundwater, or other contamination resulting
from the disposal, release, or presence of any environmental
contamination on any portion of the property described in
section 2 on or before the date on which the property is
conveyed to the Corporation.
(2) Environmental contamination.--An environmental
contamination described in paragraph (1) includes any oil or
petroleum products, hazardous substances, hazardous
materials, hazardous waste, pollutants, toxic substances,
solid waste, or any other environmental contamination or
hazard as defined in any Federal or State of Alaska law.
(b) Easement.--The Secretary shall be accorded any easement
or access to the property conveyed under this Act as may be
reasonably necessary to satisfy any retained obligation or
liability of the Secretary.
(c) Notice of Hazardous Substance Activity and Warranty.--
In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall comply with
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 120(h)(3) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs.
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
[[Page H6003]]
I would first like to acknowledge the gentleman from Alaska (Mr.
Young), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska
Native Affairs, for his hard work as the sponsor of the House companion
to this bill, H.R. 521.
This bill was favorably reported from the Committee on Natural
Resources by unanimous consent in July of this year. The Senate
version, S. 230, sponsored by Senator Murkowski, is before us today.
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convey
by warranty deed a 23-acre parcel of Federal land under the
administration of the Indian Health Service and located in Bethel,
Alaska, to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation for health and social
service-related programs.
The YKHC is a nonprofit Alaska Native organization which operates a
regional hospital on the 23 acres of the Federal land conveyed under
this bill. In recent years, the hospital has had a need to expand and
renovate the existing facilities in this location. To secure funding
for the hospital expansion, the YKHC must demonstrate sufficient site
control, but because the surrounding land is federally owned, this bill
is necessary to provide the health corporation the site control
necessary to improve its facilities.
Congress has enacted two similar bills in the last several Congresses
and, like those, this bill is supported by the entire Alaska delegation
and by the administration.
I again want to commend my colleague from Alaska for his hard work
for Alaska Natives, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 230, as my colleague has so eloquently stated, will
provide for the conveyance of approximately 23 acres to the YKHC,
located in Bethel, Alaska, for the purposes of constructing a primary
care clinic attached to the existing hospital.
This bill is identical to H.R. 521, introduced by our colleague and
my very dear and good friend, Chairman Don Young, which we passed by
unanimous consent out of the Committee on Natural Resources. The land
transfer is needed so that the YKHC might participate in the Indian
Health Service Joint Venture Construction Program.
Access to quality health care is a fundamental part of our trust
responsibility to tribal members, and passage of this bill will ensure
that the YKHC can meet the current and future needs of its residents.
I urge my colleagues to support passage of S. 230.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), that legendary force of Alaskan
nature.
(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I do thank the chairman and I do
thank the ranking member for their kind comments.
Much has been said about this fine piece of legislation. As was
mentioned, it has passed the House twice. The Senate finally passed out
a bill, and now we are dealing with a Senate bill.
As was mentioned, this gives an opportunity for the YKHC, a Native
hospital, to expand on Federal lands. By ownership of the land now,
there will be no cloud on that title.
I do appreciate the comments. I do appreciate the work that has been
put into this. This is a bill that should have been signed into law a
lot sooner. It will be done now, and we will be able to expand this
hospital for my Alaska Natives.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back for the day, I want to
thank my colleague, Chairman McClintock, for his collegiality today and
his leadership in making this a pleasant afternoon and a bipartisan
afternoon.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting S. 230.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would reciprocate those kind words to
the gentlewoman from Michigan; thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of this measure.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 230.
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.
____________________