[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2391-H2392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONVEYING FEDERAL PROPERTY TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 1492) to direct the Administrator of General
Services, on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, to convey
certain Federal property located in the State of Alaska to the
Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1492
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REAL PROPERTY CONVEYANCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Archivist.--The term ``Archivist'' means the Archivist
of the United States.
(2) City.--The term ``City'' means the Municipality of
Anchorage, Alaska.
(b) Conveyance.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act and after completion of the survey and
appraisal described in this section, the Administrator of
General Services, on behalf of the Archivist, shall offer to
convey to the City by quitclaim deed for the consideration
and under the conditions described in subsection (d), all
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a
parcel of real property described in subsection (c).
(2) Costs of conveyance.--The City shall be responsible for
paying--
(A) the costs of an appraisal conducted pursuant to
subsection (d)(1)(B); and
(B) any other costs relating to the conveyance of the
Federal property under this Act.
(c) Legal Description of Property.--
(1) In general.--The parcel to be conveyed under subsection
(b) consists of approximately 9 acres and improvements
located at 400 East Fortieth Avenue in the City that is
administered by the National Archives and Records
Administration.
(2) Survey required.--As soon as practicable after the date
of enactment of this Act, the exact acreage and legal
description of the real property to be conveyed under
subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey, paid for by
the City, that is satisfactory to the Archivist.
(d) Terms and Conditions.--
(1) Consideration.--
(A) In general.--As consideration for the conveyance of the
property under subsection (b), the City shall pay to the
Archivist an amount not less than the fair market value of
the conveyed property, to be determined as provided in
subparagraph (B).
(B) Appraisal.--The fair market value of the property to be
conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined based on an
appraisal that--
(i) is conducted by a licensed, independent appraiser that
is approved by the Archivist and the City;
(ii) is based on the highest and best use of the property;
(iii) is approved by the Archivist; and
(iv) is paid for by the City.
(2) Preconveyance entry.--The Archivist, on terms and
conditions the Archivist determines to be appropriate, may
authorize the City to enter the property at no charge for
preconstruction and construction activities.
(3) Additional terms and conditions.--The Archivist may
require additional terms and conditions in connection with
the conveyance under subsection (b) as the Archivist
considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United
States.
(e) Proceeds.--Any net proceeds received by the Archivist
as a result of the conveyance under this Act shall be
deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction, in
such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury considers
appropriate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
General Leave
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 1492.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alaska?
There was no objection.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
For the record, this is the same bill that has passed this House
twice unanimously. It was over in the Senate, and they sent it back to
us. It is a very simple bill that would direct the General Services
Administration, on behalf of the National Archives, to convey property
to Alaska, to the city of Anchorage.
I am pleased that the sponsor of the House companion bill, as I
mentioned before, has been passed by the House twice and has now been
sent back to my senator, Senator Dan Sullivan.
The National Archives has determined that it no longer needs the
property and wants to sell it as part of its efforts to shrink its real
estate footprint and reduce the costs to the taxpayer. The bill will
require fair market value for the property based on an independent
appraisal. The proceeds will be deposited into the Treasury and will be
used for deficit reduction.
This bill is in line with what we have been urging all Federal
agencies to do--consolidate and reduce their space and sell unneeded
properties.
The municipality of Anchorage requested this land be made available,
and the city council passed a resolution that thanks the delegation for
supporting this legislation. I am very excited to get this land into
the hands of the municipality of Anchorage for development purposes.
I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I support S. 1492, which directs the GSA, on behalf of the Archivist
of the United States, to convey 9 acres of property in Anchorage,
Alaska, to the local municipality in exchange for its fair market
value.
The GSA and the Archivist of the United States have come to the
conclusion that this property is underutilized and is no longer needed
by the Federal Government. A House version of this bill was reported
out of committee by a voice vote and was subsequently passed by the
House. Selling this property to the city of Anchorage, Alaska, at its
fair market value protects the interests of taxpayers who acquired the
property. It also allows the Federal Government to shed the costs of
maintaining and securing an unneeded property.
Finally, I encourage the GSA to continue using its existing authority
and expertise to identify and dispose of other pieces of underutilized
Federal real estate as appropriate.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation, and I urge its passage.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 1492.
[[Page H2392]]
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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