[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H5403-H5404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMOVAL OF USE RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN LAND TRANSFERRED TO ROCKINGHAM
COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 954) to remove the use restrictions on certain land
transferred to Rockingham County, Virginia, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 954
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF USE RESTRICTION.
Public Law 101-479 (104 Stat. 1158) is amended--
(1) by striking section 2(d); and
(2) by adding the following new section at the end:
``SEC. 4. REMOVAL OF USE RESTRICTION.
``(a) The approximately 1-acre portion of the land referred
to in section 3 that is used for purposes of a child care
center, as authorized by this Act, shall not be subject to
the use restriction imposed in the deed referred to in
section 3.
``(b) Upon enactment of this section, the Secretary of the
Interior shall execute an instrument to carry out subsection
(a).''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. LaHood) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 954, offered by our colleague, the chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, would
remove certain deed restrictions on an approximately 1-acre portion of
a property previously transferred in Rockingham County, Virginia, under
the terms of the National Park Service's Federal Lands to Parks
Program. The transferred land included a garage that had previously
been used by the National Park Service.
Following the transfer, Rockingham County decided that the nonprofit
Plains Area Daycare Center, which provides affordable childcare for
nearly 100 children, would benefit from use of the garage.
In 1990, Congress passed a law allowing for a portion of the
previously transferred land to be used for the childcare center.
Although a portion of the transferred property is authorized for use as
a daycare center, the center encounters hurdles in securing financing
for improvements and repairs due to the terms of the original deed and
the subsequent legislation.
H.R. 954 would remove certain deed restrictions from an approximately
1-acre portion of the property, while the other 2 acres would continue
to be subject to the existing deed restrictions and revisionary clause.
Removal of these deed restrictions will ensure that improvements and
repairs can take place without further delay in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 954 removes the use restrictions on a 1-acre parcel
of Federal land provided to Rockingham County, Virginia.
In 1989, Congress authorized Rockingham County to use a 3-acre parcel
of Federal land for the purpose of establishing a childcare center
under the condition that the land continues to be used for this
purpose. If the county no longer needs the land for a childcare center,
the land reverts back to ownership by the United States or the county
has the option to purchase it at a fair market value.
The Federal Government has a long tradition of providing public land
to State, county, and local governments. Fair use of Federal land and a
fair return to the American taxpayer has yet to be at the forefront of
these transactions.
Removing public-purpose requirements and use restrictions should only
be done when it is deemed appropriate and necessary, and in this
particular case, the sponsor of this bill has worked with the National
Park Service to develop legislation that is both fair and transparent.
The land provided to Rockingham County includes a garage previously
used by the National Park Service that the county has determined could
benefit Plains Area Daycare Center. The Park Service no longer needs
the garage, and removing the use restriction on one of the 3 acres will
allow this childcare provider to access financial assistance in order
to upgrade and rehabilitate the garage so that it is suitable to their
needs.
This is a worthy goal, and I commend the gentleman from Virginia for
this legislation, and that is why we support the adoption of H.R. 954.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the chairman of the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for
yielding to me and for his work on this bill, as well as Chairman
Bishop's work on this legislation and those on the other side of the
aisle.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 954. This bill
simply removes 20-year-old deed use restrictions on 1 acre of land in
Rockingham County, Virginia.
For over 25 years, a little over 3 acres of land and its associated
buildings previously held by the Federal Government have been
maintained by Rockingham County in the Plains Area Daycare Center in
the Sixth District of Virginia.
In 1989, the Federal Government deeded these 3 acres of land, with
restriction, to Rockingham County. However, even prior to this official
declaration, Rockingham County had already been faithfully maintaining
the property no longer utilized by the Federal Government.
The government transferred this land to Rockingham County in 1989
under the condition that this property was to be used for public
purposes. The county then decided that the nonprofit Plains Area
Daycare Center in Broadway, Virginia, which provides childcare on a
sliding scale to many families who otherwise could not afford such a
service, would benefit from the use of the old garage located on the
property.
Therefore, in 1990, Congress enacted Public Law 101-479, which
allowed the deed to be changed from public use to the particular use of
the childcare center. Donations by the community, totaling $75,000,
turned the building into a nursery, daycare, and afterschool care
facility.
Additionally, the establishment of the daycare center provided for
the creation of a playground that the center supports and opens for
public use. To
[[Page H5404]]
be clear, the center and the playground are the sole reason
this previously abandoned government land is being used by the
community.
I have visited the Plains Area Daycare Center on many occasions, and
I have seen the immeasurable investment this center is making in the
community by providing high-quality childcare. Since opening in 1991,
the center has always been at capacity and is the only facility of its
kind in the community.
However, after 2 decades of consistent use, the facility is in
desperate need of repairs. Unfortunately, because of the narrow way
Public Law 101-479 was drafted and because of the terms of the deed,
the daycare center has been unable to obtain a loan to complete much-
needed renovations. To solve this problem, my legislation would remove
the deed's use restrictions from the 1 acre of property on which the
building resides.
While I would like to have seen the entire 3 acres released, this
legislation is the result of a compromise that has been endorsed by the
National Park Service and Rockingham County. By passing this
legislation and allowing Rockingham County and, in turn, the Plains
Area Daycare Center more authority over the land, we will ensure that
more children and more of the community will be served.
Mr. Speaker, while my legislation today is simply a formality, it is
of great importance to those being served by this daycare center in the
community. For 25 years, the land has been deeded to Rockingham County,
but with overbearing restrictions. Since it is clear the Federal
Government no longer has a vested interest in the land, it is time to
lift those restrictions to allow the Plains Area Daycare Center to
reach it full potential.
Twenty years ago, Congress made its intention clear that a daycare
facility was to have use of the property, and I am pleased to lead the
charge in fixing the law.
Again, I thank Chairman Bishop and his committee for bringing this
bill before the House. I also thank my legislative assistant, Angela
Inglett, for her hard work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 954 to simply remove the deed
restrictions on 1 acre of land so that the necessary upgrades may be
made to the childcare center and so that this community investment may
continue.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back
the balance of our time.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 954.
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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