[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H5404-H5405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTERAGENCY TRANSFER OF LAND ALONG GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1397) to authorize, direct, facilitate, and expedite the
transfer of administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal land, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1397
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. INTERAGENCY TRANSFER OF LAND ALONG GEORGE
WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``George
Washington Memorial Parkway--Claude Moore Farm Proposed
Boundary Adjustment'', numbered 850_130815, and dated
February 2016.
(2) Research center.--The term ``Research Center'' means
the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center of the Federal
Highway Administration.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) Administrative Jurisdiction Transfer.--
(1) Transfer of jurisdiction.--
(A) George washington memorial parkway land.--
Administrative jurisdiction over the approximately 0.342
acres of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary
within the boundary of the George Washington Memorial
Parkway, as generally depicted as ``B'' on the Map, is
transferred from the Secretary to the Secretary of
Transportation.
(B) Research center land.--Administration jurisdiction over
the approximately 0.479 acres of Federal land within the
boundary of the Research Center land under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary of Transportation adjacent to the boundary
of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, as generally
depicted as ``A'' on the Map, is transferred from the
Secretary of Transportation to the Secretary.
(2) Use restriction.--The Secretary shall restrict the use
of 0.139 acres of Federal land within the boundary of the
George Washington Memorial Parkway immediately adjacent to
part of the perimeter fence of the Research Center, generally
depicted as ``C'' on the Map, by prohibiting the storage,
construction, or installation of any item that may interfere
with the access of the Research Center to the restricted land
for security and maintenance purposes.
(3) Reimbursement or consideration.--The transfers of
administrative jurisdiction under this subsection shall not
be subject to reimbursement or consideration.
(4) Compliance with agreement.--
(A) Agreement.--The National Park Service and the Federal
Highway Administration shall comply with all terms and
conditions of the agreement entered into by the parties on
September 11, 2002, regarding the transfer of administrative
jurisdiction, management, and maintenance of the land
described in the agreement.
(B) Access to restricted land.--Subject to the terms of the
agreement described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
allow the Research Center--
(i) to access the Federal land described in paragraph
(1)(B) for purposes of transportation to and from the
Research Center; and
(ii) to access the Federal land described in paragraphs
(1)(B) and (2) for purposes of maintenance in accordance with
National Park Service standards, including grass mowing, weed
control, tree maintenance, fence maintenance, and maintenance
of the visual appearance of the Federal land.
(c) Management of Transferred Land.--
(1) Interior land.--The Federal land transferred to the
Secretary under subsection (b)(1)(B) shall be--
(A) included in the boundary of the George Washington
Memorial Parkway; and
(B) administered by the Secretary as part of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway, subject to applicable laws
(including regulations).
(2) Transportation land.--The Federal land transferred to
the Secretary of Transportation under subsection (b)(1)(A)
shall be--
(A) included in the boundary of the Research Center land;
and
(B) removed from the boundary of the George Washington
Memorial Parkway.
(3) Restricted-use land.--The Federal land that the
Secretary has designated for restricted use under subsection
(b)(2) shall be maintained by the Research Center.
(d) Map on File.--The Map shall be available for public
inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service.
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.
{time} 1645
General Leave
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
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. 1397, offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia
(Mrs. Comstock), would authorize a small land exchange between the
Department of the Interior and the Department of Transportation.
Specifically, the bill transfers administrative jurisdiction over
approximately a third of an acre of Federal land within the boundary of
the George Washington Memorial Parkway of the National Park Service to
the Department of Transportation, and transfers from the Department of
Transportation approximately a half an acre of Federal land within the
boundary of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center of the Federal
Highway Administration.
The transfer centers on Colonial Farm Road, which provides public
access to Claude Moore Colonial Farm and also serves as an entrance
road to the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center and as a secondary
entrance to the Central Intelligence Agency. The configuration of the
property lines between the farm and the research center requires farm
staff to
[[Page H5405]]
travel across research center property to access their facilities.
The three Federal agencies have discussed concerns over crossing
property lines, the need to have uninterrupted access to the
properties, and the need to improve security near perimeter fencing of
the research center. The agencies have identified properties suitable
for exchange on their boundaries which will provide public access to
the farm while providing the means to improve security outside the
fencing of the research center and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Though the immediate security concerns have previously been addressed
through a temporary agreement, legislation is needed to codify the land
exchange.
I include in the Record an exchange of letters to Chairman Bill
Shuster of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the
responses. We thank them for agreeing to help expedite consideration of
this bill today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
Hon. Bill Shuster,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: On June 27, 2017, the Committee on
Natural Resources ordered favorably reported without
amendment H.R. 1397, to authorize, direct, facilitate, and
expedite the transfer of administrative jurisdiction of
certain Federal land. The bill was referred primarily to the
Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
I ask that you allow the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure to be discharged from further consideration of
the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader.
This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the
subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as
precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a
conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your
request to have the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure represented on the conference committee.
Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any
response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural
Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the
Congressional Record.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the
extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over
matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further
opportunities to work with you this Congress.
Sincerely,
Rob Bishop,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Bishop: Thank you for your letter concerning
H.R. 1397, to authorize, direct, facilitate, and expedite the
transfer of administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal
land. As noted, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure received an additional referral on this
legislation.
In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 1397, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure agrees to
forgo action on this bill. However, as you noted, this is
conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing
consideration of the bill would not prejudice the Committee
with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future
jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in
the bill or similar legislation that fall within the
Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. Should a conference on the
bill be necessary, I appreciate your agreement to support my
request to have the Committee represented on the conference
committee.
Thank you for your cooperation on this matter and for
agreeing to place a copy of this letter and your response
acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the bill
report and the Congressional Record during consideration of
the measure on the House floor.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1397 authorizes the National Park Service and the
Federal Highway Administration to comply with a longstanding agreement
regarding two parcels of land near Claude Moore Colonial Farm in
McLean, Virginia.
Specifically, the bill transfers a small parcel within the boundary
of the George Washington Memorial Parkway from the Department of the
Interior to the Department of Transportation. The bill also transfers a
half acre within the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center from the
Department of Transportation to the Department of the Interior.
Simply put, this bill permits a one-time land transfer that was
agreed to 15 years ago. Ultimately, this will improve management
efficiency and save taxpayer money.
The bill is noncontroversial and has been a longstanding legislative
priority of the National Park Service. I commend the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) for her bipartisanship, and I urge my
colleagues to support its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock).
Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1397,
which would authorize this Federal land exchange between the National
Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration.
As has been discussed, at issue is the jurisdiction of an access road
adjacent to the Claude Moore Colonial Farm, a privately funded living
history museum which is part of the National Park Service and in my
district in McLean, Virginia.
Claude Moore Farm is a wonderful way to experience what life was like
on a small family farm for the average family in the late 1700s, not
the plantations that we often see preserved, but a very small, average
family farm.
Claude Moore Farm is tucked in right next to the CIA, as has been
mentioned, and the jurisdiction of this particular access road off of
George Washington Memorial Parkway has not been clear and has resulted
in confusion and unnecessary security concerns.
Over the years, general use of this access road has set off security
alarms at Langley. And this confusion has not only been difficult for
security personnel; it has also cost taxpayer resources.
On September 11, 2002, the National Park Service and the Federal
Highway Administration entered into an agreement under which the
transfer of administrative jurisdiction, management, and maintenance of
the lands in question were agreed upon. Since then, the two parties
have been abiding by these rules.
What this agreement does now is make this permanent in a legislative
fix. It is a commonsense, bipartisan bill. We worked on this with
Senator Warner also. Last year he was able to get it attached to the
energy package, but that did not pass, so we now need this to move
forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward,
noncontroversial bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, 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. 1397.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________