[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6875-S6876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2017

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 376, H.R. 2615.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2615) to authorize the exchange of certain 
     land located in Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jackson 
     County, Mississippi, between the National Park Service and 
     the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill 
which had been reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause 
and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf Islands National 
     Seashore Land Exchange Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
     parcel of approximately 1.542 acres of land that is located 
     within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Jackson County, 
     Mississippi, and identified as ``NPS Exchange Area'' on the 
     Map.
       (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Gulf 
     Islands National Seashore, Proposed Land Exchange with VFW, 
     Davis Bayou Area--Jackson County, MS'', numbered 635/133309, 
     and dated June 2016.
       (3) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
     the parcel of approximately 2.161 acres of land that is 
     located in Jackson County, Mississippi, and identified as 
     ``VFW Exchange Area'' on the Map.
       (4) Post.--The term ``Post'' means the Veterans of Foreign 
     Wars Post 5699.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 3. GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE LAND EXCHANGE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may convey to the Post all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     Federal land in exchange for the conveyance by the Post to 
     the Secretary of all right, title, and interest of the Post 
     in and to the non-Federal land.
       (b) Equal Value Exchange.--
       (1) In general.--The values of the Federal land and non-
     Federal land to be exchanged under this section shall be 
     equal, as determined by an appraisal conducted--
       (A) by a qualified and independent appraiser; and
       (B) in accordance with nationally recognized appraisal 
     standards.
       (2) Equalization.--If the values of the Federal land and 
     non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section are not 
     equal, the values shall be equalized through--
       (A) a cash payment; or
       (B) adjustments to the acreage of the Federal land or non-
     Federal land to be exchanged, as applicable.
       (c) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
       (1) Payment required.--As a condition of the exchange 
     authorized under this section, the Secretary shall require 
     the Post to pay the costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or 
     to reimburse the Secretary for the costs incurred by the 
     Secretary, to carry out the exchange, including--
       (A) survey costs;
       (B) any costs relating to environmental documentation; and
       (C) any other administrative costs relating to the land 
     exchange.
       (2) Refund.--If the Secretary collects amounts from the 
     Post under paragraph (1) before the Secretary incurs the 
     actual costs and the amount collected by the Secretary 
     exceeds the costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry 
     out the land exchange under this section, the Secretary shall 
     provide to the Post a refund of the excess amount paid by the 
     Post.
       (3) Treatment of certain amounts received.--Amounts 
     received by the Secretary from the Post as reimbursement for 
     costs incurred under paragraph (1) shall be--
       (A) credited to the fund or account from which amounts were 
     used to pay the costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying 
     out the land exchange;

[[Page S6876]]

       (B) merged with amounts in the fund or account to which the 
     amounts were credited under subparagraph (A); and
       (C) available for the same purposes as, and subject to the 
     same conditions and limitations applicable to, amounts in the 
     fund or account to which the amounts were credited under 
     subparagraph (A).
       (d) Description of Federal Land and Non-Federal Land.--The 
     exact acreage and legal description of the Federal land and 
     non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section shall be 
     determined by surveys that are determined to be satisfactory 
     by the Secretary and the Post.
       (e) Conveyance Agreement.--The exchange of Federal land and 
     non-Federal land under this section shall be--
       (1) carried out through a quitclaim deed or other legal 
     instrument; and
       (2) subject to such terms and conditions as are mutually 
     satisfactory to the Secretary and the Post, including such 
     additional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to 
     be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
       (f) Valid Existing Rights.--The exchange of Federal land 
     and non-Federal land authorized under this section shall be 
     subject to valid existing rights.
       (g) Title Approval.--Title to the Federal land and non-
     Federal land to be exchanged under this section shall be in a 
     form acceptable to the Secretary.
       (h) Treatment of Acquired Land.--Any non-Federal land and 
     interests in non-Federal land acquired by the United States 
     under this section shall be administered by the Secretary as 
     part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
       (i) Modification of Boundary.--On completion of the 
     exchange of Federal land and non-Federal land under this 
     section, the Secretary shall modify the boundary of the Gulf 
     Islands National Seashore to reflect the exchange of Federal 
     land and non-Federal land.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question 
is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (H.R. 2615), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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