[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9484-H9485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2017
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the
Senate amendment to the 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:
Senate amendment:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
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 H9485]]
(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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. 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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2615, introduced by Congressman Steven Palazzo of
Mississippi, authorizes the National Park Service to convey to the
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5699 1.54 acres located within the Gulf
Islands National Seashore in Jackson County, Mississippi, in exchange
for a 2.16-acre parcel of land owned by the VFW Post.
This bill benefits both the VFW Post and the Park Service. It
provides the VFW Post with permanent access to their building via a
long driveway currently owned by the Park Service, while also adding
land to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2615 is a simple bill that authorizes a land
exchange between the National Park Service and the Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 5699 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The bill passed the House
in the 114th Congress, and we passed it again nearly a year ago.
The veterans at Post 5699 in Mr. Palazzo's district have been waiting
a long time for this exchange, so I am pleased that we have an
opportunity to agree to the changes proposed by the Senate and advance
this measure to the President's desk. This exchange is supported by the
VFW Post and the National Park Service. It is a simple and logical
solution to a local issue.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo).
Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2615, the
Gulf Islands National Seashore Land Exchange Act. The Gulf Islands
National Seashore is a national park that draws millions of visitors to
the islands in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Islands National
Seashore includes the Mississippi barrier islands of Petit Bois, Horn,
East and West Ship, and Cat, as well as the Davis Bayou Area. I am
proud to have this important park, its natural beaches, historic sites,
and wildlife sanctuaries within my district.
The Gulf Islands National Seashore has been a part of the Mississippi
Gulf Coast community since Congress established the park in 1971. Since
that establishment, the Gulf Islands National Seashore has worked
closely with the Mark Seymour Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post 5699.
In fact, the post has shared a road with the seashore for the better
part of the last 30 years.
The Gulf Islands National Seashore Land Exchange Act would make
permanent a 30-year easement that has provided an access road and
driveway for the VFW. In exchange, the VFW will give the Gulf Islands
National Seashore some of its acreage, which includes valuable
wetlands. The Gulf Islands National Seashore and the Mark Seymour VFW
both strongly support this land exchange, but the Department of the
Interior needs congressional approval before it can make the land
exchange official.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, I encourage the House to pass this bill as
a suspension vote. I would also like to thank the subcommittee chairman
as well as Chairman Bishop and the ranking member of the Committee on
Natural Resources for their support and help in bringing this bill to
the floor.
Mr. GOSAR. 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 Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 2615.
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. GOSAR. 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.
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