[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.

                          ____________________