[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9487-H9488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO GRANT STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY OVER FEDERAL LAND WITHIN GATEWAY NATIONAL
RECREATION AREA
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 6666) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant to
States and local governments easements and rights-of-way over Federal
land within Gateway National Recreation Area for construction,
operation, and maintenance of projects for control and prevention of
flooding and shoreline erosion.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6666
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO GRANT EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY
OVER FEDERAL LANDS WITHIN GATEWAY NATIONAL
RECREATION AREA.
Section 3 of Public Law 92-592 (16 U.S.C. 460cc-2) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Authority To Grant Easements and Rights-of-Way.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior may grant,
to any State or local government, an easement or right-of-way
over Federal lands within Gateway National Recreation Area
for construction, operation, and maintenance of projects for
control and prevention of flooding and shoreline erosion.
``(2) Charges and reimbursement of costs.--The Secretary
may grant such an easement or right-of-way without charge for
the value of the right so conveyed, except for reimbursement
of costs incurred by the United States for processing the
application therefore and managing such right. Amounts
received as such reimbursement shall be credited to the
relevant appropriation account.''.
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 in which 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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6666, introduced by Congressman Daniel Donovan, is
an essential piece of legislation that will protect human life and
property in coastal New York from devastating hurricanes and storm
surges.
Hurricane Sandy was one of the deadliest and most destructive
hurricanes in our country's history, tragically killing 162 people and
causing $70 billion in damage. Staten Island, New York, was especially
hard hit. H.R. 6666 seeks to ensure this type of devastation does not
happen again.
This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue an
easement across the Gateway National Recreation Area for the
construction of a seawall to protect coastal residents and
infrastructure. The plan for this seawall was developed by the Army
Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the State of New York as part of
a coastal storm risk management plan.
The National Park Service, which operates the recreation area,
supports this necessary project.
I thank Congressman Donovan for his good work on the bill, and I urge
its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we support this bill to authorize the National Park
Service to permit flood control and erosion projects in the Gateway
National Recreation Area.
Specifically, the gentleman's bill will enable New York City to move
forward with the Staten Island seawall, a project designed to protect
communities from future flooding events.
A few weeks ago was the 6-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, a
somber reminder of the importance of planning for powerful storm
surges, sea-level rise, and other impacts of climate change. For good
reason, the seawall project is a major priority for the residents of
Staten Island and New York.
Residents of Hawaii understand the urgency of preparing for the
impacts of climate change, so I understand the persistence of
Representative Donovan and others in New York to advance this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Donovan).
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Hawaii and
Arizona for their support.
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 6666, a bill to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant an easement to the
city of New York for operation and maintenance of the Staten Island
seawall project, following its completion.
I have lived on Staten Island my entire life and was there with my
fellow residents as Superstorm Sandy devastated our community. New York
suffered an astronomical $19 billion in damages, and nearly 1.2 million
of my neighbors were without power. We lost 43 New Yorkers during that
storm, 24 of them from Staten Island and several more from a portion of
the district that I represent in Brooklyn. This project will help my
constituents to recover.
This will be transformative for tens of thousands of Staten
Islanders, as it will give them the comprehensive flood protection and
flood insurance relief that they need. When the project is 50 percent
complete, many people will begin to receive discounts in their flood
insurance premiums. When the project is completed, most of the families
living on the other side of this project will have no requirement to
have flood insurance coverage at all. It will be a truly life-changing
project for them.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House approve this legislation under a
suspension of the rules so that the seawall project can bring these
benefits to my neighbors on Staten Island.
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.
[[Page H9488]]
Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6666.
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, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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