[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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