[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AMENDING FEDERAL ASSETS SALE AND TRANSFER ACT OF 2016 WITH RESPECT TO 
                 LEASEBACK OF CERTAIN FEDERAL PROPERTY

  Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 7319) to amend the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 
to provide flexibility with respect to the leaseback of certain Federal 
real property, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7319

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. LEASEBACK RESTRICTION.

       Section 12(b)(4) of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer 
     Act of 2016 (40 U.S.C. 1303 note; Public Law 114-287) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``for a period of greater than 3 years'' 
     before the period at the end;
       (2) by striking ``None of the'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--None of the''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Requirements.--A leaseback under this paragraph--
       ``(i) shall expire on or before the last day of the 3-year 
     period beginning on the date of the sale of the respective 
     property;
       ``(ii) may not contain any options to extend or renew the 
     leaseback;
       ``(iii) may only be entered into once for purposes of 
     temporarily housing the Federal agency in the property at the 
     time of the sale; and
       ``(iv) shall only be for the purpose of facilitating the 
     sale of the respective property.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MAST. 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 H.R. 7319.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7319 amends the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer 
Act of 2016 to provide leaseback flexibility in certain circumstances 
to facilitate the sale of property and maximize the return to the 
taxpayer.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 7319. This bill addresses 
an issue which has come up since the enactment of FASTA in the last 
Congress. The change allows the Federal Government to temporarily lease 
back a piece of Federal property in order to facilitate the sale of 
that property. Ultimately, the goal of this provision is to allow the 
government to more readily dispose of underutilized property.
  I look forward to working with the Public Buildings Reform Board, as 
I mentioned, once all of its members are appointed, and I urge Members 
of this body to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MAST. 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 Florida (Mr. Mast) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 7319.
  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. MASSIE. 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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