[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S49]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. 
        Cramer):
  S. 3564. A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to include 
Indian Tribes among entities that may receive Federal surplus real 
property for certain purposes, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. PADILLA, Madam President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan GSA 
Disposal Process Tribal Parity Act to correct a longstanding and unjust 
oversight that prevents Tribal governments from having the same 
opportunities as State and local governments to acquire excess Federal 
property for public and recreational purposes.
  Current law allows the General Services Administration to make excess 
Federal real estate properties that are no longer needed by the Federal 
government available to State and local governments for public use. The 
GSA can transfer these surplus properties to public agencies and 
institutions at discounts up to 100 percent of fair market value for 
listed public uses like public health or educational uses, public parks 
and recreational areas, community centers, municipal buildings, 
homeless assistance, law enforcement and emergency response, and more.
  However, the law does not currently allow the GSA to make available 
these surplus properties to Tribal governments like GSA can for State 
and local governments. Our bill would allow Tribal governments to 
participate in the Federal property disposal process in the same way 
that State and local governments do. Doing so would help ensure Tribal 
Nations enjoy the same opportunities for land acquisition as State and 
local governments.
  The exclusion of Indian tribes from qualifying for acquisition of 
these properties is not based on any clear policy rationale. The 
omission in statute leaves Tribes without the same opportunities as 
other governments to acquire surplus property for these beneficial 
purposes. The disadvantage is clear, as the sale or lease of these 
properties is often at a 100 percent discount compared to fair market 
value. This issue is part of the greater need to correct longstanding 
barriers that undermine the sovereignty of Tribal governments and our 
efforts to right historic wrongs.
  As our Nation works to strengthen Tribal sovereignty and self-
determination, it is important that we ensure our laws treat Tribal 
governments on an equal basis with State and local governments and 
ensure they have the opportunity for positive and productive land use 
activity.
  I thank Senators Lankford, Kelly, and Cramer for introducing this 
legislation with me in the Senate. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to enact this commonsense bill as quickly as possible.

                          ____________________