[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 211 (Monday, December 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5873-H5875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH PARK ACT
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2876) to confirm the use of certain non-Federal land in Salt
Lake City, Utah, for public purposes, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2876
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``University of Utah Research
Park Act''.
SEC. 2. CONFIRMATION OF USE OF CERTAIN NON-FEDERAL LAND IN
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, FOR VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSES.
(a) Confirmation of Uses.--
(1) In general.--The use by the University of Utah of the
land described in subsection (b) as a University research
park, as approved by the letter from the Secretary of the
Interior to the University of Utah dated December 10, 1970,
and any modifications of the approved plan of development and
management approved by the Department of the Interior prior
to the date of enactment of this Act, is confirmed as a valid
public purpose consistent with the requirements of the
[[Page H5874]]
Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the ``Recreation and
Public Purposes Act'') (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C.
869 et seq.), subject to the terms and conditions included in
the letter and approvals.
(2) Other uses.--Any other uses of the land described in
subsection (b) by the University of Utah that are consistent
with use as a University research park and related university
purposes (including development of student housing and a
transit hub) are confirmed as valid public purposes
consistent with the requirements of the Act of June 14, 1926
(commonly known as the ``Recreation and Public Purposes
Act'') (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
(b) Description of Non-Federal Land.--The land referred to
in subsection (a) is the approximately 593.54 acres of land
conveyed to the University of Utah under the Act of June 14,
1926 (commonly known as the ``Recreation and Public Purposes
Act'') (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), by
patent numbered 43-99-0012 and dated October 18, 1968, and
more particularly described as tracts D (excluding parcels
numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), G, and J, T. 1 S., R. 1 E., Salt
Lake Meridian.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr.
Hernandez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
General Leave
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 2876, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Minnesota?
There was no objection.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2876, the
University of Utah Research Park Act, led by Representative Blake Moore
of Utah.
H.R. 2876 resolves legal uncertainty surrounding the University of
Utah's ownership of 593 acres of land in the heart of Salt Lake City.
This uncertainty comprises the university's flagship research park, a
key educational and economic development center.
Since its conveyance under the Research and Public Purposes Act in
1968, this parcel has grown into a nationally recognized hub for
innovation, home to 81 university departments and more than 50
pharmaceutical, medical research, and biotechnology companies. Today,
Research Park employs over 14,000 Utahns and provides invaluable
educational opportunities for students preparing to lead in the fields
of science and medicine.
Despite this long record of success, a recent BLM review raised
questions about whether the park's use of the land aligns with the
terms of the original patent.
H.R. 2876 clears up this ambiguity by affirming the park's current
use is valid and consistent with the public purpose envisioned at the
time of the conveyance.
This is a simple, bipartisan bill that cuts red tape and ensures the
University of Utah can continue building on nearly six decades of
scientific discovery, economic growth, and global impact. I commend
Representative Moore for leading this effort in the House and the
chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator
Lee, for championing this bill in the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2876,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the University of
Utah's Research Park Act.
The University of Utah's Research Park is comprised of 593 acres that
were originally issued as a land patent in 1968 through the Bureau of
Land Management. The area was later conveyed under the Recreation and
Public Purposes Act for academic expansion of the university. Today,
Research Park supports a multitude of uses, including technology,
education, and medical facilities.
Although the parcel was conveyed to the university, a reversionary
clause remains in place to ensure continued public use. While
reversionary clauses are standard practice, in this case it has created
challenges for the university in pursuing new opportunities that fall
outside the traditional sense of public purposes under the Recreation
and Public Purposes Act, even though the site was previously approved
for university expansion.
H.R. 2876 would clarify and affirm that Research Park is consistent
with the original application, so that the university can continue to
grow Research Park.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Moore), who is the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, to my colleague and friend from
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), it is worth actually noting that the area
focus of this bill, the location, is a stone's throw from the very
cauldron that the Miracle on Ice team lit during the 2002 Winter
Olympics. I congratulate the gentleman for getting that bill signed
into law, the Congressional Gold Medal Act for those amazing patriots.
I actually watched that movie with my kids over the weekend and saw
the patriotism start to brew, really an amazing feat. I thank my friend
for that.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the University of
Utah Research Park Act, which passed unanimously out of the Natural
Resources Committee in September.
This legislation addresses legal uncertainties surrounding the
University of Utah's use of land initially conveyed to the school by
the Bureau of Land Management back in 1968. At that time, the
university requested land on the Fort Douglas Military Reservation for
academic and research use, a request approved and granted by the BLM.
Since then, the university has built a nationally recognized research
park housing over 50 companies and employing nearly 14,000 Utahns.
Research Park has been instrumental in establishing Utah as a leader
in innovation. Last year, I was proud to welcome my colleagues to the
Ways and Means Committee to Research Park for a field hearing to show
them first-hand how Utah continues to lead the way in biotech
innovation.
{time} 1600
Unfortunately, after decades of cooperative engagement between the
University of Utah and the Federal Government, there have been
questions as to whether the longstanding activities at Research Park
are consistent with the original land patent under the Recreation and
Public Purposes Act. The University of Utah Research Park Act addresses
these concerns and makes it clear that the school is operating within
the parameters of the law.
With the assurance that the university can continue to operate the
park, they will have increased ability to invest institutional
resources and improve the park without the worry of additional red tape
and regulatory restrictions or, worse, the area reverting back to
Federal control.
My bill will provide the university with needed stability and confirm
the original intent and approval of the land transfer, allowing the
university to plan strategically to meet the needs of its students, the
community, and industry.
I thank Chairman Westerman and my colleagues of the Utah House and
Senate delegation for joining me in this effort to ensure that the
University of Utah's Research Park can continue to serve as a premier
research incubator.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2876. Go Utes.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2876 resolves an unnecessary cloud over this
property by confirming the valid use of the University of Utah's prized
Research Park, which has served the public for decades.
This commonsense bill will allow the park to keep driving innovation,
supporting thousands of good jobs, and giving students hands-on
opportunities to learn and grow.
I thank once again Representative Moore, Senator Lee, and the entire
Utah congressional delegation for their work on this important effort.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
[[Page H5875]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2876.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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