[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 211 (Monday, December 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5883-H5884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONVEYANCE OF SPECIFIED FOREST SERVICE PROPERTY TO PERRY COUNTY,
ARKANSAS
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3187) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a
parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3187
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF SPECIFIED FOREST SERVICE PROPERTY TO
PERRY COUNTY, ARKANSAS.
(a) Required Conveyance.--Subject to this section, if the
County submits to the Secretary a written request for
conveyance of the property described in subsection (b) not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall convey to the County all right, title,
and interest of the United States in and to the property
described in subsection (b).
(b) Description of Property.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (a)
is the parcel of real property, including all land and
improvements, generally referred to as parcel 850-10555-001
in the urban property records of the County, consisting of
approximately 0.81 acres of Forest Service land located at
1069 Fourche Avenue, Perryville, Arkansas 72126.
(2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of
land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined
by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
(c) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection
(a) shall be--
(1) subject to valid existing rights;
(2) subject to reversion under subsection (g);
(3) made without consideration;
(4) made by quitclaim deed; and
(5) subject to such other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers to be appropriate to protect the
interests of the United States.
(d) Costs of Conveyance.--As a condition of the conveyance
under subsection (a), the County shall pay all costs
associated with the conveyance, including the cost of--
(1) a survey, if necessary, under subsection (b)(2);
(2) any environmental analysis or resources survey required
under Federal law; and
(3) any analysis required to comply with division A of
subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly
referred to as the ``National Historic Preservation Act'').
(e) Environmental Conditions.--Notwithstanding section
120(h)(3)(A) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C.
9620(h)(3)(A)), the Secretary shall not be required to
provide any covenant or warranty for the property and
improvements conveyed to the County under subsection (a).
(f) Public Purposes Use.--The property conveyed under
subsection (a) shall be used only for public purposes, such
as supporting education and youth development.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection
(a) ceases to be used in a manner consistent with subsection
(f), the property shall, at the discretion of the Secretary,
revert to the United States.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Perry County,
Arkansas.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service.
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
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 3187, 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. 3187, led by my
friend and colleague from Arkansas, Representative Hill.
This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a
vacant Forest Service building and less than 1 acre of surrounding land
in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County.
This property has sat vacant for years, and the Forest Service has no
plans for its use. In the meantime, the building has been damaged by
weather and continues to decline structurally. Every year, it stays
vacant, resulting in higher repair costs and increased liability for
the Federal Government and taxpayers. Instead of watching this asset
deteriorate, we have the chance to put it to productive use for the
local community.
For more than a decade, Perry County sought to acquire this site to
meet pressing needs in education, conservation, and youth development.
The county intends to renovate and repurpose the building to provide a
permanent home for the University of Arkansas Extension Program, the
Perry County Conservation District, and 4-H youth programs. Having a
dedicated facility will allow these organizations to expand their
services and better support the people of Perry County.
This bill is also fiscally responsible. It will eliminate the Federal
cost of maintaining an idle, deteriorating building. By transferring
the site, we stop wasting resources and empower local leaders to
transform a declining Federal property into a hub for education,
conservation, and youth programs.
H.R. 3187 is a commonsense solution. It cuts costs, eliminates waste,
and supports youth engagement in conservation. I commend Representative
Hill for his championing this thoughtful legislation which will support
community development in a rural county with limited resources.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3187,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3187, a bill to convey a small
but meaningful parcel of Forest Service property to Perry County,
Arkansas.
This legislation will direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a
little less than 1 acre of land located in Perryville, Arkansas,
including any structures on the property, to Perry County, should the
county request a transfer within 180 days of enactment.
[[Page H5884]]
While modest in size, this land holds important local value. It
currently houses a building previously used by the U.S. Forest Service
which Perry County hopes to repurpose for local administrative use,
public services, or other community-focused purposes.
The conveyance would be subject to existing rights and environmental
safeguards and would be made without cost to the county, other than
administrative and survey-related expenses, which Perry County would
cover.
This is a commonsense, community-driven bill that reflects how
Federal land policy can and should be responsive to local needs. It
will ensure that unused Federal property can be repurposed for the
public good while preserving transparency, accountability, and proper
oversight.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Hill), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Stauber for the time.
I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3187. First, I thank my good
friend and fellow Arkansan Chairman Westerman for advancing my bill
from the committee to the House floor.
{time} 1700
I thank all the members of the Natural Resources Committee for their
bipartisan and unanimous support.
As noted, my bill seeks to transfer ownership of a vacant Federal
building owned by the U.S. Forest Service at 1069 Fourche Avenue in
Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County.
This property is no longer in use by the Forest Service, and there
are no plans for its utilization by them. That has been the case, Mr.
Speaker, for well over a decade.
Perry County is a very small, rural community with a population of
around 10,000. About 16 percent of the residents there live below the
poverty line. About 77 percent of the county is forested, and 72
percent of that land is privately owned.
The U.S. Forest Service is the largest public landowner in the
county, managing 119,000 acres as a part of the Ouachita National
Forest.
For several years, Perry County has mightily sought to acquire this
property. However, due to limited resources and that high poverty rate,
this small county has been unable to easily navigate the complex
Federal rules and to find a way to purchase the property outright.
My legislation would enable the Federal Government to convey the
property at no cost to the county with all the benefits that Mr.
Stauber outlined.
The building will require many significant repairs, but the county
does have that repair budget appropriated. Once restored, the facility
will support many local programs. Specifically, the University of
Arkansas extension program, the Perry County Conservation District,
and, importantly, it will serve as a meeting place for our 4-H youth
development program. These organizations are currently struggling with
limited options for meeting space in Perryville. This cures that
problem.
My bill provides Perry County with a much-needed facility to expand
youth development, agricultural education, and community health
initiatives.
I thank Perry County Judge Larry Blackmon, Perryville Mayor John
Roland, the Perry County Extension Office, the Perry County Chamber of
Commerce, and the Perry County Farm Bureau, all for working with us
collectively both on the Natural Resources Committee staff and my staff
to bring this forward and make it a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join the committee and me in
supporting a unanimous vote for H.R. 3187.
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, in closing, H.R. 3187 is about turning a
Federal liability into a community asset. Right now, taxpayers are
stuck with the cost of a vacant building that continues to deteriorate.
With this bill, we can remove that burden, transfer the property to
Perry County, Arkansas, and allow local leaders to put it to work
serving their community.
This legislation will provide a permanent home for programs that
strengthen conservation, support farmers and landowners, and create new
opportunities for young people through 4-H extension services.
It is a practical, cost-effective solution that delivers real value.
I, once again, thank Representative Hill for his hard work on this
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill today,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
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. 3187, as amended.
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. STAUBER. 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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