[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 27882-27885]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               TERRE HAUTE FEDERAL BUILDING TRANSFER ACT

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2513) to direct the Administrator of General Services to acquire 
a building located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2513

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

     SECTION 1. ACQUISITION OF BUILDING.

       (a) Acquisition.--The Administrator of General Services 
     shall acquire by transfer from the United States Postal 
     Service the real property and improvements located at 30 
     North Seventh Street in Terre Haute, Indiana.
       (b) Reimbursement.--The transfer under subsection (a) shall 
     be made without reimbursement, except that the Administrator 
     shall provide to the Postal Service an option to occupy 8,000 
     square feet of renovated space in the building acquired under 
     subsection (a) at no cost for a 20-year term.

     SEC. 2. RENOVATION OF BUILDING.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of General Services 
     shall renovate the building acquired under section 1, and 
     acquire parking spaces, to accommodate use of the building by 
     the Administrator and the United States Postal Service.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subject to the 
     requirements of section 7(a) of the Public Buildings Act of 
     1959 (40 U.S.C. 606(a)), there is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal 
     years beginning after September 30, 1999. Such sums shall 
     remain available until expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Horn) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2513, a bill introduced by the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Pease), would require a no-cost transfer of a Postal 
Service building located in downtown Terre Haute, Indiana, to the 
General Services Administration. In return for the building, the Postal 
Service would be granted an option to remain in a portion of the 
building, 8,000 square feet, rent-free for 20 years.
  The bill authorizes an appropriation of $5 million to renovate the 
building and to acquire parking spaces to accommodate use of the 
building by the Postal Service and the General Services Administration.
  The subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and 
Technology marked up this bill and reported it to the full Committee on 
Government Reform on September 22, 1999. At the request of the ranking 
member of the full committee the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) 
and the subcommittee's ranking member the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Turner), the subcommittee held a hearing on September 30, 1999 to 
further consider the legislation.
  Witnesses at the hearing included the sponsor of the bill the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pease); Terre Haute's mayor, Jim Jenkins; 
and representatives from both the Postal Service and the General 
Services Administration. Witnesses at the hearing testified about the 
building's historical significance and the need to maintain a post 
office and a Federal presence in the downtown area of this Indiana 
community. A representative of the General Services Administration 
testified the agency needed additional time to explore other 
alternatives to conveying this property, including the possibility of a 
no-cost conveyance to a public entity or a sale to a private buyer. An 
agreement was reached at the hearing to postpone further consideration 
of this bill for an additional 30 days to enable the General Services 
Administration to find a viable alternative to H.R. 2513. The 30 days 
have elapsed and the General Services Administration has been unable to 
achieve a viable option for conveying this property.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill.
  Attached is the ``Statement of Administration Policy,'' dated 
November 2, 1999.
  Also included are the letters between the chairmen of Government 
Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure.
         Executive Office of the President, Office of Management 
           and Budget,
                                 Washington, DC, November 2, 1999.

                   Statement of Administration Policy


h.r. 2513--to direct the administrator of general services to acquire a 
   building located in terre haute, indiana, and for other purposes. 
                             (Pease (R) IN)

       The Administration opposes House passage of H.R. 2513. The 
     bill would:
       Compel the General Services Administration (GSA) to accept 
     into its inventory, and fully renovate, a building that has 
     not been reasonably marketed for use by other entities. 
     Further, GSA does not have the Federal tenancy in the Terre 
     Haute community to sustain this building.
       Lead to certain losses in GSA's budget, since the 
     appropriations authorized are not guaranteed and would only 
     cover renovation costs, while GSA would certainly suffer 
     continuing shortfalls in rental income from the building. 
     These losses are particularly likely in light of the bill's 
     requirement that the United States Postal Service, in lieu of 
     payment for the building, receive an option to occupy 8,000 
     square feet of renovated space rent-free for 20 years.
       The Administration appreciates and shares the desire to 
     preserve historical and architectural landmarks such as that 
     currently housing the Terre Haute Post Office, but believes 
     this preservation can and should be done in a financially 
     prudent fashion. GSA believes the Post Office should remain 
     in the Postal Service's inventory while all interested 
     parties, including GSA, continue to survey the market for 
     potential users.

[[Page 27883]]

     
                                  ____
         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                 Washington, DC, October 26, 1999.
     Hon. Dan Burton,
     Chairman, Committee on Government Reform, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest in the Transportation and 
     Infrastructure Committee in H.R. 2513, a bill to direct the 
     Administrator of General Services to acquire a building in 
     Terre Haute, Indiana.
       Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 2513 and 
     the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. 
     Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over 
     certain provisions of the bill, I do not intend to request a 
     sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our 
     mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my 
     decision to forego a sequential referral waives, reduces or 
     otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Transportation and 
     Infrastructure Committee.
       With warm personal regards, I remain
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bud Shuster,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Government Reform,

                                 Washington, DC, November 1, 1999.
     Hon. Bud Shuster,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of October 26, 
     1999 regarding H.R. 2513 a bill directing the Administration 
     of General Services to acquire a building located in Terre 
     Haute, Indiana.
       I agree that the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure has valid jurisdictional claims to certain 
     provisions in this legislation, and I am most appreciative of 
     your decision not to request such a referral in the interest 
     of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by 
     foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction. Further, as you requested, this exchange of 
     letters will be included in the record during floor 
     consideration of this bill.
       Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
       Sincerely,
                                                       Dan Burton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Government Reform,

                                 Washington, DC, October 29, 1999.
     Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: In the interest of expediting floor 
     consideration of H.R. 2513, a bill to direct the 
     Administrator of the General Services to acquire a building 
     located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and for other purposes, the 
     Committee on Government Reform does not intend to exercise 
     its jurisdiction over this bill.
       Originally, the bill was scheduled to be marked up by the 
     committee on September 30th. Congressman Horn and 
     Congresswoman Waxman, however, agreed to give GSA another 
     thirty days before passing H.R. 2513. After thirty days, both 
     resolved that the bill could be considered on the House 
     floor.
       As you know, House Rule X, Establishment and Jurisdiction 
     of Standing Committees, grants the Government Reform 
     Committee with jurisdiction over ``government management and 
     accounting measures, generally.'' Our decision not to 
     exercise the Committee's jurisdiction over this measure is 
     not intended or designed to waive or limit our jurisdiction 
     over any future consideration of related matters.
       Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to 
     working with you throughout the 106th Congress.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Dan Burton,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill attempts to deal with a problem in Terre 
Haute, Indiana, represented by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pease). 
This problem he faces is not unlike a problem that many of us have or 
will experience in our own districts. Many of us have Federal buildings 
within our districts that oftentimes were built during the Depression 
era, buildings that are no longer up to current standards and are 
having difficulty being leased. These buildings, I think, are many 
times located in prime areas of our communities, in downtown locations, 
in commercial areas and many times these buildings have historical 
significance that warrant preservation.
  H.R. 2513 by the gentleman from Indiana deals with such a building 
located in his hometown of Terre Haute and it is a building that is 
currently owned by and partially occupied by the Postal Service. I have 
committed to helping the gentleman from Indiana with this bill not only 
because of my personal respect and admiration which I hold for him but 
also because I know that any one of us can and do face the same problem 
in our own districts. I am aware of the fact that the gentleman from 
Indiana has worked diligently for over 2 years to try to find a 
solution to this problem.
  This bill would transfer the Postal Service building from the Postal 
Service to the General Services Administration. The General Services 
Administration as consideration for the transfer would be obligated to 
permit the Postal Service to continue to occupy approximately 8,000 
square feet of the building that has about 45,000 square feet of 
rentable space for free for a period of 20 years. The bill would also 
authorize an appropriation of $5 million to the GSA to renovate the 
building and to acquire parking.
  I fully appreciate the value of this building to the community of 
Terre Haute. This structure, which was constructed through a public 
works project during the Depression, is listed on the National Register 
of Historical Places. Aside from its historical significance, the 
building goes a long way toward enhancing the value of downtown Terre 
Haute by providing citizens a host of services that are easily 
accessible to the public. Citizens like to be able to walk across the 
street to visit the post office, visit the Social Security 
Administration. Time, however, has taken its toll on this building. It 
is deeply in need of repair and diminishing standards have made it 
difficult to keep the building operational. As I said, it is estimated 
by the GSA that the building would require between $4 million and $5 
million in renovation. The citizens of Terre Haute under the leadership 
of the gentleman from Indiana have joined together to keep the Postal 
Service building as a viable part of the downtown area.
  In my opinion, the Federal Government has a clear duty to act as a 
responsible property owner and should be a partner in finding a 
solution to the future of this building. The building's historical 
significance and its importance to preserving the economic viability of 
the downtown area must be acknowledged by the Federal Government. 
However, I am deeply concerned about one provision of the bill, that 
provision which allows the Postal Service to occupy 8,000 square feet 
of space for 20 years at no cost. I recognize that the purpose of the 
free rent provision under the bill is to compensate the Postal Service 
for the value of the building. Yet without the whole building 
generating revenue, I anticipate that the expense of providing the 
Postal Service with free rent will greatly reduce the fair market value 
of the building. The free rent provision will amount to an encumbrance 
which will diminish the building's economic value for the next 20 
years.
  As we all know, a lot can change in 20 years. All future prospective 
owners of the building may be discouraged from acquiring the building 
because of the heavy burden of free rent for the Postal Service. And 
the Postal Service has acknowledged that it intends to stay in the 
downtown area. They even acknowledged to us in a conference call that 
were they not in this building, they would move to another building a 
few blocks away where they would be required to pay rent. Why then 
should the Postal Service not continue to pay rent in the Postal 
Service building? That is a question that I do not know that we have a 
clear answer to. The Postal Service simply says that if they are going 
to transfer a building to the General Services Administration, they are 
due some consideration, that it has some value. This argument certainly 
is a sound one, if the building does in fact have economic value. But 
the estimates provided by the GSA indicate that the building in its 
current condition has little if any economic value and will require an 
expenditure of over $4 million to bring it up to a standard to attract 
tenants at market rates. And then, of course, the payout over the years 
of $4.2 million perhaps would make the building less attractive not

[[Page 27884]]

only to the government but to any private investor considering such an 
investment.
  So having expressed my concern about the particular provision of the 
bill, I want to say again that I commend the gentleman from Indiana for 
his diligence in trying to deal with a problem common to all of us. I 
think that the proper thing for us to do is to support this bill, to 
move it forward, and in fact when we had a hearing on this bill, the 
gentleman from Indiana delayed moving the bill forward for 30 days to 
allow the GSA to come up with any viable option that they may have. 
Their efforts thus far have been unsuccessful, but he kept his 
commitment to do so and our commitment on this side of the aisle was to 
allow this bill to move forward and perhaps to move it to a point where 
some of the suggestions that I have made could be incorporated in the 
bill. We are supportive of the effort that the gentleman from Indiana 
has made. I commend him for what he is attempting to do for his 
community. I would urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his very thorough 
proposal of this particular building. As I noted, the Congressional 
Budget Office said this is a negligible cost in terms of the amounts 
involved.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Pease).
  Mr. PEASE. Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I will submit a 
written statement for the Record.
  Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Horn) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) for 
their tremendous support and assistance in an effort that is very 
important to my hometown and the citizens who reside there.
  As the gentleman from Texas has said, we have spent almost 2 years 
trying to resolve this situation in a fashion that meets the needs of 
the community but is also responsible in its stewardship of limited 
financial resources.

                              {time}  1245

  We believe we have the best possible option before us at this time, 
though we understand that there are still points in the agreement that 
need to be negotiated, and obviously will be, between the GSA and the 
Postal Service and our colleagues in the other body.
  The staff of the subcommittee and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Turner) and many members of the Postal Service staff and GSA staff have 
been extremely helpful to us. I want to acknowledge their work in what 
is admittedly a difficult area and thank each of them for their 
cooperation in bringing this proposal forward. We believe it provides 
the basis for a constructive resolution of a difficult matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2513. I represent the 
Seventh District of Indiana, which includes the city of Terre Haute 
where the building which is the subject of this bill is located. In 
September 1935, the Federal Building, which is located at the 
intersection of Seventh and Cherry streets in Terre Haute, IN, opened 
its doors to the public. Its original tenants included a Federal court, 
a post office, the Social Security Administration, and the Internal 
Revenue Service. This grand structure is a product of the Works 
Progress Administration during the Depression under the Roosevelt 
Administration and is listed on the National Register of Historic 
Places. It is a fine example of Art Deco architecture, utilizing 
Indiana limestone, marble, and ornate decor.
  Pursuant to the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, some of the 
buildings in the Federal inventory were conveyed to the U.S. Postal 
Service (USPS). The postal facility located in downtown Terre Haute, 
IN, is one such building that was included in the transfer. Since the 
transfer, numerous Federal agencies have leased space in the Terre 
Haute facility for their operations. However, the building is currently 
in need of modernization, and many of these agencies, including the 
Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, have 
relocated to other locations in the city of Terre Haute under private 
leases.
  According to the most recent figures from GSA and the USPS, the total 
rentable space for the Terre Haute facility is approximately 41,300 
square feet. Of this space, 30,902 square feet are currently occupied 
by the USPS and other Federal agencies, thus placing the current 
overall occupancy rate at 75 percent. Currently, the building houses 
several Federal offices, including a U.S. District Court, a U.S. 
Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, a U.S. Attorney's office, Federal Probation, and one of 
my district offices. In addition to this Federal presence, space is 
also leased by two private attorneys and Jelene Kennedy, a blind senior 
citizen who operates a concession stand for the building.
  In 1997, a new postal processing and distribution center was opened 
in Terre Haute, IN. Due to the construction of this new postal 
facility, the presence of the USPS in the Federal building has been 
reduced to box and window services only. For a time, there were 
indications that the USPS might terminate its presence at this 
facility.
  H.R. 2513 would transfer the Terre Haute facility to GSA at no 
charge, providing the USPS with an option to remain in a portion of the 
building (8,000 square feet) rent-free for 20 years. In addition, the 
bill would authorize $5,000,000 for necessary renovations to the 
building and to acquire parking spaces to accommodate existing and 
future offices.
  H.R. 2513 has many merits for both the city and the Federal 
Government. It would help maintain the presence of the USPS in downtown 
Terre Haute, which is a high priority with the community and numerous 
interest groups. Anticipated renovations would make the facility more 
attractive to public and private lessees, including Federal agencies 
seeking to relocate when their leases in other Terre Haute locations 
expire in the next few years. At this time, the Social Security 
Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of 
Agriculture, and armed forces recruiting offices operate outside the 
facility, but within the city of Terre Haute. Ideally, these Federal 
agencies would move into the building, thus occupying, at a minimum, 
16,095 additional square feet, increasing the occupancy rate to 90 
percent. Under this plan, the moneys currently being paid under private 
leases would be paid to the Federal Government, thereby saving 
taxpayers money. In addition, a central location for Federal agencies 
and their services would provide improved accessibility for the Terre 
Haute community.
  Two additional aspects that should be considered when examining H.R. 
2513 are the demand for additional space by those Federal agencies 
currently in the Terre Haute facility, as well as the demand for space 
in the facility by state and private entities. The FBI and the U.S. 
District Court, both of which currently occupy space in the building, 
have indicated that additional space is necessary for their operations. 
In addition, a private lessee has expressed interest in leasing 
approximately 1,800 square feet. The Governor of Indiana has indicated 
his interest in this project and his willingness to work in filing 
vacant spaces in the building with state agencies if there is space 
remaining after other Federal agencies relocate to this property. 
Moreover, Mayor Jim Jenkins, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, 
STAMPS Downtown, Indiana State University, Downtown Terre Haute, Inc., 
Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, the Deming Center, and others have 
expressed their willingness to assist in finding tenants to occupy any 
vacancies in the building.
  One final factor that should be taken into consideration is the 
recent decision by the United States Bureau of Prisons to designate the 
Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute as the sole location in the United 
States for the execution of Federal death sentences. The potential 
impact of this designation on the Federal court at Terre Haute is 
currently unknown, but is likely to be substantial.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2413 was introduced in the U.S. House of 
Representatives on July 14, 1999. The bill was subsequently referred to 
the Committee on Government Reform and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure for consideration. On September 22, 1999, the 
Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology of 
the Committee on Government Reform marked up H.R. 2513 by a voice vote. 
On September 29, 1999, a hearing on H.R. 2513 was conducted by the 
subcommittee, and testimony was presented by representatives of the 
Terre Haute community, myself, and representatives of the USPS and GSA. 
At the hearing, concerns about H.R. 2513 were raised by GSA officials 
and Representative Henry Waxman, ranking member of the Committee on 
Government Reform.
  H.R. 2513 was scheduled to be marked up by the Committee on 
Government Reform on September 30, 1999. However, at my request, H.R. 
2513 was withdrawn form the Committee's agenda for that day. Ranking 
Member

[[Page 27885]]

Waxman and I agreed to allow GSA 30 days to review whether there were 
realistic alternatives for management of the Terre Haute facility, 
other than ownership by GSA. Under this agreement, if GSA failed to 
move forward and provide a viable option in the 30-day period, then the 
ranking member agreed to moving the bill forward in its current form on 
the House suspension calendar. To date, GSA has been unable to provide 
a viable option, though it has worked diligently on the project and has 
been in regular communication with my staff, committee staff, and 
representatives of various government entities in Terre Haute.
  For more than 2 years, my staff and I have been working with GSA, the 
USPS, and the Terre Haute community to resolve this matter. Though we 
have made progress, a comprehensive solution has not yet been reached, 
but this bill helps us advance the negotiations toward the only viable 
option yet discovered. To expedite this matter, Representative Dan 
Burton, chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, with the 
concurrence of Ranking Member Henry Waxman, agreed to waive the 
committee's consideration of H.R. 2513. In addition, Representative Bud 
Shuster, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
agreed to forego his committee's sequential referral on the bill.
  In conclusion, it makes sense to transfer its property from the USPS 
to GSA. The General Services Administration is familiar with building 
management and better suited to properly manage this multitenant 
facility--a historic structure architecturally and structurally similar 
to facilities managed by GSA in other cities. I believe that the 
figures clearly indicate a strong federal presence, as well as a strong 
demand, for space in the Terre Haute facility. For many reasons, the 
transfer of the facility to GSA is a sound transaction which will prove 
to be an asset to the Federal Government and to the citizens of the 
Terre Haute area. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2513.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I will support this legislation because I 
entered into an agreement with the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Pease, 
and the gentleman from California, Mr. Horn. Under our understanding, I 
agreed to support moving this legislation through the House if the 
General Services Administration did not find a viable alternative for 
the postal building in Terre Haute within 30 days. The 30 days are up, 
and although GSA is continuing to analyze and investigate the property, 
it has not yet found an entity interested in buying or taking the 
property.
  Nevertheless, although I am supporting moving this legislation 
through the House, I continue to have genuine reservations about H.R. 
2513. I hope Mr. Pease will work to resolve these issues as this 
legislation moves forward.
  H.R. 2513 provides that the postal services building in Terre Haute 
will be transferred to GSA. It also provides the U.S. Postal Service 
with an option to remain in the building rent-free for 20 years. In 
addition, this bill authorizes $5,000,000 for necessary renovations to 
the building and to acquire parking space to accommodate existing and 
future offices.
  I am not sure that this is the best policy. It ordinarily does not 
make sense to force GSA to own a building it does not want or need. GSA 
has explained the many difficulties it will have in leasing space in 
the facility. The building has a 55 percent vacancy rate, and it is not 
clear that this rate will increase enough to cover the costs of the 
renovations. In addition, there now appears to be little justification 
for allowing the Postal Service to have office space rent-free for 20 
years.
  In essence, I fear that this bill could require GSA to sink millions 
of dollars into a property when there is little chance that the Federal 
Government will be able to recoup those costs.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition to my concerns about the substance of this 
bill, I am also troubled by the inconsistent information that has 
circulated regarding this bill.
  During a September 29, 1999, subcommittee hearing on H.R. 2513, which 
was held at my insistence, the parties concerned came to an agreement 
to postpone a decision on how to proceed with the Terre Haute Post 
Office building for 1 month. During that month, GSA was to review the 
potential options for the building, including a directed sale, and 
report to us no later than October 29, 1999, regarding those options. 
If GSA did not report in that timeframe or failed to report a viable 
alternative to H.R. 2513, I agreed to move H.R. 2513 to the floor under 
suspension of the rules.
  On October 29, 1999, GSA reported to us that there was a potential 
purchaser, the Vigo County School District. My staff also contacted the 
treasurer of the Vigo County School District about their interest. The 
treasurer indicated that the school district was interested and that it 
needed more space. The treasurer also said that the school district 
needed another month in which to do a cost-benefit analysis. It thus 
appeared that there was a viable alternative for the property.
  Mr. Pease's staff disputed this point, however, and by the end of the 
day the school district's interest appears to have evaporated. Late in 
the day, my staff received a call from the superintendent of the Vigo 
County School District. With Mr. Pease's chief of staff present in his 
office, the superintendent indicated that the school district was not a 
viable alternative and that its interest was just lukewarm.
  In addition, I have received conflicting information regarding the 
Postal Service's intentions. It was my understanding initially that the 
provision in the bill giving the Postal Service free rent for 20 years 
was justified because but-for the free rent, the Postal Service had no 
intention of staying downtown. On October 29, however, we learned that 
Postal Service had always intended on keeping a presence in downtown 
Terre Haute, just not in the Federal building in question. As the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Turner, has rightly pointed out, it doesn't 
seem necessary to give free rent to the Postal Service. This is 
especially true if it intended on paying rent in another building.
  This point has significant ramifications. The fact that the Postal 
Service must receive space rent-free detracts from the building. In 
fact, it may be the reason that GSA has to date been apparently unable 
to find a viable alternative.
  Mr. Speaker, I am not going to vote against this bill. However, I 
hope that Mr. Pease and my colleagues in the Senate will take my 
comments into consideration as this bill moves through their Chamber.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge 
the adoption of this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2513.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________