[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16124-16125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3874) to convey for public purposes certain Federal lands in 
Riverside County, California, that have been identified for disposal, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3874

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND IN 
                   RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Conveyance.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey, without consideration and subject to valid existing 
     rights, to S.V.D.P. Management Inc-DBA Father Joe's Villages 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Villages''), all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcel 
     described in paragraph (2) for use by the Villages for the 
     purposes described in subsection (b).
       (2)  parcel.--The parcel referred to in paragraph (1) is 
     the parcel of land identified for disposal and consisting of 
     approximately 44 acres under the jurisdiction of the Bureau 
     of Land Management, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
     ``H.R. 3874 Coachella Valley Land Transfer'' and dated March 
     5, 2004.
       (b) Purposes of Conveyance.--The purposes of the conveyance 
     under section (a) are to provide a homeless shelter, a 
     training center, and affordable housing.
       (c) Reverter.--If the Villages or any subsequent owner of 
     the land transferred under this section uses that land for 
     purposes other than those described in subsection (b), all 
     right, title, and interest to the land (and any improvements 
     thereon) shall revert to the United States to be administered 
     by the Bureau of Land Management if the Secretary of the 
     Interior determines that such a reversion is in the best 
     interests of the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within

[[Page 16125]]

which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous 
material on H.R. 3874, the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3874, introduced by the gentlewoman from California 
(Mrs. Bono), as amended by the Committee on Resources, would authorize 
the Secretary of the Interior to convey 44 acres of Federal land 
identified for disposal in Riverside County, California, to Father 
Joe's Villages, a successful nonprofit organization that assists the 
homeless in California. Father Joe's plans to develop a comprehensive 
operation that will address both housing and training needs for the 
homeless in the greater Coachella Valley.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3874 is supported by the majority and minority of 
the Committee on Resources and by the administration.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from California's (Mrs. Bono) bill, H.R. 
3874, would transfer a parcel of BLM land in North Palm Springs, 
California, to a charitable organization.
  As the administration testified before our committee, the Federal 
Government would normally require some amount of compensation for a 
land conveyance such as this one, a requirement this legislation 
waives. However, it appears that, in this instance, making this 
conveyance free of charge may be in the best interests of the entire 
community.
  Father Joe's Village has a long history of working in the community 
to address the problems of unemployment, substance abuse and 
homelessness. It is our hope that this conveyance will enable this 
organization to continue its fine work and expand whatever projects 
that are currently ongoing.
  Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, it is truly rewarding when we, as Members of 
Congress, can move a bill that will make such a positive impact in our 
own communities. This bill, H.R. 3874, does just that.
  As we all know, no matter how well our economy does, there will 
always be a segment of our population in need of a safety net. H.R. 
3874 takes a step in the right direction as it relates to helping those 
less fortunate in our society.
  This legislation conveys 44 acres of BLM land, which is already on 
the disposal list, to Father Joe's Villages. Together, with a local 
charity called Martha's Village and Kitchen, the plan is to build a 
residential center for the homeless, a job training center and 100 
units of affordable housing.
  Many would be surprised to learn that even Palm Springs and its 
surrounding community have numerous people in dire need of a helping 
hand. But my community, much like everyone else's, unfortunately has a 
need for shelters, worker training and other forms of assistance.
  Father Joe's, located in San Diego and part of Congresswoman Susan 
Davis's district, and Martha's Village and Kitchen, which is 
headquartered in my district, are two very reputable and successful 
organizations. That is why Congressman Davis and I want to help them 
make this village a reality.
  Thanks to the most generous individuals I know, Mr. Tom Martin and 
his wife Rita, much of the money to build this project is secured. Mr. 
and Mrs. Martin have helped Martha's Village and Kitchen and have again 
put themselves on the front line of fighting for compassion by getting 
involved in this effort. Furthermore, we have the energy and enthusiasm 
of Father Joe Carroll to run this project. We are ready to go.
  Our contribution of this land will enable new workers to enter the 
workforce, provide shelter and assume other functions that will take 
the burden off the local, State and Federal governments. The relative 
cost of this land will come back to us tenfold. In short, this is a 
perfect example of how a private-public partnership can work for the 
betterment of so many.
  So while I fully realize H.R. 3874 does not create new broad sweeping 
national policy, it helps people I really care about the people I 
really care about and that is reward enough.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a very special thank you to 
Chairman Richard Pombo who is responsible for this bill being on the 
floor of the House today. My heartfelt thanks go out also to Chairman 
Radanovich and Ranking Member Rahall for shepherding this legislation 
through committee. These three gentlemen showed great care and 
dedication in moving this bill through the process. And thanks also to 
their very able staff, especially Rob Howarth, as well as my staff, 
Linda Valter, for their help on this important piece of legislation.
  I look forward to your support of this bill.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3874, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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