[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22124-22125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 FEDERAL AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT REAL PROPERTY ACT OF 2006

  Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 3699, that it then be referred to the Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee and immediately discharged, and that the 
Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3699) to provide for the sale, acquisition, 
     conveyance, and exchange of certain real property in the 
     District of Columbia to facilitate the utilization, 
     development, and redevelopment of such property, and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, I take the opportunity to thank the 
Governmental Affairs Committee for bringing H.R. 3699 to the floor for 
passage today. The Federal and District of Columbia Government Real 
Property Act of 2005 is a unique proposal to reevaluate the significant 
Federal property in DC and make some land available to redevelopment by 
the city. This redevelopment will broaden the District's tax base and 
will eventually add strength to the city economy. As the ranking 
Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the 
District of Columbia I am tasked with my friends on the Government 
Affairs Committee to provide appropriate oversight of the District and 
ensure a strong financial condition.
  The Federal property that will be transferred to the District through 
this bill will provide for a variety of new projects and there is a 
great deal of potential. Reservation 13 is envisioned as a mixed-use 
new community that will include new housing and businesses, and improve 
access to existing healthcare facilities. That property also includes 
the Court Services and Offender Services Agency, CSOSA, a Federal 
entity providing offender and defendant oversight in the District. I 
commend my colleagues for including a provision in this bill to ensure 
the CSOSA will remain on reservation 13 in a facility which the Federal 
government has provided significant resources to renovate. They are 
doing a tremendous job to ensure that offenders returning to the city 
are prepared for the challenges that face them and should continue that 
good work.
  In addition, I emphasize my strong support for youth recreation and 
education opportunities in this bill. Properties all along the 
Anacostia River and elsewhere will now be under the District's control 
to develop and I strongly encourage them to commit to reserving a 
portion of each property for youth recreation. We all know the health 
benefits to children being outdoors, whether in organized sports or the 
chance to learn about the environment. There are many tremendous youth 
sports organizations in DC that boost kids' self-esteem and oftentimes 
provide educational support or mentoring at no cost to low income 
children. Particularly in an urban area where space is limited it is 
critical that the District commit to providing opportunities for youth 
to be outdoors.
  I recognize the important need for outreach to the poorest and most 
vulnerable children in DC. I strongly urge the Anacostia Waterfront 
Corporation to form a partnership with a DC-based organization whose 
mission is to provide environmental education to children in natural 
and historic settings, and particularly to underserved populations. In 
my work with the District I have always encouraged partnerships with 
community organizations who know the need and how best to meet it and 
this is a perfect opportunity to create new vibrant partnerships to 
benefit the community.

[[Page 22125]]

  I thank Senators Collins, Voinovich, Lieberman, and Akaka for their 
hard work on this legislation over the past year. The base of the bill 
was proposed by the administration in 2005 and we have worked 
collaboratively with the District government and the Federal agencies 
holding property in the city to develop a sensible approach. I support 
the goals of this bill to rationalize property in the District and I 
encourage city leaders to ensure youth have a place to play in their 
plans for the property. I urge passage of H.R. 3699 and thank the 
authorizing committee for their work.
  Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, I further ask unanimous consent that the 
bill be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table with no intervening action or debate, and that 
statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 3699) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.

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