[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 9010]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  SOUTHERN NEVADA READINESS CENTER ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 815) to provide for the conveyance of certain land in Clark 
County, Nevada, for use by the Nevada National Guard.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 815

       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 ``Southern Nevada Readiness 
     Center Act''.

     SEC. 2. NEVADA NATIONAL GUARD LAND CONVEYANCE, CLARK COUNTY, 
                   NEVADA.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Clark County, 
     Nevada, may convey, without consideration, to the Nevada 
     Division of State Lands for use by the Nevada National Guard 
     between 35 and 50 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, as 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``Southern Nevada 
     Readiness Center Act'' and dated October 4, 2005.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 815, introduced by the gentleman from Nevada, Representative Jon 
Porter, states that notwithstanding any other provision of law, Clark 
County, Nevada, may convey, without consideration, between 35 and 50 
acres of land for the use by the Nevada National Guard as a Readiness 
Center.
  The land in question is part of a larger block of lands conveyed to 
Clark County under a provision of the Public Law 109-263, the Southern 
Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998. These lands comprise part 
of the Airport Environs Overlay District for McCarran Airport, and 
Public Law 105-263 required that the land be managed in accordance with 
airport noise compatibility planning agreements.
  Further, the 1998 act specified if land was sold or transferred, it 
had to be done at fair market value with the proceeds distributed 
pursuant to the act. H.R. 815 would waive this last requirement. Since 
the proceeds of the land is for an important public purpose, we believe 
the waiver is appropriate.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague from Nevada, 
Representative Porter, for his work on this legislation. I would note 
that identical legislation passed the House in the 109th Congress. We 
support the passage of H.R. 815 and recommend its adoption by the House 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 815 and yield to 
the author of the bill, the distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. 
Porter).
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act 
conveys land to the Army National Guard for a readiness center that 
will provide Guardsmen with access to facilities, technology, and 
equipment needed to ensure proper training and readiness.
  Because the Southern Nevada National Guard's force continues to grow, 
this new facility is crucial. It will better train and prepare our 
soldiers on the front lines. The center is the first new construction 
for the Army National Guard in the Las Vegas valley in more than 10 
years. The facility will house communications, engineering and medical 
Guard units. It will include a 200-person theater-style auditorium, 
distance-learning classrooms, medical examination rooms, a weight room, 
locker rooms, multiple arms vaults, a kitchen, and a maintenance bay. 
Soldiers will be able to prepare both physically and technically for 
missions. In total, between 300 and 400 Guardsmen will train at the 
armory on a drill weekend.
  The center will not only help ensure Nevada will be prepared in the 
event of a crisis or a natural disaster, but also would help ensure 
that Guardsmen are fully trained and ready for any contingency as 
directed by the National Command Authority.
  I commend the National Guard soldiers who volunteer to serve at home 
and overseas in order to keep our country safe. It is incumbent upon us 
to provide the proper facilities that will ensure these soldiers are 
well trained and prepared.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working in a 
bipartisan, bicameral manner in support of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on this important 
legislation.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, 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. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 815.
  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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