[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REMOVAL OF USE RESTRICTION ON LAND FORMERLY A PART OF ACADIA NATIONAL 
                                  PARK

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4527) to remove a use restriction on land formerly 
a part of Acadia National Park that was transferred to the town of 
Tremont, Maine, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4527

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

     SECTION 1. USE RESTRICTION REMOVED.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the conveyance, for 
     school purposes, of certain land in Acadia National Park to 
     the town of Tremont, Maine, and for other purposes'', 
     approved August 1, 1950, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Lands conveyed to the town of Tremont, Maine, 
     under the Act known as NPS Tract 06-126, which were conveyed 
     by the National Park Service in deed recorded at the Hancock 
     County Registry of Deeds Book 737 Page 467, National Park 
     Service Deed 377, shall no longer be required to be used 
     exclusively and perpetually for school purposes and upon the 
     discontinuance of such use of said land, or any part thereof, 
     shall no longer be required to revert to the United 
     States.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, enacted in 1950, Public Law 81-629 permitted the 
National Park Service to convey property, formerly part of Acadia 
National Park, to the town of Tremont, Maine, to build a new school.
  In 1951, the Secretary of the Interior completed the conveyance of 
approximately 8 acres with a clause that specified the land would 
revert back to the United States if it was not used exclusively for 
school purposes.
  Tremont is now consolidating schools with a nearby town, and the 
property will no longer be used for the original intended purpose. 
However, Tremont would like to retain ownership and continue to use the 
developed property in the best interest of the community.
  H.R. 4527 removes the requirement that the land be used exclusively 
and perpetually for school purposes, allowing Tremont to use the 
property to the maximum benefit of its residents.
  The Natural Resources Committee has consistently sought to assist 
local communities in gaining control of property within their 
boundaries by freeing them from Federal interference. Communities 
around the country would benefit significantly and immediately if the 
example of H.R. 4527 was replicated by Congress.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the town of Tremont, Maine, was granted a parcel of 
Federal land to build a school in 1950. The town, which is adjacent to 
Acadia National Park, no longer needs the parcel for school purposes 
and would like to be able to consider other uses.
  H.R. 4527 will remove the restrictions on the parcel, and its passage 
is a priority for the town and the bill's sponsor, Mr. Michaud of 
Maine. I would like to thank and congratulate my colleague from Maine 
for his work on this bill on behalf of his constituents.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), the sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. As you heard, this 
legislation would allow the town of Tremont, Maine, to continue to use 
public land that has been continuously maintained for more than six 
decades.
  In 1950, Congress transferred a parcel of land from Acadia National 
Park to the Town of Tremont so the town could build and maintain a 
school. Unfortunately, what might have been best for the Park Service 
and the community in 1950 might not be best for either in 2014.
  Due to demographic changes, Tremont has explored the possibility of 
merging its elementary school with another in a neighboring town. Under 
the terms of the original agreement, if Tremont were to stop using the 
land for school purposes, the land would be transferred back to the 
Federal Government.
  Complicating the situation is legislation passed by Congress in 1986 
that established a permanent boundary for Acadia National Park. The 
permanent boundary did not include the tract of land containing the 
school. As a result, any changes in usage would require transfer to the 
General Services Administration.
  This legislation would simply remove any restriction on the land, 
which would allow the community to continue utilizing the land as it 
sees fit. Acadia National Park supports this legislation; GSA has no 
objection.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank Chairmen Hastings 
and Bishop and Ranking Members DeFazio and Grijalva for their support 
for this remedy of this issue, and I would like to thank the committees 
on both sides of the aisle for supporting this issue.
  I urge my colleagues to adopt it.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. With that, I yield back the balance of my time also.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4527.
  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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