[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14347-14348]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         YUKON KUSKOKWIM HEALTH CORPORATION PROPERTY CONVEYANCE

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 230) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the 
Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation located in Bethel, Alaska.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 230

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.

       (a) In General.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 
     180 days, after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this 
     Act as the ``Secretary'') shall convey to the Yukon Kuskokwim 
     Health Corporation located in Bethel, Alaska (referred to in 
     this Act as the ``Corporation''), all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the property 
     described in section 2 for use in connection with health and 
     social services programs.
       (b) Effect on Any Quitclaim Deed.--The conveyance by the 
     Secretary of title by warranty deed under this section shall, 
     on the effective date of the conveyance, supersede and render 
     of no future effect any quitclaim deed to the property 
     described in section 2 executed by the Secretary and the 
     Corporation.
       (c) Conditions.--The conveyance of the property under this 
     Act--
       (1) shall be made by warranty deed; and
       (2) shall not--
       (A) require any consideration from the Corporation for the 
     property;
       (B) impose any obligation, term, or condition on the 
     Corporation; or
       (C) allow for any reversionary interest of the United 
     States in the property.

     SEC. 2. PROPERTY DESCRIBED.

       The property, including all land and appurtenances, 
     described in this section is the property included in U.S. 
     Survey No. 4000, Lot 2, T. 8 N., R. 71 W., Seward Meridian, 
     containing 22.98 acres.

     SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY.

       (a) Liability.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Corporation shall not be liable for any soil, 
     surface water, groundwater, or other contamination resulting 
     from the disposal, release, or presence of any environmental 
     contamination on any portion of the property described in 
     section 2 on or before the date on which the property is 
     conveyed to the Corporation.
       (2) Environmental contamination.--An environmental 
     contamination described in paragraph (1) includes any oil or 
     petroleum products, hazardous substances, hazardous 
     materials, hazardous waste, pollutants, toxic substances, 
     solid waste, or any other environmental contamination or 
     hazard as defined in any Federal or State of Alaska law.
       (b) Easement.--The Secretary shall be accorded any easement 
     or access to the property conveyed under this Act as may be 
     reasonably necessary to satisfy any retained obligation or 
     liability of the Secretary.
       (c) Notice of Hazardous Substance Activity and Warranty.--
     In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall comply with 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 120(h)(3) of the 
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
     Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. 
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I would first like to acknowledge the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska 
Native Affairs, for his hard work as the sponsor of the House companion 
to this bill, H.R. 521.
  This bill was favorably reported from the Committee on Natural 
Resources by unanimous consent in July of this year. The Senate 
version, S. 230, sponsored by Senator Murkowski, is before us today. 
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convey 
by warranty deed a 23-acre parcel of Federal land under the 
administration of the Indian Health Service and located in Bethel, 
Alaska, to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation for health and social 
service-related programs.
  The YKHC is a nonprofit Alaska Native organization which operates a 
regional hospital on the 23 acres of the Federal land conveyed under 
this bill. In recent years, the hospital has had a need to expand and 
renovate the existing facilities in this location. To secure funding 
for the hospital expansion, the YKHC must demonstrate sufficient site 
control, but because the surrounding land is federally owned, this bill 
is necessary to provide the health corporation the site control 
necessary to improve its facilities.
  Congress has enacted two similar bills in the last several Congresses 
and, like those, this bill is supported by the entire Alaska delegation 
and by the administration.
  I again want to commend my colleague from Alaska for his hard work 
for Alaska Natives, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.

[[Page 14348]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 230, as my colleague has so eloquently stated, will 
provide for the conveyance of approximately 23 acres to the YKHC, 
located in Bethel, Alaska, for the purposes of constructing a primary 
care clinic attached to the existing hospital.
  This bill is identical to H.R. 521, introduced by our colleague and 
my very dear and good friend, Chairman Don Young, which we passed by 
unanimous consent out of the Committee on Natural Resources. The land 
transfer is needed so that the YKHC might participate in the Indian 
Health Service Joint Venture Construction Program.
  Access to quality health care is a fundamental part of our trust 
responsibility to tribal members, and passage of this bill will ensure 
that the YKHC can meet the current and future needs of its residents.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of S. 230.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), that legendary force of Alaskan 
nature.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I do thank the chairman and I do 
thank the ranking member for their kind comments.
  Much has been said about this fine piece of legislation. As was 
mentioned, it has passed the House twice. The Senate finally passed out 
a bill, and now we are dealing with a Senate bill.
  As was mentioned, this gives an opportunity for the YKHC, a Native 
hospital, to expand on Federal lands. By ownership of the land now, 
there will be no cloud on that title.
  I do appreciate the comments. I do appreciate the work that has been 
put into this. This is a bill that should have been signed into law a 
lot sooner. It will be done now, and we will be able to expand this 
hospital for my Alaska Natives.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back for the day, I want to 
thank my colleague, Chairman McClintock, for his collegiality today and 
his leadership in making this a pleasant afternoon and a bipartisan 
afternoon.
  I urge all Members to join me in supporting S. 230.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would reciprocate those kind words to 
the gentlewoman from Michigan; thank you.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of this measure.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 230.
  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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