[House Report 112-441]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     112-441

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   RELEASE OF REVERSIONARY INTEREST AND USE CONDITIONS, COOK COUNTY 
                    AIRPORT, COOK COUNTY, MINNESOTA

                                _______
                                

 April 16, 2012.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2947]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 2947) to provide for the release of the 
reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land 
conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of 
an airport in Cook County, Minnesota, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend 
that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 2947 is to provide for the release of 
the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain 
land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the 
establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H.R. 2947 would require the Secretary of Agriculture to 
release the deed restrictions that were placed on a parcel of 
land conveyed to the State of Minnesota under the Federal 
Airport Act of 1946 to allow for the construction of an airport 
in Cook County, Minnesota. The original 1950 conveyance 
required that the lands be used for the specific purposes of 
expanding the Grand Marais-Cook County Airport, yet the entire 
parcel was never developed and the restrictions in the land 
grant keep it from being used for any other purpose. Release of 
this parcel will allow it to be utilized by the Cook County 
Highway Department for a local highway project.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 2947 was introduced on September 15, 2011, by 
Congressman Chip Cravaack (R-MN). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On 
December 2, 2011, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. 
On February 29, 2012, the Full Natural Resources Committee met 
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Forests and Public Lands was discharged by unanimous consent. 
No amendments were offered and the bill was then ordered 
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice 
vote.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) 
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has 
received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

H.R. 2947--A bill to provide for the release of the reversionary 
        interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by 
        the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport 
        in Cook County, Minnesota

    H.R. 2947 would remove certain use restrictions from land 
that was conveyed by the federal government to the state of 
Minnesota in 1950. Under current law, if the land is not used 
for purposes related to the operation of Cook County Airport, 
it must be returned to the United States.
    Based on information provided by managers of the Cook 
County Airport, CBO expects that, under current law, the 
affected lands would be retained by the airport. Therefore, we 
estimate that implementing the legislation would have no impact 
on the federal budget. Enacting H.R. 2947 would not affect 
direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures do not apply.
    The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The 
estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.
    2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required 
by clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget 
authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase 
or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. Based on 
information provided by managers of the Cook County Airport, 
CBO expects that, under current law, the affected lands would 
be retained by the airport. Therefore, CBO estimates that 
implementing the legislation would have no impact on the 
federal budget.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill is to provide for the release of the 
reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land 
conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of 
an airport in Cook County, Minnesota.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates as defined under 
Public Law 104-4.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                  
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