Congressional Record
Proceedings, Debates of the U.S. Congress

        

[Page H7008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK LAND LEASE

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur 
in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 714) to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands 
National Park, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:

       Senate amendments:
       On page 2, line 12 before the period insert: ``as amended, 
     assigned, and assumed''.
       On page 2, line 21 after ``lease'' insert: ``with the owner 
     of the retained use estate''.
       On page 3, line 19, strike ``with'' and insert: 
     ``without''.
       On page 4, line 5, strike ``and'' and insert:
       ``(E) include provisions to ensure the protection of the 
     natural, cultural, and historic features of the resort and 
     associated property, consistent with the laws and policies 
     applicable to property managed by the National Park Service; 
     and''.
       On page 4, line 6, strike ``(E)'' and insert: ``(F)''.
       On page 5, line 3, strike ``effective date'' and insert: 
     ``award''.
       On page 5, line 24, strike ``that'' and insert: ``who''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Washington 
(Mr. Hastings) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 
legislative days within which 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 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 417, legislation that I 
introduced to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a 
lease with the owners of Caneel Bay Resort in my congressional 
district.
  I have a longer statement which I will submit for the Record, but I 
want to begin by thanking Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick 
Rahall and Subcommittee Chairman Raul Grijalva for their strong and 
steadfast support of this bill. I also want to thank Ranking Member 
Hastings and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bishop for their support as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 714 passed the House in February of 2009 and was 
approved by the other body, with an amendment, on May 14 of this year. 
We have been working to secure the enactment of this or a similar bill 
for more than 4 years, which will mean that the largest employer on the 
island of St. John in my district will be able to make badly needed 
upgrades to its facilities and keep operating and save jobs of over 400 
employees during these challenging economic times.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Natural Resources 
Committee Chief of Staff Jim Zoia, Chief Counsel Rick Healy, and 
National Parks, Forest and Public Land Subcommittee Staff Director 
David Watkins for all their hard work and assistance on this bill. H.R. 
714 is an example of an effective public-private partnership, and I 
urge my colleagues to support its adoption.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 714 has been adequately 
explained by the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, and we have no 
objections at all to this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 
714.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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