The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PLUM ISLAND PRESERVATION ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6239-H6241 on July 25, 2017.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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PLUM ISLAND PRESERVATION ACT
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2182) to require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on the alternatives for the final disposition of Plum Island, including preservation of the island for conservation, education, and research, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2182
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 ``Plum Island Preservation Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Federal Government has owned Plum Island, New York, since 1899.
(2) Since 1954, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center has conducted unrivaled scientific research on a variety of infectious animal-borne diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, resulting, most recently, in the development of a new cell line that rapidly and reliably detects this highly debilitating disease of livestock.
(3) Over 62 years, the Center has had a strong, proven record of safety.
(4) $23,200,000 in Federal dollars have been spent on upgrades to, and the maintenance of, the Center since January 2012.
(5) In addition to the Center, Plum Island contains cultural, historical, ecological, and natural resources of regional and national significance.
(6) Plum Island is situated where the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay meet, both of which are estuaries that are part of the National Estuary Program and are environmentally and economically significant to the region.
(7) The Federal Government has invested hundreds of millions of Federal dollars over the last two decades to make long-term improvements with respect to the conservation and management needs of Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay.
(8) In a report submitted to Congress on April 11, 2016, entitled ``National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility Construction Plan Update'' the Department of Homeland Security noted that the new National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility under construction on such date in Manhattan, Kansas, is, as of such date, fully paid for through a combination of Federal appropriations and funding from the State of Kansas.
SEC. 3. REPORT REQUIRED ON FINAL DISPOSITION OF PLUM ISLAND.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the following:
(1) The alternatives for the final disposition of Plum Island, including the transfer of ownership to another Federal agency, a State or local government, a nonprofit organization, or a combination thereof for the purpose of education, research, or conservation.
(2) With respect to each such alternative final disposition, an analysis of--
(A) the effect such disposition would have on the island's resources;
(B) the remediation responsibilities under such disposition;
(C) any future legislation necessary to implement such disposition;
(D) the possible implications and issues, if any, of implementing such disposition;
(E) the costs of such disposition, including any potential costs related to the transition, hazard mitigation, and cleanup of property that would be incurred by a recipient of the property under such disposition; and
(F) the potential revenue from such disposition.
SEC. 4. SUSPENSION OF ACTION.
No action, including any pre-sale marketing activity, may be taken to carry out section 538 of title V of division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74; 125 Stat. 976) until at least 180 days after the report required by section 3 has been submitted to Congress.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2182, the Plum Island Preservation Act, sponsored by my colleague from New York (Mr. Zeldin).
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to review the alternatives for the final disposition of the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate's Plum Island Animal Disease Center, commonly known as Plum Island.
Since 1954, Plum Island, located in Suffolk County, New York, has served the Nation in defending against accidental or intentional introduction of foreign animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease. However, Plum Island's facilities are aging and nearing the end of their life cycle.
That is why in 2005, DHS announced that the work being conducted on Plum Island would be moved to a new Federal facility in Kansas. Plum Island will continue to operate until the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is fully operational and a complete transition has been made in 2022 or 2023.
This raises the question of what will happen to Plum Island once its activities are fully transferred over to the new facility. The Department looked at this issue and, in June of 2016, released a report that reviewed several options for the final disposition of Plum Island.
This bill simply requires GAO to review and analyze these alternatives to ensure all necessary information was taken into account before the Department decides how to move forward with the final disposition of Plum Island. Specifically, GAO is to analyze the effects, possible implications and issues, and potential costs and revenue for each disposition.
Finally, H.R. 2182 suspends the sale of Plum Island until GAO completes this thorough review and analysis of alternatives.
My friend, Representative Zeldin, introduced H.R. 2182 with strong bipartisan support. H.R. 2182 is very similar to a bill that passed the House by voice vote last May.
In conclusion, this bill ensures that there is adequate consideration of all the options for the disposition of the island.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, July 25, 2017.Hon. Michael McCaul,Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 2182, the Plum Island Preservation Act. This legislation includes matters that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 2182, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference committee named to consider such provisions.
Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,Chairman.
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House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, July 25, 2017.Hon. Bill Shuster,Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Shuster: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2182. I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will not seek a sequential referral on the bill.
The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual understanding that by forgoing a sequential referral of this bill at this time, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure represented on the conference committee.
I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman,
Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2182, the Plum Island Preservation Act.
Mr. Speaker, since 1954, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York's Long Island has served as the Nation's principal laboratory responsible for research on foreign animal diseases of livestock, such as foot-and-mouth disease and other animal diseases.
At Plum Island, the Department of Homeland Security works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to research and develop new vaccines and diagnostic tests for animal disease outbreaks and to defend against international or accidental introduction of animal diseases into the United States.
On September 11, 2005, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to develop the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF, as a state-of-the-art biocontainment laboratory for the study of diseases that threaten both America's animal agricultural industry and public health.
As envisioned by DHS, the 580,000-square-foot facility would replace the Plum Island laboratory.
Following an extensive selection process, DHS selected a site in Manhattan, Kansas, for the new lab, and the site is slated to be fully operational by December of 2022.
What H.R. 2182 aims to answer is what will happen to Plum Island when DHS vacates the facility.
DHS is currently studying the range of options for disposition of the property, including transferring it to another Federal agency, a State or local government, or a nonprofit organization for the purposes of education, research, or conservation.
In doing so, DHS is expected to assess the full implications of each option, including cost, cleanup, and hazard mitigation.
H.R. 2182 requires the Government Accountability Office, or GAO, to assess whether the forthcoming study is satisfactory to support a decision. In the event that the study is lacking in a key area, GAO would be required to conduct its own study.
Importantly, H.R. 2182 ensures that Plum Island cannot be sold by the Federal Government to the highest bidder.
Under this bill, the sale of Plum Island is prohibited until at least 180 days after the required reports in the bill have been submitted to Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Donovan for his support.
I rise today in support of H.R. 2182, to prevent the sale of Plum Island by the Federal Government to the highest bidder.
Situated at the gateway of the Long Island Sound, I personally had the pleasure of visiting this treasured island.
In addition to being a critical resource for research, approximately 90 percent of the land on Plum Island has been sheltered from development, offering Long Island a diverse wildlife and ecosystem and critical habitat for migratory birds, marine mammals, and rare plants.
Plum Island is also an essential cultural and historical resource as well, with recorded history dating back to the 1700s.
The island held the U.S. military's Fort Terry, a coastal defense fortification, which was used through the end of World War II.
Since then, Plum Island has been utilized as a research laboratory and has since grown to become what is known today as the Plum Island Animal Disease Center.
In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security, which currently has jurisdiction over the island, announced that the Animal Disease Center research would be moved to a new Federal facility, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, NBAF, in Kansas.
To offset the cost of this relocation, a law was enacted that called for the private sale of Plum Island by the Federal Government to the highest bidder.
However, because of the costs associated with the cleanup and closure of Plum Island, and because of local zoning restrictions, the Federal Government would receive little compensation for the sale of Plum Island.
Also, in the 12 years since the move to Kansas was approved, the new facility in Kansas is already fully paid for by a combination of Federal appropriations and State and private funds.
Allowing for continued research, public access, and permanent preservation of the island, H.R. 2182 will suspend the laws passed in 2008 and 2011 that mandated the public sale of Plum Island.
This bill will commission the Government Accountability Office, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, which currently owns the island, to formulate a comprehensive plan for the future of the island.
It requires the plan focus on conservation, education, and research and include alternative uses for the island, including a transfer of ownership to another Federal agency, the State or local government, a nonprofit, or a combination thereof.
In the 114th Congress, this bill passed the House unanimously with bipartisan support as H.R. 1887.
My amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2017, H.R. 5485, which would have prohibited any of the funding within the appropriations bill to market or sell Plum Island, also passed the House as well.
I would like to thank the other Members of Congress who have cosponsored this legislation and lent their support to this cause, especially my colleagues from Connecticut, Congressman Joe Courtney and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
I would also like to thank House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for bringing this bill to the floor, House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul, and all of the local elected officials, groups, and concerned residents on Long Island who have taken an issue on this important issue.
This bill is endorsed by the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, an alliance of over 65 community and environmental groups in New York and Connecticut, focused on the conservation of this island.
I am proud to work alongside all of these great individuals and groups as we strive to save Plum Island.
Since taking office in 2015, one of my highest local priorities has been to protect Plum Island. Preserving this island's natural beauty, while maintaining a research mission, will continue to provide important economic and environmental benefits for Long Island.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this critical bill, as well as for the Senate to pass this legislation, so it may be signed into law this year.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).
Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Payne for his leadership on the Homeland Security Committee and also for his hard work on this legislation, which, again, has been closely watched back home in Connecticut and on the other side of Long Island Sound, as Mr. Zeldin indicated as well, in the State of New York.
Again, I rise in strong support, with my colleague, for passage of H.R. 2182, the Plum Island Preservation Act. This has been an effort that has been ongoing since Congress, unfortunately, took, I think, a wrong turn when they enacted legislation in 2009, with the goal of trying to create funding for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Kansas; but in the process of doing that, it set up a truncated sale of this property, which really deviated from the normal GSA process of trying to exhaust other beneficial uses before putting it up for sale to the highest bidder.
Again, that has been the struggle for people on both sides of the Long Island Sound, who have been frustrated by the fact that, because Congress mandated a sale without any other options, the incredible, pristine environmental quality of this precious piece of property was basically pushed down the food chain in terms of, again, the way the Federal Government was operating.
Again, I think it is important to recognize--and my colleagues from New York, Mr. Donovan and Mr. Zeldin, understand this--this still is the most densely populated area of America. The boat traffic, the maritime traffic that flows through Long Island Sound, again, is the busiest in the country. And to have a piece of property that is this precious and this pure--which Mr. Zeldin visited, and I think he can attest to that personally, and I have sailed past it--is really an opportunity that really we just cannot possibly allow to go to a developer that would make that quality forever lost.
So this legislation, which stops the 2009 process in its tracks, has GAO step in and do a full complete analysis across the board in evaluating all options. In particular, the options of preserving this unique environmental asset is the right move for our country, and, again, it will be to the benefit of generations to come.
Again, I want to congratulate Mr. Zeldin for his persistence. Again, we did get it through the last Congress, the 114th.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PAYNE. I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.
Mr. COURTNEY. I think getting this done early in the 115th Congress will hopefully allow us the opportunity to get some bandwidth in the Senate's floor schedule to finally get this to the President's desk, and, again, forever protect an asset for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, again, I urge strong support for this measure.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation.
It is very simple. It directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to the Congress on alternative uses for Plum Island.
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The report underscores its ecological significance, that is what it would do; the need to be protected; and it would be an important step toward identifying conservation alternatives to selling Plum Island.
I believe that Plum Island should be a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, ensuring that we would safeguard the island's sensitive wildlife and ecological value.
Plum Island is the largest area in southern New England, where seals can rest on dry land. Its 843 acres are home to two threatened bird species: the piping plovers and the roseate terns.
We need to proceed very carefully when considering the future of Plum Island. This is a refuge for wildlife and native plants, and once it is developed, it cannot be restored, which is why the legislation is so important.
By evaluating the alternative uses for Plum Island fully rather than selling it to the highest bidder, we can ensure that this ecological, historical, and cultural treasure can be protected for generations to come.
I am proud to join with my colleagues, Congressman Zeldin and Congressman Courtney, on a bipartisan basis to ensure that the environment is respected in our region and across the country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for yielding me the time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2182 has broad support on both sides of the aisle, as we can see. Plum Island has a history dating back to the 1700s and has been owned by the Federal Government since 1899. This bill takes steps to ensure that this culturally and historically important site is not sold until all relevant questions are answered regarding the final disposition of Plum Island and that a satisfactory comprehensive plan has been developed.
I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2182.
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 New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2182.
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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