To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make available to the University of Miami property under the administrative jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Virginia Key, Florida, for use by the University for a Marine Life Science Center.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4027. This is an important bill to my constituents, indeed to the people of all of south Florida.

Madam Speaker, this bill makes available to the property on Virginia Key, Florida, under the jurisdiction of

NOAA for use by the University of Miami for a marine life science center. This property may be made available to the University via easement, lease, license or long-term agreement.

Madam Speaker, Virginia Key, Florida, which is located just a few miles from downtown Miami, is the site of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric's National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center. It is also the home for NOAA's Office of Atmospheric Research Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, as well as the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

Due to their proximity and because they overlap in research interest, NOAA and the Rosenstiel School have had a close working relationship for many years. This legislation is designed to maintain and strengthen that relationship.

Located on a 16-acre campus on Virginia Key in Miami, the Rosenstiel School is the only subtropical applied and basic marine and atmospheric research institute of its kind in the continental United States. Rosenstiel's research interests include satellite oceanography, with particular emphasis on remote sensing and satellite imagery, as well as experimental fish hatchery. It also leads in the field of global marine and atmospheric chemistry program, comprehensive oceanic and atmospheric numerical modeling activities, sedimentary geology and marine geophysics groups with considerable expertise in seismic methods, and has an innovative ocean acoustics program.

In short, Madam Speaker, the Rosenstiel School is a proud and indispensable establishment for all of us in south Florida, in the State of Florida and indeed throughout the Nation.

The genesis of a new University of Miami and NOAA marine science complex will bring together expertise in environmental and fisheries research, assessment and management, and facilitate the intellectual exchange of ideas and results. H.R. 4027 is a critical first step in reaching the goal of establishing a new marine science complex.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to have introduced this important legislation and am most appreciative of the consideration and focus of this vital project in my congressional district.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, H.R. 4027 is noncontroversial legislation that would encourage cooperative use of Federal land at Virginia Key, Florida under the administrative jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration between the Federal agency and the University of Miami. The existing long-term relationship between the two NOAA laboratories at Virginia Key and their neighbor, the University's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, has produced an enviable record of scientific achievement.

While this legislation, Madam Speaker, will not authorize the conveyance of any Federal land, it is expected to provide helpful guidance for future collaboration among the institutions as they look to upgrade their respective research facilities at Virginia Key. I urge Members to support this legislation to enhance ocean and coastal scientific research.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4027) to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make available to the University of Miami property under the administrative jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Virginia Key, Florida, for use by the University for a Marine Life Sciences Center, as amended.

Madam Speaker, 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.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Madam Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 4027. I compliment the gentlewoman from Florida for her leadership on behalf of her constituents and want to thank the Committee on Science for their assistance in moving this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4027 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.