H.R. 5164House108th Congress (2003-2005)In Committee

National Health Museum Act of 2004

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Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 29, 2004

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 29, 2004

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 29, 2004

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 29, 2004

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 5164 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Carolyn B. MaloneyD-NY-14 · Jul 25, 2003

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Community Protection and Response Act of 2003 to eliminate confusion in terrorist prevention and response. One of the major lessons learned in the aftermath of the…

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Community Protection and Response Act of 2003 to eliminate confusion in terrorist prevention and response.

One of the major lessons learned in the aftermath of the September 11th, attacks is that timely response is critical. Any delay complicates short-, medium-, and long-term recovery efforts. Sadly, many of the lessons that we have learned have gone without an appropriate response. For example, the Washington Post reported on June 4, 2003, that the United States remains highly vulnerable to a chemical terrorist attack, in large part because the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency still have not decided which agency would spearhead chemical testing. Clearly now is the time to learn from our past and prepare for the future. The Community Protection and Response Act does just that.

In response to the attacks of September 11th, Congress took a series of actions to bring relief to affected areas. These legislative actions along with existing statutes, including the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Act and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, formed the framework for the federal government's response. The magnitude of the attacks and the need for Congress to take action before certain relief could be delivered added to the challenge of the recovery efforts and exposed critical weaknesses in federal authority to respond.

The Community Protection and Response Act would amend the Stafford Act along with other statutes and would give the President a series of policy options to chose from following a homeland security event. A homeland security event is defined as an event that poses a significant risk to the security of people and property and is in such a magnitude that effective response is beyond the scope and capability of the affected state and local government. Many of these options are based on congressional action following September 11th or other policy suggestions in reports by the Congressional Research Service, the General Accounting Office and the New York branch of the Federal Reserve. Specifically, in the event of homeland security event, the President can provide grants for lost tax revenue, aid to school systems, and assistance to medical facilities and utility companies. The bill also establishes guidelines to ensure the public health of area residents and disaster workers.

This legislation was introduced in the 107th Congress (H.R. 5164) and was offered as an amendment to the Bill that created the Department of Homeland Security. While the Committee on Government Reform passed the amendment by an unanimous vote, it was stripped out before floor consideration.

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 29, 2004

108th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5164

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 29, 2004

Mr. LaTourette (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Young of Alaska, and Mr. Oberstar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To provide a site for construction of a national health museum, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Health Museum Act of 2004.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to provide for a site to be used for the construction and operation of a national health museum.

Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply:

(1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of General Services.

(2)

CERCLA

The term CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).

(3)

Committees

The term Committees means the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.

(4)

Museum

The term Museum means the National Health Museum, Inc., a District of Columbia nonprofit corporation exempt from taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(5)

Northern portion of the property

The term northern portion of the property means that portion of the property which the Administrator and Museum deem appropriate for the museum facility.

(6)

Property

The term property means the property located in the District of Columbia, subject to survey and as determined by the Administrator, generally consisting of Squares 325 and 326, and the westerly portions of Squares 351 and 352, including the parcel and structure commonly known as the Cotton Annex. The property is generally bounded by 12th Street, Independence Avenue, Maryland Avenue, the James Forrestal Building, and L’Enfant Plaza, all in Southwest, Washington, D.C., and shall include all associated air rights, improvements thereon, and appurtenances thereto.

(7)

Southern portion of the property

The term southern portion of the property means that portion of the property other than the northern portion of the property.

Conveyance of property

(a)

Authority to convey

(1)

In general

Subject to the requirements of this Act, the Administrator shall convey the property to the Museum on such terms and conditions as the Administrator considers reasonable and appropriate to protect the interests of the United States and further the purposes of this Act.

(2)

Agreement

As soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into an agreement with the Museum for the conveyance.

(3)

Terms and conditions

The terms and conditions of the agreement shall address, among other things, mitigation of developmental impacts to existing Federal buildings and structures, security concerns, and operational protocols for development and use of the property.

(4)

Separate conveyance of northern and southern portions

Under the agreement, the Administrator shall convey the northern portion of the property separately from and, if so agreed by the Administrator and the Museum, at a different time than the southern portion of the property.

(b)

Purchase price

(1)

In general

The purchase price for the property shall be its fair market value based on its highest and best use as determined by an independent appraisal commissioned by the Administrator and paid for by the Museum.

(2)

Selection of appraiser

The appraisal shall be performed by an appraiser mutually acceptable to the Administrator and the Museum.

(3)

Terms and conditions for appraisal

(A)

In general

Except as provided by subparagraph (B), the assumptions, scope of work, and other terms and conditions related to the appraisal assignment shall be mutually acceptable to the Administrator and the Museum.

(B)

Required terms

The following terms and conditions shall apply to the appraisal:

(i)

The appraisal shall assume that the property does not contain hazardous substances (as defined in section 101 of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9601)) which require remedial action (as defined in such section).

(ii)

The appraisal shall state a value for the property as a whole as well as separate values for the northern portion and southern portion of the property, taking into consideration the impact to value (if any) resulting from a conveyance of less than the entirety of the property.

(c)

Application of proceeds

The purchase price shall be paid into the Federal Buildings Fund established under section 592 of title 40, United States Code. Upon deposit, the Administrator may expend the proceeds from the conveyance for any lawful purpose consistent with existing authorities granted to the Administrator; except that the Administrator shall provide the Committees with 30 days advance written notice of any expenditure of the proceeds.

(d)

Quit claim deed

(1)

In general

The property shall be conveyed pursuant to 2 quit claim deeds (one for the northern portion and one for the southern portion of the property), each of which shall contain the covenants required by section 120(h) of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9620).

(2)

Limitation on liability

The United States shall not be liable or responsible pursuant to paragraph (1) for any additional remedial action—

(A)

with respect to hazardous substances not existing on the property as of the date of conveyance, unless the presence of such hazardous substances on the property was caused by the United States; or

(B)

caused, required, or arising out of actions of the Museum, its affiliate, any successor thereto, or any of their respective agents, contractors, or assigns.

(e)

Use restriction

The northern portion of the property shall be dedicated for use as a site for a national health museum for the 99-year period beginning on date of conveyance of that portion to the Museum.

(f)

Reversion

(1)

Bases for reversion

The northern portion of the property shall revert to the United States, without any obligation for repayment by the United States of any amount of the purchase price for the property, if —

(A)

that portion is not used as a site for a national health museum at any time during the 99-year period referred to in subsection (e); or

(B)

the Museum has not commenced construction of a museum facility on that portion in the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, other than for reasons beyond the control of the Museum as reasonably determined by the Administrator.

(2)

Enforcement

The Administrator may perform any acts necessary to enforce the reversionary rights provided in this section.

(3)

Custody of property upon reversion

If any portion of the property reverts to the United States pursuant to this section, such property shall be under the custody and control of the Administrator.

(g)

Closing

(1)

Deadline

The Administrator shall convey the northern and southern portions of the property not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. The Administrator may extend that period for such time as is reasonably necessary for the Museum to perform its obligations under section 6(a).

(2)

Applicability of requirements

The requirements of this Act shall remain in full force and effect with respect to any portion of the property conveyed before the deadline established by paragraph (1) or any extension.

Office lease

(a)

Negotiation and execution

(1)

Terms and conditions

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator and the Museum (or its affiliate) shall, within 60 days after entering into the agreement described in section 4(a)(2), negotiate the terms and conditions, consistent with this section, of a lease pursuant to which the Administrator would lease approximately 250,000 square feet in a building to be constructed by the Museum on the southern portion of the property.

(2)

Timing

The Administrator and Museum shall execute the lease not later than the date of the conveyance of the southern portion of the property.

(b)

Rent

(1)

Below market rate

The effective rent charged to the Administrator as part of the lease entered into under this section shall be below prevailing market rates for similar space in Southwest, Washington, D.C., as agreed to between the Administrator and the Museum (or its affiliate).

(2)

Authority to apply proceeds toward rent

The Administrator may apply any or all of the proceeds from conveyance of the property toward the rental charges incurred by the United States under the lease if the Administrator otherwise complies with the notice requirement set forth in section 4(c). Any such application of proceeds toward rent shall not be considered in determining that the rent charged under the lease is below prevailing market rates as required in this section.

(c)

Operating lease

The lease entered into under this section shall be on terms and conditions that allow such lease to be scored as an operating lease in accordance with guidance published by the Office of Management and Budget.

(d)

Condition to conveyance

The execution of the lease under this section shall be a precondition to conveyance of the southern portion of the property to the Museum.

Environmental matters

(a)

Liabilities and responsibilities

The agreement entered into under section 4(a)(2) shall provide that the Museum will conduct any environmental remediation activity with respect to the property, and bear the costs of any such activity, except as otherwise provided by section 4(d) and subsection (b) of this section.

(b)

Crediting of remediation costs

Any costs of environmental remediation activities referred to in subsection (a) shall be credited to the purchase price for the property up to an amount not greater than the purchase price for the property.

(c)

Scope of remediation activities

The scope of any required environmental remediation activity with respect to the property shall be as required by section 120 of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9620).

Incidental costs

(a)

Responsibilities

Except as otherwise specifically provided by this Act, the Museum shall bear any and all costs associated with complying with the provisions of this Act, including studies and reports, surveys, relocating tenants, and mitigating impacts to existing Federal buildings and structures resulting directly from the development of the property by the Museum.

(b)

Relocation of existing tenants

The costs of relocating existing tenants (including the costs of related studies), shall be paid by the Museum up to an amount to be agreed upon by the Administrator and Museum in the agreement entered into under section 4(a)(2), and any costs in excess of such agreed upon amount shall be credited to the purchase price for the property upon the closing on the portion of the property first conveyed.

Land use approvals

(a)

Existing authorities

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting or affecting the authority or responsibilities of the National Capital Planning Commission or the Commission of Fine Arts.

(b)

Cooperation

(1)

Zoning and land use

Subject to paragraph (2), the Administrator shall reasonably cooperate with the Museum with respect to any zoning or other land use matter relating to development of the property in accordance with this Act. Such cooperation shall include consenting to applications by the Museum for applicable zoning and permitting with respect to the property.

(2)

Limitations

The Administrator shall not be required to incur any costs with respect to cooperation under this subsection and any consent provided under this subsection shall be premised on the property being developed and operated in accordance with this Act.

Reports

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the end of the 5-year period following conveyance of the property or until substantial completion of the museum facility (whichever is later), the Museum shall submit annual reports to the Administrator and the Committees detailing the development and construction activities of the Museum with respect to this Act.