A bill to convey to the town of Frannie, Wyoming, certain land withdrawn by the Commissioner of Reclamation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., to conduct an oversight hearing on the semi-annual monetary policy report of the Federal Reserve.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on Wednesday, February 16 at 11:30 a.m., to consider pending calendar business.

Agenda

Agenda Item 1: S. 48--A bill to reauthorize appropriations for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 2: S. 52--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey a parcel of real property to Beaver County, Utah.

Agenda Item 3: S. 54--A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to update the feasibility and suitability studies of four national historic trails, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 4: S. 55--A bill to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado.

Agenda Item 5: S. 56--A bill to establish the Rio Grande Natural Area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 6: S. 57--A bill to further the purposes of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000.

Agenda Item 7: S. 97--A bill to provide for the sale of bentonite in Big Horn County, Wyoming.

Agenda Item 8: S. 99--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for the storage of the city's water in the Kendrick Project, Wyoming.

Agenda Item 9: S. 101--A bill to convey to the town of Frannie, Wyoming, certain land withdrawn by the Commission of Reclamation.

Agenda Item 10: S. 128--A bill to designate certain public land in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, and Napa Counties in the State of California as wilderness, to designate certain segments of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild or scenic river, and for other purposes.

The PRESIDING OFFICIER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Agenda Item 11: S. 136--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to assist certain local school districts in the State of California in providing education services for students attending schools located within Yosemite National Park, and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Agenda Item 12: S. 152--A bill to enhance ecosystem protection and the range of outdoor opportunities protected by statute in the Skykomish River valley of the State of Washington by designating certain lower-elevation Federal lands as wilderness, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 13: S. 161--A bill to provide for a land exchange in the State of Arizona between the Secretary of Agriculture and Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership.

Agenda Item 14: S. 164--A bill to provide for the acquisition of certain property in Washington County, Utah.

Agenda Item 15: S. 182--A bill to provide for the establishment of the Uintah Research and Curatorial Center for Dinosaur National Monument in the States of Colorado and Utah, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 16: S. 272--A bill to designate certain National Forest System land in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Agenda Item 17: S. 276--A bill to revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National Park in the State of South Dakota.

Agenda Item 18: S. 301--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont. In addition, the Committee may turn to any other measures that are ready for consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing regarding S. 131, Clear Skies Act 2005 and S. 125 to designate the United States courthouse at 501 I Street in Sacramento, CA as the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''.

The hearing will be held in SD 406.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., to hear testimony on the President's budget proposals.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 16, 2004, at 10 a.m., to hold a meeting on the foreign affairs budget.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., in SD-430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., for a hearing titled ``Transforming Government for the 21st Century.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on the President's fiscal year 2006 budget request for Indian programs.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., to hold an open hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Obscenity Prosecution and the Constitution'' on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 3 p.m., in

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

(Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of S. 101 is to convey a small parcel of Federal land to the town of Frannie, Wyoming.

While we do not object to passage of S. 101, we do want to ensure that we address concerns raised at the December 7, 2005, hearing of the Subcommittee on Water and Power regarding the intent of Congress with respect to the ownership of this parcel and the purpose for which it will be used.

Mr. Speaker, I will include in the Record at this point two letters received from the town of Frannie by Water and Power Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano.

Town of Frannie,

Frannie, WY, December 15, 2005.

Hon. Grace Napolitano,

Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Napolitano: It has come to our

attention that there were concerns expressed over the Town of

Frannie gaining ownership of federal lands in Frannie Wyoming

and then immediately disposing of them. As a smaller

governmental entity, we fully understand the concerns on this

issue.

One of the unique features in the Town of Frannie is on the

NE\1/4\ of Block 26. The Town

of Frannie holds a Bureau of Reclamation 99-year Special Use

Permit for our Centennial (Lasting Legacy) Park. In 1990, as

a project to commemorate a ``Lasting Legacy'' of Wyoming's

centennial year, the Frannie Elementary students, with

community support and help, built this park. The park is a

topographical representation of Wyoming with rocks depicting

mountain ranges and the pathways are the two main

thoroughfares across the state. This children's park holds a

special place in the hearts of many of our community members.

Past and present Town Council members have been discussing

the use for the NW\1/4\ of Block 26. The need for a large

group picnic shelter, a community hall, and a maintenance

shop are a few ideas that the councils were considering.

Before we can commit to developing these lots for public use,

we will first need to gain ownership.

It is our desire to have this land remain open for public

use since it is adjacent to our town hall, basketball court,

and library. We feel that we would be better managers and

protectors of these lots if they were under our care. On July

19, 2000, the Wyoming State Director of the Bureau of Land

Management, stated in a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation,

``Since BLM feels the parcel is not suitable for return to

the public domain and management under the public land and

mining laws, and the land is no longer needed for BR

purposes, it is recommended a means of disposal of this

parcel be sought whereby the Town of Frannie can protect its

investment.''

We understand the concern with the Town of Frannie turning

around and selling the North\1/2\ of Block 26. Although we

cannot guarantee what future council members' goals and

values will be, you can rest assured that the present council

and many of our community members desire that this entire

block remain intact for the public's use.

We sincerely hope that you will give us your support of S.

101.

Sincerely,

Jerry Dart,

Mayor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 101) to convey to the town of Frannie, Wyoming, certain land withdrawn by the Commissioner of Reclamation.

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

S. 101, introduced by Senator Mike Enzi, and supported by our Wyoming colleague, Barbara Cubin, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey a parcel of land to the town of Frannie, Wyoming. The land in question is less than 1 acre and equates to approximately half a city block.

The Bureau of Reclamation has not used this land for many years, and the town has actually managed it for the last 15 years. As the land is no longer needed for reclamation projects, the town would like to use this land to build a community center.

The Department of the Interior has testified in support of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this noncontroversial bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.