To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Miami-Dade County certain federally owned land in Florida, and for other purposes.

I thank my dear friend, Ranking Member Lucas, for the time as well as Mr. Holden, and they've summarized the legislation well. I introduced this bill, H.R. 3175, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to sell approximately 2 acres to Miami-Dade County so that a fire station can be built. It is an issue of great importance to the community. The southern portion of the district that I'm honored to represent, covering the village of Palmetto Bay and the city of Pinecrest, continues to grow rapidly. Due to the population growth, public services have been stretched, and fire response times, as Mr. Lucas pointed out, have fallen below the district average.

This morning I met with distinguished leaders from the village of Palmetto Bay. They reiterated to me the urgent need for this fire station in our south Miami-Dade County community. So this problem really deals with the issue that new construction for public services in Miami-Dade is confronting a lack of available land. The USDA station currently occupies, as Mr. Holden pointed out, approximately 200 acres in southeast Florida with plenty of land to spare.

So, Mr. Speaker, the citizens of my community were not asking for a handout, as Mr. Lucas was pointing out. The county is going to pay fair market value for the land, along with all associated fees, and they have committed to completely funding the construction of the fire station. The CBO has scored the bill at no cost to the taxpayer. So again, I would like to thank Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Lucas for their prompt action on the bill. I also wish to thank my dear colleagues from south Florida who have cosponsored the bill, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, who will shortly address the House, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, and Kendrick Meek. I urge passage of the legislation.

I thank my colleague from Oklahoma for the time, and I thank my friend and colleague from Florida, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, for introducing this important bill and for getting it to the floor today in such

a prompt manner. Our congressional districts share a border, and this piece of land to be conveyed to Miami-Dade County actually sits just about on that very border.

But regardless of congressional districts, the conveyance of this property will be of great benefit to all of the residents in south Florida, particularly for the families living in Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay. This land will soon bring them increased safety and important peace of mind. Miami-Dade County expects to build the only fire station that would be equipped to swiftly address emergency situations in these communities. I'm a local resident of this area myself, so I can say that we have all too long needed this fire station.

I commend Congressman Diaz-Balart as well as the House for swiftly moving this bill to make the lands available for its creation. I must point out that the fire station would be nothing without the brave men and women who will serve there. Our firefighters put their lives on the line for us each and every day, and I know that all of south Florida thanks them for their supreme dedication.

Along with my colleague Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, I also had the opportunity of meeting with the leaders of the Palmetto Bay community, and they strongly support this bill that will go a long way to ensuring the safety and well-being of all of our residents. I thank Mr. Lucas for the time, and I thank Mr. Diaz-Balart for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3175) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Miami-Dade County certain federally owned land in Florida, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

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

H.R. 3175 was introduced by Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida to facilitate the sale of 2 acres of land at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The land would be sold at market value to the county for the purpose of building a fire station in the village of Palmetto Bay, a community of 25,000 people. This area currently faces below-average firefighting response times when compared to other municipalities in the region.

This ARS station was established in 1898 as a plant introduction garden on 6 acres, and it has grown to about 200 acres today. The ARS station has worked with the county and the village to identify land that could be used for the fire station, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I reserve the balance of my time.

I will continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

I continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Today I rise in support of H.R. 3175. This bill will allow the Ag Research Service (ARS) to sell 2 acres of land in southeast Florida to the local government of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the purpose of constructing a new fire station. Current response times for firefighters in the village of Palmetto Bay and South Coral Gables have fallen below the district-wide average, and there is a safety concern for local residents and neighborhoods. ARS has no current use for the land and supports the sale of the fire station, as does local government and local residents. Miami-Dade County will pay market price for the land along with all associated costs.

The Congressional Budget Office has scored H.R. 3175 at no cost to the Federal Government. This bill passed the Agriculture Committee with no opposition, and I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 4 minutes to Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the Congresswoman from Florida, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.