Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 838) to provide for the conveyance of a parcel of land held by the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice in Miami Dade County, Florida, to facilitate the construction of a new educational facility that includes a secure parking area for the Bureau of Prisons, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act, introduced by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, will authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons to convey a parcel of land to Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida.

Currently, the BOP's Miami Federal Detention Center's satellite parking lot occupies the land. Miami Dade College plans on building an educational facility on this land, which will include covered and secured ground floor parking for BOP employees at no cost to the agency.

The Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to transfer this parcel of land to the college. However, this bill, which the agency supports, would permit the transfer to take place.

The college will make good use of the 47,500-square-foot area of land while also providing as many as 118 Bureau of Prisons parking spaces. This, obviously, is a good, collegiate way to work with an institution of higher education and our need for detention facilities, and this legislation allows that decision and that action to go forward. I urge all of my colleagues to support this helpful legislation.

H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act, introduced by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, will authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons to convey a parcel of land to Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida.

Currently, the BOP's Miami Federal Detention Center's satellite parking lot occupies the land. Miami Dade College plans on building an educational facility on this land, which will include covered and secured ground floor parking for BOP employees at no cost to the agency.

The Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to transfer this parcel of land to the college. However, this bill, which the agency supports, would permit the transfer to take place.

The college will make good use of the 47,500 square foot area of land, while also providing as many as 118 BOP parking spaces.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this helpful legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the gentlewoman for not only providing this facilitation for this institution of higher learning but for helping out the Bureau of Prisons, which is the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction.

As I close, let me just acknowledge the legislation, H. Res. 290, that Congresswoman Barbara Lee offered today and add my sympathy to the people of California. I thank Congresswoman Lee for bringing forward legislation that honors the lives that were lost--Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege, who were members of the Oakland Police Department in California.

In the month of May, we will be honoring law enforcement officers who have fallen across America. We have done that every year since I have been in the United States Congress. Tragically and sadly, we will do it again, even honoring those who have come from Texas and Houston. So H. Res. 290 has my sympathy as well. Before I closed, I wanted to acknowledge that.

Let me now close on this legislation, H.R. 838, and indicate my support and ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to see that the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act is before the House today. This is a great example of Federal-local partnerships truly benefiting both Miami Dade College and the Bureau of Prisons. This bill will facilitate the construction of a new educational facility in downtown Miami as well as provide secured parking for the Bureau of Prisons.

Miami Dade College has been an essential institution in South Florida for over half a century. It was born of the idea that anyone with a desire to get a college degree should be given that opportunity.

By 1967, the college was the largest institution of higher education in our great State of Florida. Today, it has built upon that position, and is now the largest institution of higher education in the United States, serving over 160,000 students last year, all the while maintaining an affordable and exceptional course of study.

Miami Dade College has been instrumental in the development and success of thousands of students, and I am proud to say that my father, my brother and I are all graduates of this fine institution. It serves our community with fine distinction. In fact, 96 percent of the students enrolled at Miami Dade College are residents from our local area. Just 2 years ago, the college reached a truly incredible milestone. It welcomed its 1.5 millionth student. We are only a community of 2.3 million, so the sheer amount of lives that the college has influenced is astonishing.

When I say that Miami Dade College is central to the educational, social and cultural fabric of South Florida, know that this is no exaggeration. The college also embodies the essence of diversity. Almost 80 percent of its students come from a minority background. It enrolls more minorities than any other college or university in the United States, and in Florida, 33 percent of all minority students attending community colleges are attending Miami Dade College.

This bill will allow for the much needed expansion of the facilities in downtown Miami, and it will allow the college to offer more courses to more students. All this has been made possible by the stellar performance, leadership and guidance of the college president, Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, himself an alum of Miami Dade College. He is a man of unyielding strength and a passion for education. He has spent his entire career making sure that all students have the tools and the opportunities to succeed. His time at Miami Dade College has been defined by growth and greater academic accreditation. He has truly made a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals, and I commend him for all that he continues to do in support of our college.

I thank the Speaker; I thank the Members who have given me this opportunity, and I urge all Members to vote in favor of this legislation, supporting a fine institution of higher learning and the many wonderful students who will benefit from this expansion.

I thank the gentleman for his time, and I thank my good friend from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for her time as well.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act. This bill was introduced

by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). The act would convey a parcel of land held by the Bureau of Prisons to the Miami Dade College, which is adjacent to the Bureau of Prisons facility. The parcel of land is now used as a parking lot by the Bureau of Prisons facility.

As a result of this act, the college will be permitted to use the parcel as a site for the new building that will include a garage parking area. That parking area will contain 118 secured parking spaces that will be designated for use by the Bureau of Prisons.

This conveyance outlined in this bill will benefit both the Bureau of Prisons and the Miami Dade College. The Department of Justice has reviewed the bill, and does not oppose its enactment. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 838.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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