To provide for the conveyance of National Forest System land in the State of Louisiana.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 940, a bill which gives the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to sell 50 acres of national forest land along the Lower Saline Lake in the State of Louisiana. The bill, drafted with the assistance and support of the Forest Service, gives the first option to purchase this tract to a group of residents who already own cabins on the land.

The sale of 50 acres relieves the Forest Service from the burden of performing maintenance and cleanup of the land and gives the task to private citizens who are ready and willing to assume this responsibility. CBO has scored this bill, and it will not have a cost for the taxpayers. The purchaser of the land will be responsible for all costs and fees associated with the transaction, further ensuring that the taxpayers will not be forced to pay for this legislation. This bill passed out of

the House Agriculture Committee unanimously, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Alexander) for whatever time he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the minority has no further speakers; therefore, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 940) to provide for the conveyance of National Forest System land in the State of Louisiana.

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. 940 was introduced by Congressman Rodney Alexander of Louisiana. This bill would authorize the Forest Service to sell certain residential parcels of land in the Kisatchie National Forest, located in Winn Parish, Louisiana. The total land sold would be just over 50 acres, and a local nonprofit group already living in residence on the site would have the right of first refusal to purchase the land at fair market value. H.R. 940 has the bipartisan support of all seven members of the Louisiana congressional delegation as well as the support of the U.S. Forest Service, and I urge its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Thank you for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, the chairman and the members of the committee for passing this important piece of legislation. The entire Louisiana delegation are cosponsors of this. The National Forest Service is in support of it. In fact, they provided the language that is in this bill. As it's been said, CBO has scored it as zero. From the sale of this land, the proceeds will go back to the National Forest Service for money that they have spent over the years, providing maintenance for this 50 acres of land that will be sold to this not-for-profit group.