Fort Pulaski National Monument Lease Authorization Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 535) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands within Fort Pulaski National Monument, and for other purposes.

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

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

S. 535 would allow the Savannah Bar Pilots Association to continue leasing a facility at Fort Pulaski National Monument as they have done since the 1940s.

Congressman Jack Kingston of Georgia is the author of the House version of this bill, H.R. 2687, that the Committee on Natural Resources heard in September. The National Park Service testified in support, and we are pleased that this is one piece of legislation that will not cost the taxpayers a dime.

So I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Fort Pulaski was completed in 1812. The Savannah Bar Pilots were founded in 1864, and they have had a lease to use part of the fort since 1940. It would appear that Congress is a little late in getting around to formalizing this arrangement.

The Bar Pilots provide an invaluable service by protecting the people and the cargo entering the Port of Savannah. This has been a good use of part of the fort and should continue, so we support the passage of

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.