Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chair and the ranking member for their hearing, as well as the support of this bill.

For those of us who represent areas of the country where the Federal Government is a major landowner, it is absolutely critical to be able to work with this body to have the flexibility we need to meet the needs of our community.

This legislation is the product of a community-driven effort in Summit County where they were able to take a look at the 40-acre parcel, saw that it no longer had the characteristics of wildlife habitat or recreation, but it was ideally situated for housing for a community, which is a real need in Summit County.

People who work in our thriving mountain communities need to be able to live near where they work, to be able to get their cars and vehicles off the road. For families to be able to afford to live in the area, it is an absolutely critical need that the Summit County Commissioners, as well as our municipalities, as well as others, have come to the table around finding a real-life solution.

This bill is the first step. H.R. 2337 conveys a 40-acre parcel in the White River National Forest, known as the Lake Hill site, to Summit County for fair market value. Summit County will pay for all of the administrative costs associated with the conveyance.

As a result, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill has no cost. In fact, proceeds from the sale will support much-needed U.S. Forest Service facility improvements and maintenance, which is absolutely critical to be able to do their job as stewards of our Federal lands, which is one of our main economic drivers for jobs, as well as a quality lifestyle in Summit County.

This bill had input from a variety of local stakeholders, received broad community support from the towns of Dillon and Frisco, from Summit County, from local environmental organizations and businesses.

In July, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the bill by unanimous consent; and our Senators, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, have introduced a companion bill, S. 1305, which, hopefully, will be considered in committee in the weeks ahead.

This Lake Hill site was selected for sale because the property no longer has national forest character. The parcel is isolated from other U.S. Forest Service land. It sits between an interstate to the north, a highway to the south, and condominiums to the west.

The parcel was heavily logged and has unsightly infrastructure. As a result, it is no longer suitable for wildlife habitat or recreation purposes, but it is ideally suitable for additional housing to reflect the needs of our growing community.

Fortunately, Lake Hill can provide a great community purpose. Affordable housing availability is a critical problem in Summit County. Increasingly, families that work in Summit County are having a harder and harder time living in Summit County.

During the winter, approximately one-third of the Summit County workforce has to commute into the county, sometimes 45-minute, hour- long commutes, because local housing prices are too high for many people who work in the community to be able to afford to live there. In fact, nearly 40 percent of Summit County residents are paying more for housing than they can afford.

There is also a substantial housing gap in the face of a growing population. Over the last decade, the number of seniors increased faster in Summit County than any other county in Colorado. Latino households have doubled during the last decade, now comprising 15 percent of the county's population.

There is a real need for affordable housing options to meet the demands of our growing workforce and the needs of our economy, a need that will only become more urgent over time.

A lot of work remains to be done to put together the community partnership to look at the design elements and how this will work for the community, but this critical step can only occur here in the United States Congress, which is the transference of the Lake Hill site.

It will be a perfect setting for affordable housing. The property is located in the heart of Summit County, between the towns of Frisco and Dillon, and near free public transit that is already available.

This bill is a win-win. It adds affordable housing options, while providing funding for the U.S. Forest Service to improve Forest Service administrative facilities.

I urge my colleagues to support this essential legislation that contributes to the well-being of Summit County and our greater community.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2337 conveys the approximately 40- acre Forest Service Lake Hill administrative site in the White River National Forest to Summit County, Colorado. The Forest Service has established that the site has lost its national forest character and is severed from the rest of the White River National Forest.

Summit County will use the site to construct workforce housing, a need identified by the county. Summit County will cover all costs associated with the conveyance, and the Forest Service will be able to use any proceeds to address regional forest management issues.

H.R. 2337 is a great example of the Federal government working with local governments to identify and solve common problems.

Congressman Polis is to be commended for his leadership in addressing the needs of his constituents using a commonsense, practical solution. We support the legislation and urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2337) to provide for the conveyance of the Forest Service Lake Hill Administrative Site in Summit County, Colorado.

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.

H.R. 2337 authorizes the Forest Service to convey approximately 40 acres of the White River National Forest to Summit County, Colorado.

The parcel, sandwiched between Interstate 70 and a local highway and largely isolated from the rest of the White River National Forest, would be utilized by Summit County to construct affordable workforce housing. This conveyance would benefit both the county and the Forest Service by eliminating the agency's management over this isolated parcel.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the energy committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 291 and H.R. 356; that the Senate proceed to their consideration and the consideration of the following calendar number items en bloc: Calendar No. 256, H.R. 255; Calendar No. 226, H.R. 330; Calendar No. 359, H.R. 507; Calendar No. 353, H.R. 697; Calendar No. 361, H.R. 876; Calendar No. 362, H.R. 1158; Calendar No. 399, H.R. 2337; Calendar No. 369, H.R. 3110; Calendar No. 54, S. 247; Calendar No. 57, S. 311; Calendar No. 60, S. 354; Calendar No. 129, S. 363; Calendar No. 118, S. 476; and Calendar No. 120, S. 609.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported amendments to S. 247, S. 311, S. 476, and S. 609 be agreed to; the Coburn amendment to S. 311 be agreed to; that the bills be read three times and passed en bloc; and the motions to reconsider be considered made, with no intervening action or debate.