Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse Conveyance Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1934) to direct the Administrator of General Services to convey the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse to Teton County, Wyoming.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on S. 1934.

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

S. 1934 would direct the GSA to convey property in Wyoming to Teton County, Wyoming, for fair market value.

The land was originally donated to the Federal Government by the county for the purposes of a courthouse. However, since built, the courthouse has rarely been used by the Federal judiciary, and no other Federal use has been identified for this building.

The bill would sell the building to the county for fair market value for the purposes of a county courthouse and county courthouse functions. Selling this property for fair market value will ensure that the taxpayers receive the best return on the property, and it will provide for the continued public use of the facility.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his support of this legislation.

I concur with him that, in terms of setting a precedent, that is not something that we want to do. This has a unique set of circumstances in which the county actually had conveyed the property to the Federal Government at no cost. Certainly, I would agree with my colleague opposite that we need to make sure that taxpayers get the best return and that this does not set a precedent.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation on behalf of the American taxpayers.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of S. 1934, introduced by Senator John Barrasso.

It directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to transfer the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse and the land underneath to Teton County, Wyoming.

The GSA has indicated to the committee that the agency has no need for the facility. This directed sale supports the GSA's efforts to downsize and dispose of underutilized properties. However, this bill breaks with precedent. Although the local municipality is required to pay for the fair market value of the building, the bill directs the land underneath the building to be sold for a nominal value. Typically, the building and the land underneath would all be valued at a fair market value when being sold.

The committee has consistently upheld the bipartisan principle that taxpayers are entitled to the full value of their assets in any sale. Nevertheless, the committee is supporting this unusual transaction because the underlying land was originally donated to the GSA by the local municipality, which is why I am supporting selling the land back to them for a nominal value.

The bill provides taxpayers with further protections, Mr. Speaker. The legislation requires that the future use of this property be restricted to public purposes. I urge the GSA to interpret this language consistent with restrictions typically used by the GSA when considering land transfers for public purposes under title 40.

I continue to support efforts to shrink the Federal footprint where appropriate while protecting taxpayer interests, and I urge Members to approve this legislation.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 423, S. 1934, and Calendar No. 418, S. 898 en bloc.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment to S. 1934 be agreed to, the bills, as amended if amended, be read a third time and passed en bloc, and that the title amendment to S. 1934 be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.