To authorize the purchase of a small parcel of Natural Resources Conservation Service property in Riverside, California, by the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the House to approve H.R. 3567, a necessary and long-overdue piece of legislation. This is a straightforward, commonsense bill that authorizes the purchase of a small parcel of Natural Resources Conservation Service property in Riverside, California, by the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District.

Since 1996, the conservation district has partnered with NRCS to acquire, colocate and manage what was previously the USDA Salinity Laboratory. Following acquisition of the property, NRCS has not obligated any Federal funds for plant materials research at the Riverside location in question.

On the other hand, the conservation district, as has been mentioned, has invested $2.8 million in improvements and upgrade to the property. All along, the conservation district has an understanding with NRCS that they would eventually transfer the property to its ownership.

Following a series of changes in personnel within NRCS, the conservation district was informed that legislation authorizing such a transfer would be necessary.

H.R. 3567 authorizes USDA to sell the NRCS property in Riverside to the conservation district for an amount equal to the appraised value of the property. The legislation further states that current NRCS operation at the property shall be allowed to continue at no cost to the Federal Government.

In closing, this legislation will provide long-term security for the conservation district and the investments it has, and will continue to make, in the property. It also protects the interests of the NRCS and the Federal Government for as long as its limited use of the property is needed.

H.R. 3567 is a win-win solution for all stakeholders, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3567) to authorize the purchase of a small parcel of Natural Resources Conservation Service property in Riverside, California, by the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3567, to authorize the transfer of the title of land owned by the NRCS in Riverside, California, to the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District. The conservation district has invested $2.8 million in the facility with the hope of eventually acquiring the property, and would like to invest in further improvements when the property title issue is resolved.

Conservation districts work closely with their Federal partner, the NRCS. This legislation is a simple fix to allow the Riverside-Corona district to utilize the facility and serve the local folks on the ground through voluntary, incentive-based conservation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his remarks, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for her support, and I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3567.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3567.

H.R. 3567 will allow California's Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District to purchase at appraised value the parcel of property on which it is currently located, which is the former U.S. Salinity Laboratory.

The property is currently administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and is being comanaged under a cooperative agreement. The cooperative agreement dates back to 1996. Since that time, the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District has invested $2.8 million into the property with the understanding that NRCS would eventually transfer ownership.

The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District provides natural resource conservation through education, collaboration, and technical assistance in southern California.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.