S. 715Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Removing Outdated Restrictions to Allow for Job Growth Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:01 PM UTC

The bill tells the Secretary of Agriculture to give up the United States’ ownership rights to certain parcels of land that were transferred to the City of Old Town, Maine, so the city can use them for a municipal airport and other economic‑development projects. It affects the federal government’s land interest and the City of Old Town.

Key Provisions

If the City of Old Town submits a written request, the Secretary of Agriculture must release, convey, and quitclaim all U.S. rights to the specified lands without any payment.
The lands covered are those conveyed to the city under a 1941 deed from the Bankhead‑Jones Farm Tenant Act, intended for economic development and described in the city’s request.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

March 23, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 23, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

March 23, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 23, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 715

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 23, 2017

Mr. King (for himself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to release on behalf of the United States the condition that certain lands conveyed to the City of Old Town, Maine, be used for a municipal airport, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Removing Outdated Restrictions to Allow for Job Growth Act.

Release of reversionary interest

(a)

Release

Notwithstanding section 32(c) of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)), if the City of Old Town, Maine, makes a written request to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary shall release, convey, and quitclaim, without monetary consideration, all rights, title, and interest of the United States in and to the lands specified in subsection (b).

(b)

Lands specified

The lands subject to subsection (a) include only the lands—

(1)

conveyed by the United States to the City of Old Town, Maine, under section 32(c) of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)) by the deed dated June 5, 1941;

(2)

proposed for conveyance by the City of Old Town, Maine, for the purpose of economic development; and

(3)

described in the written request submitted by the City of Old Town, Maine, to the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to subsection (a).