Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 952) to convey the reversionary interest of the United States in certain land in Sacramento, California.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 952, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Matsui's bill, the Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act. This legislation previously passed the House by voice vote last December.

This bill resolves the stubborn property law issue afflicting a small parcel of land in California. The current owners of an eight-acre property in Sacramento recently discovered a reversionary interest on their land, which a railroad company originally conveyed. The reversionary interest, which dates back to the days of the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century, requires the land to revert to ownership by the United States since it is no longer used for railroad purposes. Because of this outdated encumbrance, the owners of this property are limited in their ability to develop or sell the land.

The Bureau of Land Management, which would inherit the property through the reversion, does not want to manage the land in question. Since the agency can't extinguish the reversionary interests unilaterally, the BLM has encouraged Congress to address the issue through legislation.

H.R. 952 would resolve this conflict by requiring the Bureau of Land Management to convey the reversionary interest to the private landowners for fair market value. This bill will free up the land for economic development and prevent further Federal interference. It is a good governance bill that supports the local community, encourages economic development, and reduces the burden on the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Matsui for this effort on behalf of her constituents. I support this bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

This is straightforward legislation that will help private property owners develop their land without interference from the Federal Government. I support this bill and note that it unanimously passed the House last Congress.

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 the Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act, introduced by my colleague from California, Representative Matsui.

This legislation would authorize the conveyance of certain reversionary interests in approximately 8.43 acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Sacramento.

Development at this site is currently hindered by reversionary interest that dates back to the 19th century. The original conveyance of this land from the Federal Government stipulated that it must be used for specific stated purposes or ownership would revert back to the United States.

Lands with reversionary interests like these have what is called a clouded title, which limits allowable uses and development. In this case, the reversionary interests originate from the initial conveyance that provided public land for railroad purposes in the 19th century.

Making matters worse, the land changed hands over the years eventually without the knowledge of this requirement.

This bill would finally clear up the landownership by resolving the Federal Government's ownership claims in

these parcels. Under the sale authorized by this bill, the current landowners would be given an opportunity to purchase the reversionary interests from the Federal Government so the landowners may pursue development or future conveyances of the land.

The bill will allow the city of Sacramento and Sacramento State University to move forward with the development of an innovative and dynamic research park.

This bill includes standard conveyance language, including the requirement to sell the reversionary interests at fair market value. The conveyance is supported by the Department of the Interior.

This transparent and targeted land conveyance would be a win-win for the Federal Government and the community in Sacramento.

I thank Representative Matsui for her leadership. She has been working on this bill for several years. I know her constituents appreciate the hard work and perseverance.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.