Eni Faleomavaega: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange nine administrative sites on…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange nine administrative sites on approximately 367 acres of land in the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota. Funds from the sale or exchange of the lands which are valued at around $2.4 million will be used to relocate, consolidate and upgrade administrative offices through land acquisition and construction of facilities. Construction costs to combine four district ranger offices into two new buildings are estimated to be around $4 million. Mr. Speaker, the bill also authorizes $2.1 million to be appropriated for the construction of a laboratory facility in the Rocky Mountain Research Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. This facility is to be allocated with one of the administrative sites acquired or constructed through the sale of the lands. The existing research station center is in need of significant repair and does not meet OSHA and the provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements. The administration supports this legislation, it has bipartisan support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.”