Eni Faleomavaega: “However, this evening, Mr. Speaker, with tremendous reluctance and despite my respect for my good friend from Nevada, I…”

“However, this evening, Mr. Speaker, with tremendous reluctance and despite my respect for my good friend from Nevada, I have to rise in opposition to H.R. 4656. This bill authorizes the Forest Service to convey for fair market value an approximately 8.7 acre parcel on the Tahoe National Forest in Washoe County School District for use as an elementary school site. Although the parcel is valued between $2 million and $4 million, a deed restriction directing use as a school site and a reversionary clause reduces the value considerably. The administration testified that the appraisal value would be reduced by approximately 75 percent. The parcel to be conveyed was originally acquired by the Forest Service in 1981 as an environmentally sensitive property under the Santini-Burton Act for approximately $500,000. This land, as other land around Lake Tahoe, has appreciated considerably in the last 20 years. Sound fiscal policy dictates that the public should receive full value for its public assets.”