Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5167 directs the Administrator of General Services, on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, to convey 1,518 acres of Federal land in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska to the Olgoonik Corporation. The parcel in question was previously used by the U.S. Air Force and is no longer needed by the Department of Defense. It contains a pipeline to the Chukchi Sea and would likely be used to support offshore energy extraction. It is surrounded by land already owned by the Olgoonik Corporation that was conveyed under the Alaska Native Settlement Claims Act. Transferring the isolated parcel would help simplify BLM management of the preserve and provide needed economic development for the Alaska Native Corporations. While I have some concerns with this legislation, including an unrealistic 180-day timeframe for survey and conveyance of the parcel, the waiver of requirements to provide an environmental review according to NEPA, and the use of a non-Federal appraisal agent, we support the passage of H.R. 5167. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”