George Miller: “this amendment requires that as consideration for the fish hatchery conveyed to the State of Arkansas, that the State…”

“this amendment requires that as consideration for the fish hatchery conveyed to the State of Arkansas, that the State pay the Federal Government the fair market value based on an updated appraisal. That payment shall not include the value of any capital improvements made by the State. The amendment also strikes the clause in the bill which would have the property revert to the Federal Government if not used by the State as a hatchery. In other words, the State would receive clear title. The amendment gives the State the option to pay cash equivalent to fair market value or to exchange property with the Fish and Wildlife Service which must be useful for promoting fish restoration and management. If the State pays cash, the amendment provides that the proceeds would be deposited in the sport fish restoration account which is better known as the Wallop-Breaux Fund. Every State receives Wallop-Breaux funds which are dedicated to improving sport fishing opportunities. The amounts devoted to fish restoration are decreasing, so this amendment will help assure that all of our constituents continue to benefit from this fund. Mr. Chairman, as I said earlier in the general debate on this legislation, I think this is simply a matter of equity for the taxpayers, that they receive some semblance, and hopefully will receive, in fact, fair market value for these Federal assets that the Federal Government has built and developed, when they transfer them to the State.”