Joe Lieberman: “I rise in support of H.R. 4322, a bill to transfer the Nebraska Avenue complex property from the Navy to the General…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4322, a bill to transfer the Nebraska Avenue complex property from the Navy to the General Services Administration, GSA, for use by the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, for its headquarters operations. One of the many exigencies surrounding the creation of DHS was the need to quickly find suitable space for the Department's operations. While many of the component agencies could--at least temporarily--remain in their current locations, there had to be new space for the Department's leadership and new programs. The Navy had previously been providing space at the Nebraska Avenue complex to the President's Office of Homeland Security, and the administration subsequently decided that the site should be used as a headquarters for the new Department for the immediate future. DHS already has some of its headquarters operations at the site, and plans to move additional staff to the property once the Navy has finished moving out. It is vital that DHS be able to move ahead with consolidating its headquarters operations and renovating the complex to meet its needs. It is also critical that the Navy be fairly compensated and that its displaced operations be able to move into new facilities. This legislation will allow all this to take place. This legislation formalizes the transfer of the property and provides for a payment mechanism for the Navy's temporary and permanent relocation costs.”