James A. Leach: “3 weeks ago in thunderous debate the House considered the ``mega'' implications of the budget resolution. Now we have…”

“3 weeks ago in thunderous debate the House considered the ``mega'' implications of the budget resolution. Now we have before us perhaps the smallest bill of the year, H.R. 584, which would have the effect of conveying a small federally owned, State-operated, fish hatchery to the State of Iowa. This hatchery, operated by the State of Iowa since 1973, is crucial to the fishery resources program in my State, and the legislation before us formalizes a permanent transfer of title between the Federal and State government. The hatchery is located in Fairport, an unincorporated town of 50 people situated on a beautiful hillside embankment overlooking the Mississippi River approximately 8 miles east of the community of Muscatine. The facility was originally donated at the turn of the century to the Federal Government by an association of button manufacturers who, prior to the advent of plastic alternatives, utilized the shells of freshwater mussels from the Mississippi River as raw material for the making of buttons. With the subsequent acquisition of surrounding land, at a total cost of $21,771.22, Fairport was established by Congress in 1909 as a biological research station, and in 1929 became a fish hatchery operated and maintained by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. In 1973, as a result of Federal budgetary constraints, operation and maintenance of the facility was assumed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.”