On the recordJuly 28, 2010
This bill really is a solution for the city of Ames and the local landowners. H.R. 5669 will allow the city to buy land from the USDA's National Animal Disease Center and use that land to build a modern water treatment plant. Before introducing this legislation, city officials were exploring the acquisition of nearby farmland by eminent domain. This bill will prevent a conflict between the city of Ames and the local landowners. The farmland in question is highly productive land. In fact, it's a century farm. It has been in that family for over 100 years. Century farms have a special status in Iowa, and the families who have carried on the tradition of farming have deep ties to the soil. Working with the city of Ames and the USDA, I believe we have found a way to preserve this fertile land and honor the memory of the man who began farming it, Abel Powell Griffith. H.R. 5669 is a win for everyone involved.
