Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy) for yielding, and I thank my cosponsor, the gentlewoman from Washington, D.C., (Ms. Norton). Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4984, which repurposes approximately 174 acres of unused Federal land in Washington, D.C. Despite its long history and importance to D.C. residents, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium campus in southeast D.C. has been abandoned to become unused parking lots, open fields, and a deteriorating stadium that is being demolished. The campus is currently under a lease that requires the land to be used for stadium purposes, recreational purposes, or other public purposes. Under current law, the campus cannot be used for commercial or residential development. Absent congressional action, this land in our Nation's Capital will remain unused with ongoing maintenance costs and environmental liabilities remaining the full responsibility of the National Park Service--an ongoing burden for the American taxpayer. My bill, H.R. 4984, will change that. The bill transfers administrative jurisdiction from the National Park Service to Washington, D.C., while preserving the Federal Government's ownership of the land. This allows Washington, D.C., to use the land for stadium purposes, commercial and residential development, recreational facilities, open spaces, or additional public purposes. However, D.C. may not use Federal funds for any potential future development of a sports stadium.…”